Adopt resolution that modifies the boundary of Agricultural Preserve Nos. 002 and 023 and authorize the execution of new Williamson Act contracts for approximately 169.5 acres of land identified as Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APNs) 048-130-028 and 048-130-029 within the Agricultural Intensive (A-N)/Public Open Space (POS) zones; and determine that the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. (No general fund impact) (Cormier/Gonzalez)

The subject property (APNs: 048-130-028 and 048-130-029) located at 23200 and 23550 State Route (SR) 16 consists of approximately 169.5 acres and is located within the Agricultural Intensive (A-N)/Public Open Space (POS) zones, approximately 0.8 miles west of the community of Capay. APN: 048-130-029 is developed with one dwelling unit and is currently enrolled in the Williamson Act under Agreement No. 73-238 (established November 1973). APN: 048-130-028 is developed with two homesites and is currently enrolled in the Williamson Act under Agreement No. 72-333 (established December 1972). According to recent crop permits, a variety of organic seasonal row crops have been cultivated at the subject property which includes, but is not limited to, tomatoes, wheat, and okra. Portions of the property have also been planted in apricot, fig, citrus, and pistachio orchards.

 

The California Land Conservation Act (Williamson Act) requires that all new contracts be included within an established Agricultural Preserve. There are approximately 102 Agricultural Preserves in the unincorporated area of Yolo County, most of which were established in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and some of which have been expanded to enroll new lands.

 

Approximately 121.49-acres of the subject property were previously subject to Land Use Agreement No. 72-333, located within Agricultural Preserve No. 002, and approximately 48.30 acres of the subject property was subject to Land Use Agreement No. 73-238, located within Agricultural Preserve No. 023. Concurrently with the preparation of new Williamson Act contracts, a lot line adjustment was approved by the County in April 2025 which adjusted the property boundaries to a more desirable configuration to align the existing farming operation with the physical boundaries of the Winters Canal. A new Land Use Agreement has been prepared for each resultant lot created by the lot line adjustment, subsequently enlarging Agricultural Preserve No. 002, and slightly reducing Agricultural Preserve No. 023, to ensure that the property that lies within the existing boundaries of each agricultural preserve will remain contiguous.

In order for the new Williamson Act contracts to be executed for the subject property, Agricultural Preserve No. 002 must be expanded to include 48.30 acres of land previously identified as APN: 048-130-029 and contained within Agricultural Preserve No. 023. Although the enlargement of Agricultural Preserve No. 002 will slightly diminish the size of Agricultural Preserve No. 023, the resultant acreage of Agricultural Preserve No. 023 will greatly exceed the minimum size requirements for the establishment of agricultural preserves (i.e., 100 acres per Gov’t Code Section 51230), which encompasses more than 1,000 acres of nearby lands in Capay Valley.

The subject property adequately meets the County’s eligibility criteria for establishing contracts under the Williamson Act, which is supported by the 2030 Countywide General Plan’s goals and policies for conserving, preserving, and enhancing agricultural lands. The procedural requirements to amend the boundaries of Agricultural Preserve Nos. 002 and 023 have been met and the minimum acreage requirements for agricultural preserves have been satisfied. Staff recommends the Board of Supervisors to enroll the 169.537 acres into new Williamson Act contracts (Attachment C.1 and C.2).

The Office of the County Counsel has approved the resolution and new Williamson Act contract agreements as to form.