Saticoy & Wells Community Plan & Development ... - City Of Ventura

Saticoy & Wells Community Plan and Code EIRSection 4.2 Agricultural ResourcesGreenbelt Agreements. Several cities, Ventura County, and the Local Agency FormationCommission (LAFCO) have adopted greenbelt agreements between jurisdictions to further theobjectives of the Guidelines for Orderly Development and to assist in preserving agricultureand other open space lands located between cities. Greenbelt agreements are joint or coadoptedresolutions by cities, the County (when applicable) and LAFCO, whereby it is agreedto cooperatively administer a policy of non-annexation and non-development in a specific area.The basic purpose of the greenbelt is to establish a mutual agreement between cities regardingthe limits of urban growth for each city. A greenbelt agreement must be amended by all partiesinvolved before the LAFCO will consider any proposal that may be in conflict with theagreement.The City of Ventura is a participant in two greenbelt agreements. Ventura first entered into agreenbelt agreement with the City of Oxnard in 1994 and updated the agreement in 2002. Thatagreement applies to farmlands between the two cities. Ventura and Santa Paula adopted anagreement in 1967 to maintain the area between the Franklin Barranca east of the Ventura citylimits and the Adams Barranca west of the Santa Paula city limits in agriculture production.The majority of agricultural lands in this greenbelt are under LCA contract. No portion of theProject Area lies within the greenbelt. Although the Ventura-Santa Paula greenbelt lies directlyadjacent to portions of the eastern boundary of the Project Area. The boundary for the Ventura-Santa Paula greenbelt is shown on Figure 4.2-2.Right-To-Farm Ordinances. In 1997, the City approved a Right-To-Farm Ordinance toprovide protection to farmers against nuisance claims and frivolous lawsuits involving legaland accepted farming practices. The measure requires realtors to disclose potential conflictswith agriculture (e.g., pesticide smells, noise from machinery, pesticides use) when propertiesadjacent to agricultural parcels are for sale. The ordinance also provides a statement thatagriculture is not subject to nuisance claims if it is being properly conducted. Ventura Countyalso has a Right-To-Farm Ordinance that mediates similar disputes between neighboring cities.Agricultural/Urban Buffer Policy. The Ventura County Agricultural Commissionerindicates that ideal setbacks include a 300-foot setback to new structures and sensitive uses onthe non-agricultural property, or a setback of 150 feet with a vegetative screen (UC HansenTrust Specific Plan MND, p. 13). Low human-intensive uses such as non-residential accessorystructures, walking paths and front yards of homes are considered acceptable with setbacks ofless than 150 feet as long as vegetative screening is present.4.2.2 Impact Analysisa. Methodology and Significance Thresholds. Agricultural impacts were evaluatedbased upon review of Department of Conservation farmland classifications, regulatoryrequirements that apply to the various agricultural lands within the Project Area, and thepotential of future development to create agricultural/urban interface.Impacts to agriculture would be significant if development accommodated by the Projectwould:4.2-7City of Ventura