Adopt resolution that modifies the boundaries of Agricultural Preserve Nos. 064 and 098; authorize execution of a new Williamson Act contract on an approximately 418.268-acre property (APN: 053-030-011) within the Agricultural Intensive (A-N) zone; determine that the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. (No General Fund Impact) (Lindbo/Gonzalez)

The subject property (APN: 053-050-011) located at 1761 State Route (SR) 45 is approximately 418.268 acres in size, located within the Agricultural Intensive (A-N) zone approximately 6 miles east of the community of Dunnigan. The property is developed with a manufactured home and an accessory structure used to store agricultural implements and is currently enrolled within the Williamson Act under Agreement No. 02-047 (established January 2002). According to recent crop permits, a variety of seasonal row crops have been cultivated at the site which include, but are not limited to, process tomatoes, wheat, onion seed, watermelon, corn, and sunflower.

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 338.18-acres of the subject property were previously subject to Land Use Agreement No. 02-047, located within Agricultural Preserve No. 098, and approximately 80 acres of the subject property was subject to Land Use Agreement No. 72-063, located within Agricultural Preserve No. 064. Concurrently with the preparation of a new Williamson Act contract, a Lot Line Adjustment was approved in October 2022 which added the 80 acres to the subject property. A new Land Use Agreement has been prepared to include the total acreage under a new contract, subsequently enlarging Agricultural Preserve No. 098 to ensure that the entire property is contained within the same agricultural preserve.

In order for a new Williamson Act contract to be executed for the subject property, the Board must expand Agricultural Preserve No. 098 to include 80 acres of land previously identified as APN: 053-050-002 and contained within Agricultural Preserve No. 064. Although the enlargement of Agricultural Preserve No. 098 will slightly diminish Agricultural Preserve No. 064, the resultant acreage of Agricultural Preserve No. 064 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 thousands of acres in the northeast quadrant of Yolo County.

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. 098 and 064 have been met, and the minimum acreage requirements for agricultural preserves have been satisfied. Staff recommends the Board of Supervisors to enroll the 418.268-acre parcel into a new Williamson Act contract (Attachment C).

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