Prior to the election, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the expansion of Special Hearts Farm in the Avalon Rural Settlement.

The controversial proposal brought concerns about setting a precedent in the rural settlement for denser development. The request changed the Future Land Use Map from Rural Settlement to Institutional, and rezoned the land to Planned Development District.

To address the concerns of residents, Special Hearts made multiple changes to their plan to mitigate concerns. The training facility was reduced from 25,000 sq ft to 15,000 sq ft, event barn reduced from 5,000 sq ft to 3,500 sq ft, and decreased the number of overnight residents from 50 to 30.

Orange County placed 25 different conditions on the approval that must be met, which include:

• Turn lanes from Avalon Road, if a traffic study warrants them
• Buildings limited to 1 story
• Minimum building setback of 150 feet from the western property boundary
• Outdoor speakers are prohibited
• Maximum 50 students and 20 staff at training facility
• Maximum 30 residents
• Farm will not be open to the public except for special events
• No more than 12 special events shall occur per year
• Events are restricted to Special Hearts Farm and other entities are restricted
• Shade trees around the property perimeter
• Fence around the property perimeter

Special Hearts Farm is a non profit organization that serves individuals with disabilities by providing training, supported employment, and possible business opportunities related to farming and gardening experiences.