Kern County General Plan - Chapter 1, Land Use - County of Kern

limited and expensive sites suitable for public facilities.
Hazardous waste disposal facilities pose substantial environmental threats to soil,
groundwater and air quality. Disposal facilities must be justified in terms of beneficial
effects for County residents and operated in a manner which ensures environmental
safety. Conflicts may exist between the operation of certain disposal facilities as profitable
businesses, necessary services for industry, and preservation of natural resources for the
common good.
Though the County will continue to provide facilities for solid waste disposal for the
residents of Kern County, these facilities will continue to be financed by the
implementation of a land use fee and commercial tipping fees.
Many of the County=s landfills were converted from burn dumps or established prior to
1979 and are reaching capacity. Solid wastes may need to be transferred long distances
to be properly disposed of. Adequate capacity in some areas of the County may pose a
problem.
Continued use of individual septic systems may cause an impact on the groundwater
quality.
The determination of needed recreational services and facilities should be an ongoing
process. The continued funding for the acquisition, development, and maintenance of
recreation and parks is questionable.
Because planning and development of recreational facilities is very often accomplished by
special districts that develop individual master plans and implementation schedules, it is
difficult to properly designate the location of future facilities.
Within these special districts, as facilities are developed, the County will retroactively
designate them with the appropriate map code. The development of public or private
recreational facilities in map code designations other than Map Code 3.1, if allowed either
as a matter of right or by conditional use permit, shall be considered consistent with the
intent and purpose of this General Plan.
Because planning and development of educational facilities is often accomplished by
various school districts in Kern County which develop individual plans and implementation
schedules it is difficult to properly designate the location of future facilities.
The Kern County Zoning Ordinance allows the establishment of public facilities such as
parks, schools, libraries, and other similar facilities in various zone classifications upon
approval of a conditional use permit (CUP). It is not the intent of this General Plan to
require a General Plan amendment as a prerequisite to the approval of such facilities
when, as a part of the CUP process findings, of consistency with the goals, policies, and
provisions of this General Plan are made by the approving body.
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