Section 51238.1 Of Article 2.5. Agricultural Preserves From California Government Code >> Division 1. >> Title 5. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 7. >> Article 2.5.
51238.1
. (a) Uses approved on contracted lands shall be consistent
with all of the following principles of compatibility:
(1) The use will not significantly compromise the long-term
productive agricultural capability of the subject contracted parcel
or parcels or on other contracted lands in agricultural preserves.
(2) The use will not significantly displace or impair current or
reasonably foreseeable agricultural operations on the subject
contracted parcel or parcels or on other contracted lands in
agricultural preserves. Uses that significantly displace agricultural
operations on the subject contracted parcel or parcels may be deemed
compatible if they relate directly to the production of commercial
agricultural products on the subject contracted parcel or parcels or
neighboring lands, including activities such as harvesting,
processing, or shipping.
(3) The use will not result in the significant removal of adjacent
contracted land from agricultural or open-space use.
In evaluating compatibility a board or council shall consider the
impacts on noncontracted lands in the agricultural preserve or
preserves.
(b) A board or council may include in its compatible use rules or
ordinance conditional uses which, without conditions or mitigations,
would not be in compliance with this section. These conditional uses
shall conform to the principles of compatibility set forth in
subdivision (a) or, for nonprime lands only, satisfy the requirements
of subdivision (c).
(c) In applying the criteria pursuant to subdivision (a), the
board or council may approve a use on nonprime land which, because of
onsite or offsite impacts, would not be in compliance with
paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a), provided the use is
approved pursuant to a conditional use permit that shall set forth
findings, based on substantial evidence in the record, demonstrating
the following:
(1) Conditions have been required for, or incorporated into, the
use that mitigate or avoid those onsite and offsite impacts so as to
make the use consistent with the principles set forth in paragraphs
(1) and (2) of subdivision (a) to the greatest extent possible while
maintaining the purpose of the use.
(2) The productive capability of the subject land has been
considered as well as the extent to which the use may displace or
impair agricultural operations.
(3) The use is consistent with the purposes of this chapter to
preserve agricultural and open-space land or supports the
continuation of agricultural uses, as defined in Section 51205, or
the use or conservation of natural resources, on the subject parcel
or on other parcels in the agricultural preserve. The use of mineral
resources shall comply with Section 51238.2.
(4) The use does not include a residential subdivision.
For the purposes of this section, a board or council may define
nonprime land as land not defined as "prime agricultural land"
pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 51201 or as land not
classified as "agricultural land" pursuant to subdivision (a) of
Section 21060.1 of the Public Resources Code.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to overrule, rescind,
or modify the requirements contained in Sections 51230 and 51238
related to noncontracted lands within agricultural preserves.