California Valley Lot Acquisition Plan (CVLAP) November 4, 2016 Carrizo Colloquium

CVLAP Draft Plan available Program prepared by a consultant team: Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) Rincon Hamner, Jewell Associates Plan to be implemented through a land trust/conservancy

CVLAP How did we get here? Convergence of two separate but sympathetic goals: Antiquated (undevelopable/uneconomic) subdivision lot retirement Habitat preservation

Board of Supervisors original policy in 1980 County Policy Board of Supervisors original policy in 1980 Updated policy in 1988 directed: “County…acquire tax deeded properties that meet the following criteria: Property located in a “paper subdivision” ….. Uneconomic subdivisions of land such as found in California Valley.”

County Acquisitions County Property Management acquired appropriate tax default parcels Up to 2012 approximately 400 lots acquired A small number of these sold to adjacent property owners with open space requirements County became defacto open space land manager.

County Acquisitions Acquisitions currently on hold while working on an updated policy In 2016 – 400 lots in tax default/auction status

Carrizo Solar Projects 2008 and 2009 County received application for two large utility scale photovoltaic solar projects California Valley Solar Ranch – 250 MW Topaz Solar Farm – 550 MW

Solar Projects EIRs for both identified an impact to wildlife habitat and movement Mitigation was proposed: Preserve appropriate property in open space either through fee purchase or easement Provide “seed” funding for CVLAP Subsequent lawsuit settlement increased mitigation land and CVLAP contribution

Solar Projects Mitigation Mitigation land requirements total – 17,000 acres Settlement added – 9,000 acres Total - 26,000 acres CVLAP contribution - $500,000 each Settlement added - $250,000 each Total - $1.5 million

Solar Projects Mitigation County sold 400 acquired lots to High Plains Resources as open space mitigation land.

History of California Valley 24,000 acre area subdivided 7,200 - 2.5 acre lots Included larger lots for school and park sites 2015 Marijuana farming

CVLAP Key Challenges: Balance $ - acquisition/management Buy in from stakeholders Identify an entity to implement program and manage properties Identify long(er) term funding sources

CVLAP Newest Challenges: Marijuana driving up land prices $35/year/parcel road maintenance fee

CVLAP – Parcel Prioritization What can the program afford to purchase? Not all 7,200 lots Developed properties not appropriate Prioritize Tax default lots Tier 1 lots

Options Corridors “Stepping Stones” Any available parcel Tax defaults All tax default lots Tier to tier trades

Criteria Considered Habitat connectivity Presence of key biological resource Proximity to already protected property Flexibility Avoidance of developed parcels

Focus on: Tax default properties Willing sellers Trades (tier to tier) Acquisition Focus on: Tax default properties Willing sellers Trades (tier to tier)

Plan Status Draft Plan Government stakeholders (e.g. Tax Collector, Property Management Finalize a Draft Approve Plan (Planning Director)

Next Steps Develop RFP for Phase II (Implementation) Continue to engage other County Government stakeholders (e.g. Tax Collector, Property Management Release a Draft Plan Engage outside Stakeholders Implementation

Marijuana Oh Wow! We have a problem man! Marijuana farmers moved to Cal Valley from Central Valley Bad water/trucking water in Take? Urgency ordinance in place until Permanent ordinance adopted

Marijuana (Urgency Ordinance) Valid until September 2017 Can be extended up to 2 years Allows existing grows to continue Requires registration (approximately 80 have registered in the CV) New grows limited to 6 and 30 plants

Permanent Ordinance Outdoor cultivation restrictions Residential Suburban land use category Marijuana to be an accessory use Limit number of licenses To Board in 2017 Board direction for consultant

James Caruso jcaruso@co.slo.ca.us (805) 781-5702 CONTACTS Steve McMasters smcmasters@co.slo.ca.us (805) 781-5096 James Caruso jcaruso@co.slo.ca.us (805) 781-5702

California Valley Lot Acquisition Plan (CVLAP) November 4, 2016 Carrizo Colloquium