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For the past four months, county officials, agricultural leaders and members of the community have been meeting to shape the future of San Benito County’s farmland. The effort will culminate in the Agricultural Element—or Ag Element—a long-term policy document that will be embedded in the county’s General Plan.
On April 15, the group held its third session, which focused on key definitions and draft regulations that will impact the county’s agricultural sector. Principal Planner Arielle Goodspeed, who led the discussion, said the effort was important because “agriculture is essential to the economy and identity of San Benito County.” Contributing $360 million to the local economy, agriculture is the county’s biggest economic sector.
The most discussed item on the meeting was the definition of “prime farmland,” which, as Goodspeed put it, is simply “the best area for farming—the best soil for growing crops.” A report by ICF, the consultant firm hired by the county to help draft the Ag Element, shows that these lands are located mostly in North County.
ICF offered a definition of prime farmland that was put into consideration. It defines it as the land that “has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops,” taking into account water supply, terrain and climate conditions.
The stakeholders—leaders chosen by San Benito County residents and staff to be part of the Ag Element discussions—argued that the definition wasn’t specific enough and overlooked one key factor: what surrounds that land.
“You’re looking at the water, the soil type, temperature, acidity. But you don’t look at the surrounding environment,” said stakeholder Marian Tobias. “If a high school moves next to it, is it still considered prime ag land?”
Joe Tonascia, a former San Benito County Water District board member and current stakeholder, agreed. He said the definition should consider nearby development, since urban encroachment can diminish the value of farmland. A development, he said, “takes away the classification of prime farm ground, because now I can’t grow the crops that I need to grow to be what is considered a high-valued crop.”
Jessica Wohlander, environmental associate for Green Foothills, also proposed modifying the section of the definition that confined prime farmland to land with a slope of less than 2 percent, arguing it was too restrictive.
Mitigation and livestock policies
The group also discussed a draft mitigation policy for development on prime farmland. Under the proposal, developers would be required to preserve three times the number of acres they build on—either on-site or elsewhere. That would mean, for example, a 10-acre development would require the preservation of 30 acres.
Planning Commissioner and stakeholder Robert Scagliotti said this ratio should be higher. “A three-to-one ratio—that doesn’t seem to be enough,” he said. “It should be, depending on the size of the development, maybe five-to-one, at least. If they want to develop 100 acres, they should go out and purchase 500 to 600 acres of prime farmland.”
This ratio, according to ICF consultant Sally Zeff, is higher than in Monterey’s County, where it is two-to-one outside of community areas, rural centers and affordable housing zones.
County officials also sought feedback on proposed changes to the zoning code and animal ordinances. The group reviewed a draft policy that would revise the minimum lot size for subdivisions and increase the required distance between grazing areas and neighboring cropland. Under the proposal, livestock grazing land would need to maintain an 800-foot setback from the nearest active commercial crop on an adjacent property. These changes, introduced by the San Benito County Board of Supervisors, have been brought to the ag community for input before any decisions are made.
Realtor Jason Noble, speaking during public comment, said the proposed 800-foot setback “frightened” him and would impose restrictions on local farmers. Holding a map, he pointed to a 40-acre property on Murphy Road, surrounded by vineyards, that would no longer qualify for livestock use under the new rule.
“The minute this is adopted,” he said, the owner “can’t do anything with his land because of the setbacks. He is literally unable to use it for anything other than a home site.”
Stakeholder Kay Filice said that, though food safety standards, which dictate such setbacks, have become more and more “stringent,” farmers have to find a way to adapt.
“If we’re going to supply food to Walmart, Costco and Wegmans, all of these other companies that are putting the food safety standards on us, we have to comply or they will not buy the product,” she said.
Goodspeed said county staff will incorporate all public and stakeholder comments to bring back new definitions and modified rules, which will be reviewed at the next meeting on June 3. The first full draft of the Ag Element is expected to be completed this summer for public review, and a final version for adoption is expected next winter.
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