Title HEARING - Planning and Building Department, Current Planning Division, recommending the Board consider Williamson Act Contract WAC24-0001/Jones Agricultural Preserve requesting to amend an existing Williamson Act Contract (Agricultural Preserve Number 77) beginning a partial roll out of Assessor’s Parcel Number 321-030-005, consisting of 12.9 acres with Assessor’s Parcel Number 321-030-005 remaining within Agricultural Preserve Number 77, in the Gold Hill area, submitted by Kevin Jones and take the following actions:
1) Find that the project is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines pursuant to Section 15317 (Establishment of Agricultural Preserve);
2) Approve Williamson Act Contract WAC24-0001 removing APN 321-030-005-000 from existing Agricultural Preserve Number 77, based on the Findings (Attachment D);
3) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign said Williamson Act Contract (Attachment C); and
4) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 118-2026 amending an Agricultural Preserve for said Williamson Act Contract (Attachment B).
(District 4)
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The California Land Conservation Act of 1965, also known as the Williamson Act, was created to reduce increasing property taxes on agricultural land. When the Act was adopted, rising property taxes were making it difficult for farmers and ranchers to stay on their land. Under the Williamson Act, the owner of agricultural land may enter into a contract with the County if the landowner agrees to restrict the use of the land to the production of commercial crops or the raising and grazing of livestock for a term of not less than 10 years. The term of the contract is automatically extended each year unless the landowner or the County serves a notice of nonrenewal. The law also requires the County to establish an agricultural preserve and base the property tax assessment with the assumption that the highest and best use of the land is for agricultural or open space purposes. This often results in a lower property tax assessment than similar lands that have no Williamson Act contract.
Request to consider Williamson Act Contract WAC24-0001/Jones Agricultural Preserve was submitted by Kevin Jones on behalf of Jeannine Theresa Altmeyer to amend Agricultural Preserve Number 77, to begin a partial roll out and remove APN 321-030-007. APN 321-030-005 (41.4 acres) would remain within Agricultural Preserve 77 and would continue to meet the minimum requirements for an agricultural preserve. The project parcel is located on the south side of Wallace Road, approximately 2,160 ft west of the intersection with Pear Ridge Rd, in the Gold Hill area of Supervisorial District 4.
The remaining agricultural preserve has an income of $47,500 in black truffle, apricot and sunflower sales with associated agricultural capital improvements of $64,000, as verified by the Agricultural Department.
ALTERNATIVES
N/A
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel, Assessor, Agricultural Commission
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The proposed action results in minimal impact to the General Fund's property tax revenues. Tax reduction under the Williamson Act is based on the use of the land and not its market value.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair’s signature on Williamson Act Contract.
2) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair’s signature on Resolution XX-2026.
3) The Clerk of the Board will send fully executed Williamson Act Contract and Resolution to Clerk of the Planning Commission.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Aaron Mount, Planning Manager
Planning and Building Department