Week Seventeen: The Little House On the Hilltop Project

HIGHLIGHTS: Pole Barn Departs Again. Fast-Tracking an Ag Structure with PSU Architects. What Makes It an Ag Building? Moving Along: To Do List.

COUNTDOWN: 26 WEEKS

It’s now been seventeen weeks since The Little House On the Hilltop (TLHOTH) project began. Where are we now?

There’s a big life tenet I’m finally coming around to understanding, and that is, roll with it. Too much of my energy has been wasted on expectations that never pan out, and what I’m finding is that it’s so much easier to be that river and flow.

Buh-Bye Pole Barn, For Now  Feels like I’m plucking a pole barn daisy: we will build a pole barn, we will not build a pole barn, we will build one, we will not. etc. Poor pole barn. But that’s how it is, for now….ha! Because the new line of thought has been to get a professionally designed building up. Quickly. Let’s see what we can do.

PSU Architects On a Mission to Build  So, the last time I wrote, I said it was impossible to get a building up this year if we went through PSU, citing timelines as the reason. That was based on the idea of a fully commercial building that would have to pass through Wasco County Planning. Well, we’re back on again, working toward a structure that we will try our best to put up this summer/fall. I don’t know how, really, but we’re going for it.

It has to be an agricultural structure for it to pass County scrutiny, so agricultural structure it is. Yes, one designed by architects. It will be one special ag building. And the county will still have to ok it, but with less scrutiny since it’s not a commercial building. Yet the deeper I get into the details of all THAT makes me think a preliminary meet-and-greet with the County is in order. And don’t even begin to ask me where the heck we’ll find the funds. Where there’s a will there’s a way, oder?

So What is An Agricultural Structure, Really?  Our PSU architects were wondering, as they must design one. And what an Austrian thinks of an ag structure is different than what Scott and I do. Of course the easiest answer is, an ag structure is one used for ag purposes! But when talking with those two, it’s clear what people’s ideas are: it’s a barn. It’s a shed. It’s a?? Whatever it is, to me an ag building is one of the clearest examples of a structure’s function creating its form. If you think about it, most ag structures are barebones, and structures will be different, depending on the ag use associated.

So here’s what Wasco County says an Ag structure is:

“1. Agricultural Structure:  Buildings and structures other than dwellings customarily provided in conjunction with farm use subject to meeting the definition in Section 1.090, Definitions.”

And here’s Section 1.090, Definitions:

“Agricultural Structure – In any zone a building or structure may be considered in conjunction with farm use, as defined in this Chapter or ORS 215.203 subject to the following:

All buildings and structures

a. The lot or parcel is enrolled in a farm deferral program with the County Assessor;

b. The owner provides a farm management plan that is reviewed and approved by the Planning Department;

Agricultural Exempt Buildings Only

c.            The owner submits a signed floor plan showing that only farm related uses will occupy the building space; and

d. The owner will file a restrictive covenant in the deed records of Wasco County agreeing the it will be used solely as will be solely used as an agricultural building as defined by ORS 455.315(2).”

And here is what they say about “farm use”:

“Farm Use -The current employment of land for the primary purpose of obtaining a profit in money by raising, harvesting and selling crops or the feeding, breeding, management and sale of, or the produce of, livestock, poultry, fur-bearing animals or honeybees or for dairying and the sale of dairy products or any other agricultural or horticultural use or animal husbandry or any combination thereof.

Farm use includes the preparation, storage and disposal by marketing or otherwise of the products or by-products raised on such land for human or animal use. Farm use also includes the current employment of land for the primary purpose of obtaining a profit in money by stabling or training equines including but not limited to providing riding lessons, training clinics and schooling shows.”

Well, I already have a headache, not about what defines an ag building, or farm use, that’s pretty clear, but of all the red tape that lies ahead. I mean, take a look at this, for what on all outside appearances looks like a pretty standard machinery and hay storage structure. Holy guacamole, batman! Granted this structure is near some wetlands and that is its own can of worms, but my goodness! I’ve been told that Wasco County is one of the strictest counties in Oregon with regards to what can and can’t be done on the surrounding landscape. It’s all with the best intentions, obviously, to maintain the integrity and character of the area, but I hope I never start to feel that the rules are blinding, and that nobody knows what even matters anymore, or cares.

To Do:

• Keep moving forward with architects.
• Brainstorm fund-raising ideas. Should I return to lotto? Hmmm.
• Make appointment to meet with the County.