Adopt resolution that expands Agricultural Preserve No. 056 and authorizes the execution of a new Williamson Act contract consisting of approximately 1,055 acres (APNs: 044-040-017, 044-040-024, 044-040-025, 044-040-036, 044-090-002, 044-090-017, 044-090-018, 044-090-019, 044-120-007, 044-120-009, 044-120-021, and 044-120-022) within the Agricultural Intensive (A-N)/Clarksburg Agricultural District Overlay (CADO) zones; and determine that the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. (No general fund impact) (Lindbo/Gonzalez)

The subject property consists of 1,055 acres and is located northwest of the community of Clarksburg near Winchester Lake off Pumphouse Road. The majority of the property is dedicated to farming, which includes minor homesite development on APNs: 044-090-017 and 044-040-036.  Three gas wells are also present. The property is located within the Agricultural Intensive (A-N)/Clarksburg Agricultural District Overlay (CADO) zones and is planted in seasonal row crops and vineyards.

The California Land Conservation Act (Williamson Act) authorizes counties and cities to contract with owners of agricultural land to preserve the agricultural uses on the property during the term of the agreement in exchange for reduced property tax bills. The 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.

Most of the property is currently under contract and the owner of the subject property would like to enroll the entire 1,055-acre property into a new Agreement, but APN: 044-120-021 and APN: 044-120-022 are not currently enrolled and are not in an Agricultural Preserve. Thus, Agricultural Preserve No. 056 will be enlarged to include APN: 044-120-021 (64.09 ac), APN: 044-120-022 (10.62 ac), and the entirety of the subject property will be enrolled under one Agreement.

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 No. 056 have been met and the minimum acreage requirements for agricultural preserves has been satisfied. Staff therefore recommends the Board of Supervisors expand Agricultural Preserve No. 056 and enroll the 1,055 acres into a new Williamson Act contract (Attachment C).

Expanding the Agricultural Preserve and enrolling the entirety of the property in a Williamson Act Agreement will serve to preserve the agricultural uses of the land, and therefore will not have a significant effect on the environment. The action is therefore exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

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