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Consider introducing an ordinance adding Article III to Chapter 2.2 of the Solano County Code concerning Agricultural Lands and Operations to define and implement an agricultural mitigation program; the proposed ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines ??15162, 15307, and 15308
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Published Notice Required? Yes _ __ No __X__
Public Hearing Required? Yes _ __ No __X__
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Read the proposed ordinance by title only and waive further reading by majority vote; and
2. Introduce an ordinance adding Article III to Chapter 2.2 of the Solano County Code concerning Agricultural Lands and Operations to define and implement an agricultural mitigation program (Attachment A).
SUMMARY:
The 2008 Solano County General Plan includes an Agricultural Chapter with goals and policies that promote the long-term protection of agricultural resources within the County. General Plan Implementation Program AG.I-1 specifically directs the County to propose an ordinance that would implement this program by amending code to compensate for the loss of agricultural land:
Create and adopt a farmland conversion mitigation program and ordinance. Require compensation for loss of agricultural land. Establish appropriate mitigation ratios for the program or utilize a graduated mitigation mechanism. The mitigation ratio shall be a minimum of 1.5:1 (1.5 acres of farmland protected through mitigation for each acre of farmland converted). The program shall not present regulatory barriers to agritourism, agricultural services, and agricultural processing in regions and within land use designations where such uses are permitted and encouraged. The program shall also establish mitigation within the same agricultural region as the proposed development project, or within the Agricultural Reserve Overlay district,...
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