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Most other Flonda counties do not require clustering; some allow it as an option. some do not allow it at all The existing lot size pattern within one to one and half miles from the urban service area is currently dominated by lots of ten acres or less in size. Clustering does not preserve agricultural operations. Generally. farmers do not divide their property into a residential portion and an agricultural portion. Because their agricultural operations must be separate from non-agricultural uses, they farm their entire property until the market indicates it is no longer profitable then the entire property is converted to a non- agricultural use. The current urban service area should not be expanded. The 5 -acre to 10 -acre "ranchette" lots along the urban service area boundary act as a "greenbelt" to prevent urban service area expansion and eventually to control growth. In addition to making Agricultural PDs optional. the proposed amendment strengthens and clarifies the intent and requirements of Agncultural PDs. The proposed amendment specifically states the following: • Clustered means grouped together in a compact. contiguous manner. • The open space area must be under the ownership of a single -entity. • Golf courses shall not be permitted as part of Agricultural PDs. These changes to the Agricultural PD option emphasize and protect the rural character of land outside the urban service area. The county has recognized several problems with the Agricultural PD process. Those problems have been noted and discussed earlier in this section. The proposed amendment addresses those problems by making the process optional and by "tightening" the regulations for those who choose the Agricultural PD option. For these reasons. the proposed amendment is reasonable. DCA Recommendation DCA recommends that the Agricultural PD and clustering requirement be retained for tracts of 40 or more acres. Although intended to preserve open space and agricultural land. this proposal would be of little use because it applies to so few parcels in the areas where Agricultural PDs tend to occur In those areas nearly all existing tracts are less than 40 acres in size. Caribbean Fruit Fly Host Plants The restrictions on Caribbean fruit fly host plants are necessary to protect citrus production. one of the county's largest industries. While these restrictions are currently in place on agriculturally designated land. many active citrus groves exist within the urban service area. The proposed amendment expands these restrictions to include developments within the urban service area. For these reasons. the proposed amendment is reasonable. March 20, 2001