Mendocino County Municipal Code Ch. 20.508 Agricultural Resources

This Chapter shall apply to all lands designated AG or RL within the County of Mendocino's Coastal Zone.

(Ord. No. 3785 (part), adopted 1991)

The purpose of this Chapter is to insure that the maximum amount of agricultural land shall be maintained in agricultural production to assure the protection of the area's agricultural economy.

All other lands suitable for agricultural use shall not be converted to non-agricultural uses unless (1) continued or renewed agricultural use is not feasible, or (2) such conversion would preserve prime agricultural land or concentrate development consistent with Section 30250. Any such permitted conversion shall be compatible with continued agricultural use on surrounding lands.

(Ord. No. 3785 (part), adopted 1991)

An owner of property within an agricultural district, either AG or RL, may request agricultural preserve status under a Williamson Act contract pursuant to Chapter 22.08 of the Mendocino County Code. No permit shall be issued to convert prime lands and/or land under Williamson Act contracts to non-agricultural uses, without complying with Chapter 22.08 of the Mendocino County Code and making supplemental findings pursuant to Section 20.532.100(B)(2) and making the finding that continued, renewed, or potential agricultural use of the property is not feasible based upon an economic feasibility evaluation prepared pursuant to Section 20.524.015(C)(3).

(Ord. No. 3785 (part), adopted 1991)

Development adjacent to agriculturally designated parcels is subject to the following:

(A) Development Adjacent to Agriculturally Designated Parcels.

(1) No new dwellings in a residential area shall be located closer than two hundred (200) feet from an agriculturally designated parcel unless there is no other feasible building site on the parcel.

(2) New parcels shall not be created that would result in a dwelling within two hundred (200) feet of an agriculturally designated parcel.

(B) Development Adjacent to Type I Agricultural Preserves.

(1) New parcels created adjacent to Type I Agricultural Preserves shall be a minimum of five (5) acres, however, parcels designated Clustering Development Combining District (:CL) or Planned Unit Development Combining District (:PD) may be developed at a density specified by the base zone provided that no dwelling is closer than two hundred (200) feet from the property line of the Preserve or at the furthest feasible point from said property line.

(C) Development Adjacent to Type II Agricultural Preserve.

(1) New parcels created adjacent to Type II Agricultural Preserve shall be a minimum of ten (10) acres, however, parcels designated Clustering Development Combining District (:CL) or Planned Unit Development Combining District (:PD) may be developed at a density specified by the base zone provided that no dwelling is closer than two hundred (200) feet from the property line of the Preserve or at the furthest feasible point from said property line.

(Ord. No. 3785 (part), adopted 1991)