title
Approve a professional planning services agreement with PlaceWorks in the amount of $94,104 from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 to assist with development of the Pleasants Valley Agricultural Tourism Zoning Overlay project; Authorize the Director of Resource Management to execute the agreement and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, within budgeted appropriations
body
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. Approve a professional planning services agreement with PlaceWorks in the amount of $94,104 from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 to assist with development of the Pleasants Valley Agricultural Tourism Zoning Overlay project; and
2. Authorize the Director of Resource Management to execute the agreement and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, within budgeted appropriations.
SUMMARY:
The General Plan identifies and describes Pleasants Valley as one of the ten unique agricultural regions within Solano County. At approximately ±4,300 acres, the region is the most diverse agricultural area in the county characterized by small-scale commodity and niche agriculture. The high-quality soils found in this area support everything from horse and livestock operations to wine grapes and organic produce.
The Department is seeking to study establishment of a zoning overlay for a portion of Pleasants Valley to allow for certain agricultural tourism land uses and activities that are ancillary to agricultural production within the region. These uses will be determined through community engagement and County review that builds on the Pleasants Valley visioning work performed in 2021.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with developing the zoning overlay are included in the Department’s FY2025/26 Recommended Budget. The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
Approval of this contract will allow the Department to implement Board goals which recognize, value and support the critical roles of all agricultural lands in the stability and economic well-being of the county. Specifically, development of this overlay will further implement the Board’s expressed priorities pertaining to Economic Development (Priority E.2) and Agricultural Preservation and Development (Priority A.3.). An overlay district in the Pleasants Valley Road area will provide additional flexibility for agricultural operators to establish more value-added uses to their operations. Additionally, development of an overlay district is consistent with General Plan Policy AG.P-29 which “supports the unique agricultural uses found in the interior valleys (Suisun, Pleasants, Vaca, and Lagoon), and encourages the development of complementary agritourism, processing, and commercial uses in these regions”.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors may choose not to approve the proposed contract. Staff does not recommend this alternative because the project will directly implement Board goals and policies intended to support agritourism in the Pleasants Valley Road area and which supports the Board’s priorities of economic development and agricultural preservation.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION