COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

 

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AGENCY

 

DATE:

October 24, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

November 8, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

10 days within 300 ft.

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 
 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

 

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director of Environmental Services

 

SUBJECT:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Consideration of a request to establish a Farmland Security Zone Contract for three parcels totaling 322.77 acres, and establishment of a Class B Agricultural Preserve for four parcels totaling 539.83 acres located near Cabrillo Highway and Higgins Purisima Road in the unincorporated Half Moon Bay area of San Mateo County.

 

RECOMMENDATION

1.

Find that the request is consistent with the County General Plan, the Planned Agricultural/Coastal Development Zoning District, the California Land Conservation Act, and the Board of Supervisors Resolutions Nos. 65067 and 44396, relating to the implementation of the California Land Conservation Act in San Mateo County.

   

2.

Adopt a Resolution to establish the subject property as an agricultural preserve and authorize execution of California Land Conservation Contracts regarding the subject property.

   

VISION ALIGNMENT

Commitment: Preserve and provide people access to our natural environment.

 

Goals 14 and 15: Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship; residents have nearby access to green space, such as parks and recreation opportunities.

 

The execution of the California Land Conservation Contracts contributes to these goals by maintaining and preserving agricultural land and open space for future generations.

 

BACKGROUND

Proposal: The applicant, Peninsula Open Space Trust, is requesting the approval of a Farmland Security Zone Contract for three parcels comprised of 322.77 acres and a Class B Agricultural Preserve for four parcels totaling 539.83 acres in the Planned Agricultural/Coastal Development Zoning District.

 

Farmland Security Zone contracts are different from regular Type A/Type B Williamson Act contracts in that the former: (1) must involve two or more contiguously-owned parcels (versus a single parcel qualifying for Williamson Act contract), (2) must combine to at least 100 acres (versus a minimum of 40 acres), and (3) whose contract is for 20 years (versus the regular 10-year contract). While the other contract provisions and use restrictions are similar to those under the Williamson Act, the parcel’s assessable value is further reduced from one under a Williamson Act contract, resulting in greater annual property tax savings.

 

Planning Commission Action: The Planning Commission voted 5-0 to recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution to establish the subject property as an agricultural preserve and execute California Land Conservation Contracts regarding the subject property.

 

DISCUSSION

The Planning Commission has reviewed the applicant’s proposal and recommends that the Board of Supervisors find that the request is consistent with the County General Plan, the Planned Agricultural/Coastal Development Zoning District, the California Land Conservation Act, and the Board of Supervisors’ Resolutions Nos. 65067 and 44396, relating to the implementation of the California Land Conservation Act in San Mateo County. The Planning Commission also recommends the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution establishing the subject property as an agricultural preserve and execute California Land Conservation Contracts regarding the subject property.

 

FISCAL IMPACT

The San Mateo County Assessor’s Office has calculated that approval of this agricultural preserve application will result in an estimated yearly loss of taxes of $14,542 for the County. Of the total estimated yearly loss in taxes to the County, about $771.30 per year ($1.00 per acre for non-prime land) would be replaced by State subvention money designated to assist County implementation of the Williamson Act. The estimated loss to the County and affected school districts per year is as follows:

JURISDICTION

AMOUNT OF TAX LOSS

San Mateo County

$14,542

 

Cabrillo Unified School District

$23,569

 

San Mateo Junior College District

$4,161

 

County Office of Education

$2,166

 

TOTAL

$44,438