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ANALYSIS <br /> Background <br /> On September 24, 2018, Code Enforcement No. EN-1800411 was initiated at the project site for grading <br /> an elevated pad without proper grading permits, installing cargo containers without the benefit of a permit, <br /> and Recreational Vehicle storage in the General Agriculture,40-acre minimum (AG-40)zone.The applicant <br /> has obtained grading permits for the elevated pad. The parcel is located within the Federal Emergency <br /> Management Agency Designated Flood Hazard Area designated as Zone AE and the 100-year flood <br /> elevation is approximately 22-feet NAVD 1988. If the project is approved, all of the proposed development <br /> will be required to be elevated. <br /> On December 18, 2018, this Use Permit was deemed complete for processing. The original project <br /> description included a request for up to 3,000 chickens, as well as a proposal for an animal processing <br /> facility. This project was originally scheduled to be heard at the February 6, 2020, Planning Commission. <br /> Right before the Planning Commission hearing date, the Community Development Department (CDD) <br /> received comments from various property owners and a representative of Reclamation District 2058 <br /> requesting additional time to review the potential environmental impacts of the project. After reviewing the <br /> comments, CDD requested that the Planning Commission continue the project to a date uncertain in order <br /> to address the concerns raised by the letters.The continuance was granted and CDD worked diligently with <br /> the applicant to revise the project to address the concerns of the public and agencies. <br /> The project was subsequently heard at the August 20, 2020, Planning Commission meeting. The Planning <br /> Commission directed staff to work with the applicant's team to address the Commission's concerns <br /> regarding adequate staffing of the facility, the shelter of chickens, the size of the chicken pens, and the <br /> storage and removal of collected manure. The project was modified and now proposes to hire three (3)full <br /> time employees, and two (2) part time employees to manage the daily activities on-site. The applicant has <br /> reduced the number of chickens from the previously proposed maximum of 1,500 chickens to a maximum <br /> of 1,000 chickens. The applicant also reconfigured the chicken enclosure and increased the size of the <br /> enclosure from 6,000 square feet to 19,000 square feet. Additionally, the applicant has added a proposed <br /> 100 square foot, covered, four (4) sided building for the storage of manure. The applicant proposes to <br /> collect manure twice a week from the animals and store it in the enclosed building, and then take it to an <br /> approved disposal facility a minimum of once per week. This information is included in a revised Manure <br /> Management Plan (MMP) that was submitted for review to the Environmental Health Department (EHD), <br /> and has been approved. This project is required as a condition of approval to operate consistently with the <br /> approved MMP. The animal processing operation remains unchanged from the original proposal. <br /> Project Level Approval <br /> This project proposes to establish two separate uses. The first use, animal processing, is classified as the <br /> Agricultural Processing-Food Manufacturing use type, which may be conditionally permitted in the General <br /> Agriculture, 40-acre minimum (AG-40) zone with an approved Use Permit application. The second use, a <br /> chicken farm, is classified as the Animal Raising-Small use type, which may be conditionally permitted in <br /> the AG-40 zone with an approved Site Approval application. Development Title Section 9-220.7 states that <br /> projects that require more than one (1)type of application may be processed concurrently, and the Director <br /> shall determine the sequence for action by the Review Authorities. In this case, the Site Approval <br /> component for the project is subordinate to the Use Permit component; therefore, this project is processed <br /> under the Use Permit application procedure. <br /> The applicant also states that he will have a variety of other livestock, such as cattle, sheep and goats. <br /> These animals will be located on the remainder of the parcel and will graze outside of the chicken enclosure. <br /> A land use permit is not required to have cattle, sheep and goats on a parcel of this size pursuant to <br /> Development Title Tables 9-605.2 (Uses in Agricultural Zones) and 9-1045.3 (Animal Standards). <br /> Flood Zone <br /> As discussed above, the project site is in the AE flood designation. As a result, any new buildings <br /> constructed in the flood zone must be elevated a minimum of 22 feet above grade on an elevated pad. As <br /> a condition of approval, the Department of Public Works will require that all new construction and the <br /> Planning Commission Staff Report, PA-1800316 (UP) 5 <br />