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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11041997 - D14 Contra TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS —� f =F costa FROM: DENNIS M. BARRY, AICP o; , _ County n +;'IIIIAh _ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR CA ST'`i COUK� DATE: NOVEMBER 4, 1997 SUBJECT: MARSH CREEK AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION AREA SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND & JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS ACCEPT report from the Interim Community Development Director on the proposed Marsh Creek Agricultural Preservation Area; REVIEW potential courses of action and DETERMINE action to be taken. Four potential courses of action are provided for Board Consideration. The staff recommendation is Option 1 . Option 1 DIRECT staff to monitor the status of agriculture in the Marsh Creek area and the effectiveness of existing agricultural protections, MEET with city ` staff to discuss existing agricultural protections, and REPORT back to the Board on this matter in one year. Option 2 DIRECT staff to proceed with the current proposal by holding a public workshop to explain the proposal and solicit comments before rescheduling the item for a new hearing before the Board. Option 3 DIRECT staff to discontinue further work on this item at this time. Option 4 DIRECT staff to contact staff at the Cities of Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, and Pittsburg to discuss changing the Preservation Area boundary to be consistent with the existing Urban Limit Line and REPORT back to the Board on the results of these discussions. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE-'-D, _ RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR _ RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON November 4,1997 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED x OTHER x See the attached Addendum for Board action . VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A x UNANIMOUS (ABSENT - - - - - TRUE,AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: John Kopchik, CDD (335-1227) ATTESTED November 4. 1997 Orig: Community Development Department PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF cc: CAO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS County Counsel AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR B , DEPUTY h:\jkopc\john-old\mara Its.bo2 P/' MARSH CREEK AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION AREA November 4, 1997 Page 2 FISCAL IMPACT There is no specific funding for this effort. If the Board directs a more extensive program, beyond a few staff meetings, workshops and additional public hearings, then a source of revenue needs to be identified to fund this work. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS "Marsh Creek Agricultural Preservation Area" is the title of a proposed agreement between the County and the Cities of Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, and Pittsburg. The intended purpose of this proposed agreement is to deter urban development in a specified area--located near Marsh Creek and almost entirely outside the Urban Limit Line--by committing the parties to a policy of not annexing the land in this area to cities and urban services districts. Background information on the Marsh Creek Agricultural Preservation Area and the reasons for the staff recommendation are contained in the attached October 7, 1997 Board Report. At the October 7, 1997 meeting, the Board directed staff to: 1 ) reschedule this item for November 4, 1997; 2) notify cities and other interested groups of the upcoming agenda date to solicit any comments they may have; and 3) provide material exhibiting zoning and other relevant planning information. Staff sent the requested notification letter to cities and other interested groups on October 14, 1997. Maps of the proposed preservation area showing zoning and other relevant planning information are attached. H:\jkopc\john-o1d\mara1ts.bo2 ADDENDUM TO ITEM D.14 Agenda November 4, 1997 On October 7, 1997, the Board of Supervisors continued to this date, discussion of the staff report presented by Dennis Barry, Community Development Director, regarding the proposed Marsh Creek Agricultural Preservation Area. The following persons presented testimony: Lucia Albers, 9601 Dear Valley Road, Brentwood; Louis Ginochio, 3401 Walnut Avenue, Concord; Mike Vukelich, 3459 Fleetwood, Richmond; Greg Manning, P.O. Box 280, 6000 Heritage Trail, Clayton; Marguerite Kauble, 725 Kendall, Crockett; Seth Adams, Save Mount Diablo, P.O. Box 5376, Walnut Creek; Tom Mooers, Greenbelt Alliance, 500 Ygnacio Valley Road, Ste 250, Walnut Creek; Sanford Skaggs, Esq., Box V, Walnut Creek; Frank Pereira, Citizens Land Alliance, 6040 Alhambra Valley Road, Martinez; Tom Brumleve, 1512 North Gate Road, Walnut Creek; Bill Morgan, 6040 Morgan Territory Road, Clayton; Sam Stewart, P.O. Box 19, Clayton; Hal Boex, Clayton Ranch, 3441 Tice Creek Drive, Walnut Creek; Joseph Brenkle, 396 Cummings Skyway, Martinez; Pete Lopez, 124 Cataline Avenue, Antioch; All those desiring to speak having been heard, the Board discussed the issues. Supervisor Rogers noted that it was important to understand that the designation "Preservation Area" may not be legally binding and could have a limited effect on the development of land in that area. Supervisor Canciamilla commented that there was very little agricultural development in this area, as well as limited ranching. He also noted that the Marsh Creek area is generally unsuitable for development and currently has designations that provide a number of protections. Supervisor Canciamilla suggested that time should be taken to evaluate an overall approach to open space designations, including this area. Expressing support for Option 1 of staffs recommendations, Supervisor Canciamilla recommended that Community Development Department staff monitor the status of agriculture in the Marsh Creek area, and the effectiveness of a preservation policy and other agricultural protections; that Community Development Department staff meet with cities' staffs and other interested parties to discuss agricultural protections in general and report back to the Board on this matter within one year; and that involved cities agree to a policy of non-annexation in this area during the study period. Supervisor Uilkema noted that it is LAFCO that determines annexations, and it is her observation that people who want to preserve land always want to preserve someone else's land; it is seldom the people who own it. She stated that she would be in support of the motion and suggested that Williamson Act considerations be included in the Board's discussion. Supervisor Uilkema commented that her present inclination would be a status quo for the area. Supervisor DeSaulnier requested clarification on how many rezoning applications were requested in the last two years, and Dennis Barry, Community Development Department Director, responded there were none. IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that Option I is APPROVED with additional direction to the Community Development Department staff to request that involved cities agree to a policy of non-annexation in this area during the study period.