County planning commissioners have started work on the agriculture chapter for the update of the 2001 comprehensive plan.

At their April 2 meeting, they reviewed their proposed changes submitted in March to county planning staff, and took public comments. Discussion will continue on May 7.

Planning commissioners dealt with the comp plan introduction and growth trends in February and March, plus the start on the ag chapter as homework in March.

Growth trend data from 2010 shows agriculture accounts for 3 percent of jobs in the county but 0 percent of the income. A graph shows expenses consistently above revenue for ag operators from 2005 to 2010.

Discussion on April 2 included ag exemption subdivisions as an alternative to large landowners splitting off 35 acre parcels, which don't need county land use approval; also "right to farm" provisions, property rights, and large landowners' rights to sell their land when they want to retire.

Right to farm means: "Just because a developer puts in a subdivision next to a farm and the (subdivision residents) complain, you can't develop around me and then zone me out," county staffers said.

Planning commissioner Gabe Candelaria wanted that made clear in the comp plan.

Planning commissioner Lucy Baizel asked, "Can you turn that around if someone wants to turn 10, 20 acres back to ag?... We need to make sure the subdivision person can't say 'I was here first so she can't have the three goats.'"

Candelaria asked about growing marijuana. "It's technically a farm," he said.

Commissioner Charly Minkler wanted right to farm to include the right to expand into different income streams.

Audience member Denise Bohemier from County Road 106 wants more things to help farmers and ranchers stay in business, such as vegetable stands as a use by right instead of needing a class 2 land use permit. She also cited what might be called ag tourism. "I put up three yurts, and people pay to come milk the goats." She added, "It's more work than doing it yourself."

Longtime rancher Barbara Jefferies from CR 225 wanted specialty crops from local food producers included in ag statistics. "There's a big push for organic local food," she said. That sector is likely to increase and should be considered as agricultural.

Planning commissioner Debby Reber said the term "traditional ag management" implies a large scale operation with ag chemicals. She wanted to make sure organic growers are included.

Jefferies defended often-maligned 35 acre parcels as a way for aspiring farmers or ranchers to be able to afford land.

Mae Morley from CR 127 commented, "I'm glad to see that this is smaller than before, less invasive of our rights" than the 2009-2011 comp plan was perceived to be.

Two percent of the people feed the other 98 percent, Morley said. "We see our ranches as family businesses as well as family tradition and way of life. If we are still in ag, we're here because we want to be. We aren't making millions. My family homesteaded here. We're here because we want to be, but when it's time to sell out, we should have the right."

Bohemier wanted some of the recommendations from the ag section of the 2011 plan carried forward. Planning commissioners scrapped the 2011 draft in late 2011. The only member of that planning commission still on the commission is chairman Jim Tencza.

Betsy Romere, who lives east of Bayfield, cited wording in the current plan introduction about respecting private property rights. "I don't think 'respecting' is strong enough," she said, preferring the word "preserving." She agreed with 35 acre parcels as a way for people to start in ag, and with landowners to be able to sell their land if needed.

Former County Commissioner Wally White, who lives on Grandview, wanted county funding restored to provide cost sharing for private landowners to control noxious weeds. "There's money out there that serves only a very small share of county residents," he said. "Dealing with invasive weeds would benefit the entire county."

Tencza asked Jefferies to get comments from the Cattlemen of what they'd like to see in the ag section.

Planning commissioners indicated general satisfaction with the introduction and growth trend updates. They will certify them later, possibly with other elements, and send them to the county commissioners for their comments. However, it's the planning commission that has authority to approve plan elements.

Work on the infrastructure element is supposed to start in June, followed by extractive resources in August. Tencza said people can submit comments now on parts of the plan scheduled for future discussion, and comments related to ag should be submitted as soon as possible. Draft changes and a place to comment are at http://co.laplata.co.us/departments_and_elected_officials/planning/comprehnsive_plan.

Planning commissioner Tom Gorton commented, "There's no substitute to actually coming to the meetings."

Those are the first Thursday each month, 6 p.m. at the courthouse.