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Definition ,of Use Classes and Listing of Uses for the Agricultural and Open Space (AO) District Definition of the Various Use Classes: Permitted bF right. This means that the land use is considered completely compatible in the district and no further govemmental review is needed. Permitted based on standards. This means that the land use in question could be compatible with the district as long as it meets certain standards. For example, a gas station may be completely appropriate in a residential district if it is built on a smaller scale than the gas stations found on major commercial corridors with multiple pumps, twenty-four hour operation, and lit signage. This concept, new to the practice of zoning in Cabarms, is known variously as "performance" or "flexible" zomng. Many of the PBS uses have more than one standard. When an applicant cannot meet all of the standards for a use under consideration, he or she may ask for a variance. How to ask for a variance is explained in Chapter Twelve, Section 12-20. All land uses that are considered "PBS" appear in the chart at the end of Chapter Seven. Conditional use. This means that the land use considered needs to be reviewed by a public body, in this case, the Planning & Zoning Commission serving as a Board of Adjustment. Often, these are land uses with the potential for far reaching consequences. A public airport is a good example. The creation of an airport may profoundly effect an area's transportation system, may greatly affect surrounding land use from a noise standpoint, etc. Accordingly, these types of land use merit consideration and debate in a public forum. In order to assure compatibility with surrounding land use, reasonable conditions may be placed on the development of the property. All land uses that are conditional appear in the chart at the end of this Chapter. Agricultural District Definition: Agricultural/open. This district is comprised mostly of lands usually found on the eastern side of the County which, due to physical characteristics such as soil type, topography, etc., should remain agrarian. To a lesser degree, these are also those lands which are conducive to providing recreationally oriented open space. These land areas should remain the farmland and undeveloped/forested land of the County. Public utilities will not be planned for these areas. Consequently, residential uses that support those working and/or owning the land, home occupations allied with existing residences, and very limited business endeavor are envisioned as complementary to the area. In sum, the primary activity of these lands is agricultural - housing and business are typically related to and supportive of the practice of modem day agriculture. It is not, however, improbable that a small hamlet type settlement might evolve in this zoning district. As to those areas constituting open space, manmade uses must take care to enhance and not detract from the essential character of the area. Rationale: Cabarrus County, due largely to its proximity to the Charlotte/Mecklenburg metropolitan area, is in a growth mode which will, in all probability, continue. While the issue of farmland preservation may ultimately be more driven by market economics, it still behooves policy makers to prudently attempt some farmland preservation. Less a matter of market economics is the concept of retaining unspoiled, undeveloped lands for future generations to enjoy.