A Feasibility Study for Urban Edge Agricultural Parks - SAGE

IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL AGPARK SITESMethodology To Identify Sites for Feasibility AnalysisThe Agricultural Parks project has focused site selection on farmland threatened byurbanization in the San Francisco Bay Area. Phase I of the process began with awide sample of possible AgPark sites within this region, which were narrowed to thetwo for further feasibility analysis.The original target area included Fresno Countyand the Greater Bay Area, with an emphasis onthe East Bay and the South Bay, includingMonterey County. The initial criteria for possibleAgPark locations included sites with the potentialto satisfy the needs of/provide land access fortarget producers, create a stable urban edge, andalso support desirable characteristics ofpreviously collected models. Additionally, keyconsiderations included: farming-friendlyregulations, zoning, and land value; interest offinancial and/or program partners; and land withprime soils, good water supply, significant natural features, agriculturalinfrastructure, and potential for housing. Public land (e.g. land already protectedfrom urbanization) was considered in cases where it would satisfy the purpose ofland access. Varied potential locations were collected, which would allow theselection of sites for feasibility studies across a range of parameters and values(e.g. public/private land; housing included and not; lease vs. ownership; etc.).DRAFT 1.6.05 23