Public testimony will be received on each agenda item as it is called. The applicant is allocated

10 minutes to speak; individual comments are limited to 3 minutes; and individuals representing

a group are allocated 5 minutes. By participating in this meeting, you acknowledge that you are

being recorded.

Items not on the agenda may be addressed by the general public during Public Forum.

Comments are limited to 3 minutes per person. The Commission reserves the right to waive said

rules by a majority vote. Public Forum is for comments only. No action will be taken on these

items unless they are scheduled on a future agenda.

The Agricultural Commission meeting will be in-person and live-streamed via Zoom. Members of

the public may address the Commission in-person and via Zoom to make a public comment. The

public should call into 530-621-7603 or 530-621-7610. The Meeting ID is 823 8243 0108.

Please note you will not be able to join the live-stream until the posted meeting start time.

To observe the live stream of the Commission meeting go to

https://edcgov-us.zoom.us/j/82382430108.

If you are joining the meeting via zoom and wish to make a comment on an item, press the "raise

hand" button.

If you are joining the meeting by phone, press *9 to indicate a desire to make a comment.

Although the County strives to offer remote participation, be advised that remote Zoom

participation is provided for convenience only. In the event of a technological malfunction, the only

assurance of live comments being received by the Commission is to attend in person. Except for

a noticed teleconference meeting, the Commission reserves the right to conduct the meeting

without remote access if there is a malfunction.

If you choose not to observe the Commission meeting but wish to make a comment on a specific

agenda item, please submit your comment in writing. To ensure timely delivery to the Agricultural

Commission, written information from the public must be received by the Agriculture Department

by 4:00 P.M. the last Thursday prior to the meeting. Please submit your comment to the Clerk of

the Commission at eldcag@edcgov.us. Your comment will be placed into the record and

forwarded to Commission members.

NOTICE: All Agricultural Commission Administrative Relief decisions pertaining to

AGRICULTURAL SETBACKS may file an application with the Board of Supervisors within 10

days of the decision. Such applications shall be made to the Development Services Department.

MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER 4:00PM

6 - Boeger, Draper, Tong, Mansfield, Bolster and Walker

1 - Neilsen

Present:

Absent:

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR

A motion was made by Bolster, seconded by Tong, to Adopt the Agenda and

Approve the Consent Calendar this matter.

6 - Boeger, Draper, Tong, Mansfield, Bolster and Walker

1 - Neilsen

Yes:

Absent:

CONSENT CALENDAR

25-1717

Agricultural Commission Minutes of September 10, 2025.

Approved

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

PUBLIC FORUM

Comment received from David Spar regarding thanking the Commission from

SEED.

Public Forum is an opportunity for members of the public to address the Commission on subject

matter that is not on their meeting agenda and within their jurisdiction. Public comments during

Public Forum are limited to three minutes per person. The Commission Chair may limit public

comment during Public Forum.

ACTION ITEMS

25-1719

Reconsideration of the Lime Rock Valley Specific Plan and Applicable

General Plan Policies.

Reconsideration of the Lime Rock Valley Specific Plan and Applicable General

Plan Policies

During the Agricultural Commission’s regularly scheduled in person and ZOOM

meeting held on October 8,2025, a request for reconsideration for the

above-referenced project was presented to the Agricultural Commission by the

Director of Planning and the Applicant.

The request for the Agricultural Commission to reassess the grazing capability

of the parcels involved, considering the new documentation provided by the

applicant. The parcels are located approximately 2 miles due south of the U.S.

Highway 50/Cameron Park Drive Interchange in the Shingle Springs area,

Supervisorial District 2.

Project Description:

The project description has not changed from what was presented on August 14,

2024

A) Lime Rock Valley Specific Plan proposal

The proposed Specific Plan (SP12-0003) is to establish Lime Rock Valley

Specific Plan (LRVSP), which proposes 800 residential units on 358 acres, an

8-acre village park, and 335 acres of open space.

-All project parcels (APN 109-010-013, 109-010-014, 109-020-001, 109-020-004,

109-020-005, 109-020-006, and 119-030-013) are zoned Rural Lands, Ten-acres

(RL-10), Rural Lands, Twenty-acres (RL-20), Rural Lands, Forty acres (RL-40), or

Open Space (OS) with a General Plan Land Use Designation of Rural

Residential (RR) and Open Space (OS).

-The largest subject parcel, APN 109-020-001, measures approximately 391.47

acres and contains a Grazing Land farmland overlay of on roughly half the

parcel on its eastern and northern portions. This parcel is surrounded by

existing residential development to the north, east, and partially along the

southern boundary of this parcel.

- Other subject parcels, including APN 109-020-005, 109-010-013, and 109-010-014,

approximately or possibly less than 40 acres each, contain Grazing Land

farmland overlay of less than 5 acres in size on the northeast or southwest

corners of the parcels.

-The property is adjacent to Residential, Agricultural/Rural/Resource, and

Special Purpose zoning: Residential Estates, Five-acres (RE-5) and Planned

Agricultural, Ten-acres (PA-10) to the north (APNs 109-090-005, 06, 10, & 11

contain PA zoning); RE-5 to the east; RL-10 to the west (APNs 109-010-103 & 14);

RE-5, RL-40, and OS to the south (APN 109-020-004 contains OS zoning, APN

109-020-005 contains RL-40 zoning). The adjacent parcels are designated as

Grazing Land, Other Land, and Farmland of Local Importance.

Discussion:

1.)Grazing Policy

Policy 8.1.2.2 Some lands within Rural Regions have historically been used for

commercial grazing of livestock and are currently capable of sustaining

commercial grazing of livestock. If they can be demonstrated to be suitable

land for grazing, and if they were not assigned urban or other nonagricultural

uses in the Land Use Map for the 1996 General Plan, those lands shall be

protected with a minimum of 40 acres unless such lands already have smaller

parcels or the Board of Supervisors determines that economic, social, or other

considerations justify the creation of smaller parcels for development or other

nonagricultural uses. Where 40-acre minimum parcel sizes are maintained,

planned developments may be considered which are consistent with the

underlying land use designation. Before taking any actions to create parcels of

less than 40 acres in areas subject to this policy, the Board of Supervisors

and/or Planning El Dorado County General Plan Agriculture and Forestry

Element July 2004 (Amended December 2015) Page 171 Commission shall solicit

and consider input from the Agricultural Commission;

Staff Original Findings:

The land use designation for these parcels is RR- rural residential. At this

designation the grazing policy would apply. APN 109-020-001 contains the

majority of this historical grazing land and could potentially be capable of

sustaining commercial grazing. The historical grazing covered on this parcel

by the Land Use Map of 1996 is approximately 215 acres.

As such this parcel requires a recommendation from the Agricultural

Commission before any parcels are created smaller than 40 acres.

Government code section 65565, a. (1) directs counties as follows:

(a) A city or county may develop an agricultural land component of the city or

county’s open-space element or a separate agricultural land element. If a city

or county chooses to develop an agricultural land component of the open-space

element or an agricultural land element, the agricultural land component of the

open-space element or the agricultural land element shall do the following:

(1) Identify and map, utilizing the designations in the Farmland Monitoring and

Mapping Program or soil surveys conducted by the United States Natural

Resources Conservation Service where applicable, agricultural lands within the

city’s or county’s jurisdiction.

Consistently FMMP grazing land designations have used to identify lands that

were historically used for grazing in regards to this policy. The Department of

Conservation developed this category in cooperation with the California

Cattlemen's Association, University of California Cooperative Extension, and

other groups interested in the extent of grazing activities. This is land on which

the existing vegetation is suited to the grazing of livestock.

Commissioner Nielsen stated at the August 14, 2024 meeting that he believed

that it had the vegetation and capacity to carry 40 pairs of cattle. This land also

has the capacity to carry larger amounts of smaller livestock.

Current Findings:

Staff has reviewed the applicant’s new memorandum and continues to believe

the findings made at the August 14, 2024 Agricultural Commission meeting are

still applicable.

Chair Boeger brought the item back to the Commission for discussion. The

applicants remained available. Public comments were received in the Board

room. For a complete video of this item # 25-1719 discussion please go to the El

Dorado County Website at: County of El Dorado - Calendar (legistar.com)

WAC25-001/Coyle Williamson Act Contract Assessor’s Parcel Number:

089-010-032.

25-1718

During the Agricultural Commission’s regularly scheduled in person and ZOOM

meeting held on October 8,2025, a request to separate APN 089-010-032 (130.21

acres) from Agricultural Preserve Number 72, into a new agricultural preserve.

APNs 089-010-033 (65.82 acres) and 089-010-034 (40 acres) are under separate

ownership and would remain with Agricultural Preserve Number 72.

Planning Request and Project Description:

Planning Services is processing the attached application for a Williamson Act

Contract and requests the project be placed on the Agricultural Commission’s

Agenda.

The applicants are requesting the following:

Request to separate APN 089-010-032 (130.21 acres) from Agricultural Preserve

Number 72, into a new agricultural preserve. APNs 089-010-033 (65.82 acres) and

089-010-034 (40 acres) is under separate ownership and would remain with

Agricultural Preserve Number 72.

Parcel Description:

(New Agricultural Preserve Number)

•

Parcel Number and Acreage: 089-010-032 (130.21 acres)

Agricultural District: Gold Hill, Agricultural Preserve #72

Land Use Designation: Agricultural Land, (AL)

Zoning: Planned Agriculture-20 Acres, (PA-20)

Soil Type:

•

Choice Soils

Auberry coarse sandy loam, 5-9% slopes

Auberry coarse sandy loam, 15-30% slopes

Auberry rocky coarse sandy loam, 5-15% slopes

Sierra sandy loam, 9-15% slopes

Sierra rocky sandy loam, 5-15% slopes

•

Capital Outlay:

•

Current: $56,080.16 in fence repair.

Future Income:

Anticipated Income

Grazing of livestock meeting $2,000.00/ year minimum.

(Existing Agricultural Preserve Number 72)

Parcel Number and Acreage: 089-010-033 (65.82 acres) and 089-010-034 (40

•

acres)

•

Agricultural District: Gold Hill, Agricultural Preserve #72

•

Land Use Designation: Agricultural Land, (AL)

Zoning: Planned Agriculture-20 Acres, (PA-20)

Soil Type:

•

Choice Soils

Auberry coarse sandy loam, 5-9% slopes

Auberry coarse sandy loam, 15-30% slopes

Auberry rocky coarse sandy loam, 5-15% slopes

Sierra sandy loam, 9-15% slopes

Sierra rocky sandy loam, 5-15% slopes

•

Capital Outlay:

$20,000.00 in deer fencing.

$10,000.00 for 50 x 50 equipment shed.

•

$$47,000.00 ag labor housing.

Current Income:

$40,000.00 row crops for farmers markets.

40 goats grazing currently.

Discussion:

A site visit was conducted on September 30, 2025, to assess conformance with

planned Williamson act request.

Staff Findings:

High Intensive Farming Operation

1. Minimum Acreage = 20 contiguous acres.

2. Capital Outlay = $45,000

3. Minimum Gross Income = $13,500/year

Low Intensive Farming Operation

1. Minimum Acreage = 50 contiguous acres.

2. Capital Outlay = $10,000

3. Minimum Gross Income = $2,000/year

Relevant General Plan Policies:

Policy 8.2.4.1B, In the Agriculture and Forestry Element, supports the continued

use of Williamson Act Contracts to provide tax benefits to farms and ranches to

help ensure the long-term conservation of agricultural lands.

Relevant Government Code Sections:

In regard to minimum criteria for agricultural preserves, Government Code

Section 51222 states, “The Legislature further declares that it is in the public

interest for local officials and landowners to retain agricultural lands which are

subject to contracts entered into pursuant to this act in parcels large enough to

sustain agricultural uses permitted under the contracts. For purposes of this

section, agricultural land shall be presumed to be in parcels large enough to

sustain their agricultural use if the land is (1) at least 10 acres in size in the case

of prime agricultural land, or (2) at least 40 acres in size in the case of land

which is not prime agricultural land.”

Staff Recommendations:

Staff recommends approval of WAC 25-0001 based on the above findings as APN

089-010-032 met the WAC requirements as part of Agricultural Preserve 72 and

continues to meet WAC requirements for a Low Intensive Farming Operation on

its own. APN 089-010-033 and 089-010-034 met and continue to meet WAC

requirements for a High Intensive Farming Operation in Agricultural Preserve

72.

Chair Boeger brought the item back to the Commission for discussion. The

applicant was not available and there were no public comments. For a

complete video of this item # 25-1718 discussion please go to the El Dorado

County Website at: County of El Dorado - Calendar (legistar.com)

It was moved by Commissioner Bolster and seconded by Commissioner Walker

to recommend APPROVAL of staff’s findings and recommendations of the above

request for a Williamson Act Contract (WAC) as the requirements for APN

089-010-032 meet the requirements as part of Agricultural Preserve 72 and will

continue to meet WAC requirements for a Low Intensive Farming Operation on

its own. APN 089-010-033 and 089-010-034 met and continue to meet WAC

requirements for a High Intensive Farming Operation in Agricultural Preserve

72.

25-1721

CCUP22-0001/ BH&2K Commercial Cannabis Cultivation Commercial

Cannabis Use Permit Assessor’s Parcel Number: 094-090-010.

CCUP22-0001/ BH&2K Commercial Cannabis Cultivation Commercial Cannabis

Use Permit Assessor’s Parcel Number: 094-090-010

During the Agricultural Commission’s regularly scheduled in person and ZOOM

meeting held on October 8,2025, a request for a Commercial Cannabis Use

Permit for the cultivation of commercial cannabis located at 8260 Fairplay

Road, Somerset, CA-APN: 094-090-010. This application is for 50,000 square feet

of outdoor and 9,990 square feet of mixed light cannabis cultivation, ancillary

activities to cultivation (processing, harvest storage, product packaging), and

transportation-only distribution. The operation will have up to 10 employees.

The applicant’s parcel, APN 094-090-010, is located on the west side of Fairplay

Road approximately 0.3 mile from the intersection with Omo Ranch Road in the

Fairplay area, Supervisorial District 2. The subject parcel is approximately 60.57

and has a zoning designation of Planned Agriculture 20-Acres (PA-20) and a

General Plan Land Use Designation of Agricultural Lands-Agricultural District

(AL-A). The parcel to the north and west is also zoned PA-20, with parcels to the

east and south being zoned Rural Lands (RL).

Parcel Description:

•

Parcel Number and Acreage: 094-090-010, 60.57 acres

Agricultural District: Yes

•

Land Use Designation: Agricultural Lands (AL)

Zoning: Planned Agriculture (PA-20)

Choice Soils:

•

SbD Shaver Coarse Sandy Loam 15 to 30% slopes

HgC Holland Coarse Sandy Loam 9 to 15% slopes

MrD Musick Sandy Loam 15 to 30% slopes

Discussion:

A site visit was conducted on September 25, 2025 to assess the placement of the

proposed cultivation area in regard to surrounding agricultural operations. This

60-acre parcel is isolated from existing agricultural crops. Dense brush along

with topography help to buffer this proposed project site.

Staff Findings:

Staff finds that based on the following analysis of relevant General Plan policies

and County design thresholds for Commercial Cannabis there will be no impact

on agriculture.

Relevant General Plan Policies:

8.1.3.5

On any parcel 10 acres or larger identified as having an existing or potential

agricultural use, the Agricultural Commission must consider and provide a

recommendation on the agricultural use (except for parcels assigned urban or

other non-agricultural uses by the land use map for the 1996 General Plan) or

potential of that parcel and whether the request will diminish or impair the

existing or potential use prior to any discretionary permit being approved.

Regarding Policy 8.1.3.5:

The proposed site for cannabis cultivation is near the center of the property and

surrounded by hilly and wooded terrain. There are no agricultural crops on the

property at this time.

8.1.4.1

The County Agricultural Commission shall review all discretionary development

applications and the location of proposed public facilities involving land zoned

for or designated agriculture, or lands adjacent to such lands, and shall make

recommendations to reviewing authority. Before granting approval, a

determination shall be made by the approving authority that the proposed use:

A. Will not intensify existing conflicts or add new conflicts between adjacent

residential areas and agricultural activities; and

B. Will not create an island effect wherein agricultural lands located between

the project site and other non-agricultural lands will be negatively affected; and

C. Will not significantly reduce or destroy the buffering effect of existing large

parcel sizes adjacent to agricultural lands.

Regarding Policy 8.1.4.1:

The proposed site for cannabis cultivation is isolated from adjoining properties

by being placed in an area surrounded by hilly topography and dense brush

limiting the potential for any conflicts. The proposed project will not affect the

ability of the parcel or adjacent parcel to produce agricultural commodities. No

zoning changes or parcel line adjustments are requested for this project.

2.2.2.2

The purpose of the Agricultural District (-A) overlay designation is to identify the

general areas which contain the majority of the County’s federally designated

prime, State designated unique or important, or County designated locally

important soils (collectively referred to as “choice” agricultural soils) and which

the Board of Supervisors has determined should be preserved primarily for

agricultural uses. This designation does not imply any restrictions on

agricultural uses in areas not designated specifically as an Agricultural District

but only serves to identify agriculture as the principal activity and to discourage

incompatible uses such as higher density residential use.

A. Agricultural Districts shall be used to conserve and protect important

agricultural crop lands and associated activities, maintain viable

agricultural-based communities, and encourage expansion of agricultural

activities and production.

Regarding Policy 2.2.2.2:

Potential future agricultural endeavors on this parcel will not be impacted by

the proposed cultivation area. The cultivation area will partially occur on

choice soils that are currently not being utilized for agricultural purposes. This

permit will be reviewed every two years.

Chair Boeger brought the item back to the Commission for discussion. The

applicant was not available. Public Comment was taken in the Board room and

then on Zoom. Additional public comment was attached to the item in Legistar.

For a complete video of this item # 25-1721 discussion please go to the El

Dorado County Website at: County of El Dorado - Calendar (legistar.com)

It was moved by Commissioner Draper and seconded by Commissioner Walker

that based on staffs findings based on the analysis of relevant General Plan

policies and County design thresholds for Commercial Cannabis as listed above

that there will be no impact on agriculture by granting the Commercial

Cannabis permit on the 60.57 acre parcel located at 8260 Fairplay Road,

Somerset, CA-APN: 094-090-010.