The Monterey County Agricultural and Historical Land Conservancy, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of regional agricultural and historic resources, has indicated their interest in applying for a grant from the California Department of Conservation’s California Farmland Conservancy Program to acquire an agricultural easement on the 191-acre Level Lea Farm in Pescadero.
There are seven contiguous parcels under one ownership that make up the 191-acre site. Two of the parcels will not be purchased by the Conservancy – they are the locations of the two homes bordering Pescadero Road. The remaining five parcels are made up of approximately 90 acres of irrigated farmland, and approximately 100 acres of natural/undeveloped property, including portions of Pescadero and Butano Creeks.
The parcels have five density credits attached to them. With the purchase by the Conservancy, three of those credits will no longer be available. The remaining two will remain with the two unpurchased parcels.
The site is currently owned by the Reynolds family. Meredith Reynolds is a former member and chair of the Pescadero Municipal Advisory Council.
The grant, as provided by the Department of Conservation’s California Farmland Conservancy Program, would allow the farm to remain in permanent protection as an agricultural asset in the County. By allowing the application to move forward, the Board will indicate its desire to further protection of diminishing agricultural land in the County, protect the area from any potential future development, and protect the Pescadero view shed.
| 