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HomeMy WebLinkAbout047-740-009The recommendation of County staff is indicated below. It is only a recommendation and has not yet been considered ` v� by the Planning Commission. Copies of the Staff Report are available at the Planning Division Office A. ZCA 03-01— continued open from January 23, 2003 Butte County Board of Supervisors, Item determined to be categorically exempt from environmental review), Zoning Code Amendment to amend Section 24 of the Butte County Code (Zoning Ordinance) by adding a requirement of a Use Permit for the conversion or abandonment of any existing use to a fishery, wildlife preserve, or other conservation purpose, County -wide. (CS) (ZCA 03-01) B. VAR 03-01— continued open from January 9, 2003 Stephen J. Schuster, (Item deteined to be categorically exempt from environmental review), Variance to a, w building coverage on a parcel to be 24%. The North Chico Specific Plan allows a maximum building coverage of 15% of the lot area. The property is zoned SR -1 (Suburban Residential 1 acre parcels) and is located on the north side of Lindbergh Circle, approximately 1,100 feet north of Guntren Road, Chico area. APN 047-740-009 (SB) C. UP 03-06 - staff recommends approval California Water Service Company, proposed Negative Declaration with mitigation measures regarding environmental impacts and Use Permit to install a 500,000 gallon, 57 -foot diameter, 25 -foot tall water storage tank at an existing water pumping/storage facility. The proposed tank would have the same dimensions as the existing tank, and would be situated approximately 27 feet northeast of the existing tank. The existing tank is painted an off-white color, and the proposed tank would be the same color. Approximately half of the area that the tank would be located on is already level, with the other half needing to be graded level. The property is zoned "U" (Unclassified) and is located on the north side of Shadybrook Lane, approximately 425 feet north of the intersection with Canyon Oaks Terrace, at 3252 Shadybrook Lane, California Park area, Chico. APN 011-030-064 (SB) VIII. GENERAL BUSINESS This section of the agenda is to be utilized by the Planning Commission and Director of Development Services on items of interest, general discussion, or items for which staff has been directed to do research and bring back to the Commission. Items A, B, & C may not always be addressed at every hearing, but will always be listed as part of the agenda. A. Directors' Report B. General Plan/Zoning Ordinance Update C. Legislative Case Law update D. Planning Commission Concerns IX. COMMUNICATIONS: Communications received and referred. (Copies of all communications are available in the Planning Division Office.) ■ BUTTE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION ■ AGENDA ■ FEBRUARY 13, 2003, ■ PAGE 2 ■ 110 INTER -DEPARTMENTAL MEMORANDUM OFFICE OF BUTTE COUNTY COUNSEL TO: Airport Land Use Commission FROM: Robert W. MacKenzie, Chief Deputy County Counsel SUBJECT: Recent Changes to Proposed Chapter 24 Amendment Requiring Permits for Conversion or Restoration for Conservation Purposes DATE: Feb 14, 2003 Introduction The above proposed ordinance has been prepared pursuant to directions given by the Board of Supervisors to the County Counsel. The proposed ordinance was initially submitted to your Commission for your consideration at your meeting of December 12, 2002. The proposed ordinance amends the zoning ordinance to require a use permit for the conversion of existing land uses, or the restoration of the habitat thereon, for conservation purposes. The title of the ordinance has been changed to "Ordinance Requiring Use Permit For Conversion, Enhancement or Restoration of Land for Conservation Purposes." On January 23, we informed your Commission that staff from the Department of Development Services Department and the County Counsel's Office had met with concerned citizens to discuss their concerns and that we would revise the ordinance to address those concerns, as well as to reflect evidence which was presented to your Commission. We have amended the ordinance, both inserting new sections into it and revising other sections. All of the changes which have been made since your last meeting are reflected through the use of underlining and strikeouts. Section 1 of the ordinance has been essentially redrafted. Sections 3, 4 and 7 are new to the ordinance. Sections 2, 5 and 6 have been amended through both the deletion of specified language and the addition of new language. Discussion On January 23, 2003, evidence was presented to your Commission, both in writing and orally, which indicates that within the last ten years, the number of acres of permanently designated natural habitat within the County have dramatically increased. Further, The Board has been informed that various federal and California State agencies and other entities presently have plans to continue to increase the amount of land permanently designated as natural habitat within the County. Other evidence presented to your Commission indicates that the potential for environmental impacts 9 generated by some such properties goes far beyond those which interfere with agricultural production, such as the spread of. exotic vegetation, larger -than -normal crop predation, property damage and a diminution in the ability to control pests through accepted agricultural practices. Other potential impacts to neighboring properties may include uncontrolled spread of fires and the spread of serious diseases by competent disease -carrying vectors, including but not limited to mosquitoes. In many cases, when property is transferred to a government agency or a private entity, association or person engaged in or facilitating conversions for conservation purposes, or a conservation easement or similar deed restriction which limits the use of property to those uses consistent with such a conversion is recorded, the income-producing potential of such property is lost or diminished. If the income-producing potential of such property is lost or diminished, the ability and/or willingness of the owners of such property to pay the costs of future impacts may also diminish. Thus, the burden of funding future impact mitigation would likely shift to taxpayers unless such funding is considered and provided for in connection with the transfer of the property and/or the recordation of the easement or restriction.. Finally, testimony at your .last meeting on January 23rd indicated that entities engaged in or facilitating land conversions for conservation purposes offer property owners financial incentives to convert land for conservation purposes. A concern was expressed that the amount which is adequate to fund future impact mitigation should be considered simultaneously with such offers, not at a later date. In view of the above, our office has drafted a more detailed statement of legislative findings and intent in Section 1 of the proposed ordinance, setting forth the above concerns and how the proposed ordinance will address them. While the proposed ordinance has been under consideration by your Commission, County Counsel and Development Services staff have met with concerned members of the public to discuss their concerns. Several different concerns have been articulated during meetings and our office has also drafted amendments to the ordinance to address these concerns. Concerns have expressed by members of the public that regulation of land uses by the California Reclamation Board and the County, pursuant to the Flood Hazard Prevention and Special Levee Permit Zone II provisions of Chapter 26 would overlap with the regulations proposed in the Chapter 24 ordinance and create a "double permit process." Our office has inserted a new provision into the ordinance (Section 4) which exempts those who comply with Reclamation Board or County Chapter 26 permit conditions from readdressing the impacts those conditions eliminate or mitigate in the Chapter 24 permit process. Concerns have been expressed by members of the public that it is not necessary to impose a use permit requirement on every conversion proposed, because land uses resulting from some conversions would not impose significant environmental impacts on neighboring properties. The current draft of the ordinance responds to this concern in (new) Section 3 by setting forth an initial review process for evaluating the scope and severity.of impacts which are reasonably foreseeable to result from a proposed conversion of an existing use to a habitat use. The initial review process would incorporate impact severity criteria, which would be utilized in the development of an objective impact scoring system. Each individual proposed conversion project would be placed into one of three categories, pursuant to its "score". Depending on which of the 2 three categories the proposed conversion project is placed into, the proposed conversion project would be subject to the administrative permit, the minor use permit or the use permit procedure. Members of the public have requested that County staff narrow the scope of the ordinance, so that it does not regulate certain landowners, for example, farmers who periodically fallow a portion of their land or landowners who simply wish to allow all or a portion of their land to go back to nature, without the intent to convert such property from an existing use to a conservation use and absent action taken to enhance or restore habitat thereon. Our office has narrowed the scope of the ordinance by removing the "abandonment of an existing use" as an event which triggers the permit requirement in Sections 2, 5 and 6 of the ordinance. Further, (new) Section 7 of the ordinance, which defines "Conversion for Conservation Purposes" specifically exempts fallowing, enhancement or conservation of land for agricultural purposes. Finally, (new) Section 7 of the ordinance now sets forth objective indicators that a conversion of land for conservation purposes is contemplated or has occurred, which include pending, proposed or completed transfers of ownership of property to a government agency or a private entity, association or person engaged in facilitating conversion for conservation purposes and/or pending, proposed or completed recordations of conservation easements or similar deed restrictions which limit the use of a parcel or parcels to those uses which are consistent with such a conversion. It is the above events which eliminate or diminish a property's income-producing potential, thereby creating a reasonable probability that the property owner's ability or willingness to fund the cost of future environmental impacts emanating from the property may also diminish. Adoption of the Proposed Ordinance would be Consistent with the General Plan. As we previously informed you and explained in a memorandum included in the agenda packet for your Commission's December 12, 2002 meeting, adoption of the proposed ordinance would be consistent with provisions of the County's General Plan. Since that time however, the ordinance has been amended to address a wider variety of environmental impacts, based on evidence presented to your Commission that the potential for impacts generated by properties converted for conservation purposes goes far beyond those which interfere with agricultural production and may include such impacts as the uncontrolled spread of fires and the spread of serious diseases by competent disease - carrying vectors, including but not limited to mosquitoes. Such amendments include the addition of the word "enhancement" to the definition of "Conversion for Conservation Purposes" in Section 7 and the initial review process in Section 3 for evaluating the scope and severity of impacts which are reasonably foreseeable.to.result from a proposed conversion of an existing use to a habitat use. Section 1.1 of the Land Use Element of the General Plan is entitled "General Welfare." Policy 1.1a of that section provides that: "[The County should] Provide for the Health, safety and well-being of the County's present and future residents." The word "enhancement" has been added to the definition of "Conversion for Conservation Purposes" in Section 7 of the ordinance specifically to address environmental impacts such as an increased risk of the spread of serious diseases by competent disease -carrying vectors, including but not limited to mosquitoes. Your Commission was informed by representatives of the Butte County Mosquito Abatement District at your January 23, 2003 meeting that such an increased risk to County residents has resulted directly from the fairly recently begun practice of enhancement of wetland preserves through periodic summer flooding within the County. The addition of the word "enhancement" to definition of "Conversion for Conservation Purposes" in Section 7 the ordinance is consistent with Policy 1.1a above, as it is intended to protect the health, safety and well-being of County residents by requiring 3 those whom propose to enhance wetland habitat within the County to obtain a permit prior to doing SO. Section 1.6 of the Land Use Element of the General Plan is entitled "Intergovernmental Coordination." Policy 1.6a of that section provides that: "[The County should] Attempt to coordinate government plans and programs so that they are mutually supportive." New Section 3 of the ordinance provides, in pertinent part: The Planning Manager shall develop an initial review process for evaluating .the scope and severity of environmental impacts which are reasonably foreseeable to result from a proposed Conversion for Conservation Purposes. As part of the initial review process, the Planning Manager shall consult with other. agencies and County departments as necessary, to develop impact severity criteria, which will be utilized in the development of an objective impact scoring system. Section 3 would require that the Planning Manager coordinate efforts to evaluate environmental impacts which are reasonably foreseeable to result from a proposed conversion for conservation purposes with other agencies and County departments as necessary. This requirement furthers Policy 1.6a, as it contemplates a multi -agency and. department review team which would be required to evaluate and address the potential for environmental impacts such as, for example, the potential for the uncontrolled spread of wildfires from properties converted for conservation purposes to neighboring properties. Such a coordinated team review process would further the "coordination" and "mutually supportive" mandates of Policy 1.6a. None of the amendments made to the ordinance since our last staff report to you on December 4, 2002 have changed our opinion that adoption of the ordinance would be consistent with the General Plan for the reasons articulated in that last report. In fact, changes made to the ordinance since your last meeting support additional reasons to conclude that adoption of the ordinance would be consistent with the General Plan. Conclusion The proposed ordinance has been amended to address evidence presented to you and concerns expressed by members of the public. As we previously informed you and explained in a memorandum included in the agenda packet for your Commission's December 12, 2002 meeting, adoption of the proposed ordinance would be consistent with significant provisions of the County's General Plan. Our opinion in this regard has not changed. Further, adoption of the above described ordinance would still be exempt from CEQA review pursuant to a categorical exemption as set forth in CEQA Guidelines, Section 15308, for the reasons set forth in our last report to you. Action Recommended The following actions are recommended regarding the subject ordinance: 1. Find that the proposed ordinance is consistent with the General Plan. 2. Find that adoption of the proposed ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to a categorical exemption as set forth in CEQA Guidelines, Section 15308. 3. Recommend adoption of the proposed ordinance to the Board of Supervisors. I hope this memorandum has been informative and helpful. Please call or email me if you have concerns, questions or wish to discuss this matter further. rd { r cc: Paul McIntosh Yvonne Christopher Marion Reeves Note: Sent under the previous memo to Planning Commission dated 2/5/02 GAROMplanning commissionlwpd CITYorCHICO INC.1872 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PLAP41YING 411 Main Street P.O. Box 3420 Chico, CA 95927 (530) 895-4851 FAX (530) 895-4726 January 31, 2003 ATSS 459-4851 Butte County Airport Land Use -Commission 7 County Center Drive Oroville, CA 95965 Re: 2000 Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan Dear Commissioners: As I discussed in my recent update concerning Chico's efforts to conform its General Plan and zoning to the 2000 Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP), we are now at a point at which we need to resolve any remaining issues in order to complete this process. You will recall that the City has expressed strong reservations about the potential loss of significant housing in connection with the ALUCP's B(1) compatibility zoning of the properties north of Eaton Road (owned by Greg Webb). This is a particularly crucial issue in view of Chico's future housing allocation as recently approved by the Butte County Association of Governments. Where these properties could potentially provide 550 to 920 needed residential units consistent with its current General Plan designation, the B(1) compatibility zone would limit them to a total of 11. A further complication is that State law prohibits the downzoning of properties, that can accommodate residential development where there is no corresponding upzoning of other properties. I would appreciate it if you would schedule a discussion of this matter on your February agenda. Maps showing several conceptual alternatives are attached for your consideration, and I hope we can explore whether your Commission can support any alternative development of the property other than the current B(1) compatibility zone would allow. I hasten to add that the owner of the property is not necessarily in agreement with any of these alternatives. I will bring larger, maps to the meeting to assist in our discussion. Combinations of zoning other than those I have attached are certainly possible; if it appears that any of these or any other alternatives could be supported by your Commission, I can then prepare a more detailed map for your further review. Thank you for your consideration of this request.- Respectfully, equest: Respectfully, Kim Seidler Planning Director g�� Made From Recycled Paper Letter to ALUC January 31, 2003 Page 2 Attachments: 1. Alternative #1: Community Commercial (CC) and residential (R1 and R3) zoning 2. Alternative #2: Commercial Commercial (CC) and residential zoning (R3) + • with open space 3. Alternative #3: Office Residential (OR), neighborhood commercial (Cl), and residential (RI and R3) zoning 4. Alternative #4: Light industrial (NII.,) and industrial park (MP) zoning 5. Alternative #5: Residential zoning (R1 and R3) with open space near creek 6. Alternative #6: Residential (RI and R3) zoning with central linear open space (no obstructions) 7. Current zoning cc: CM, ACM, AM, CDD Greg Webb R � z Zvi a'[.. z 7 app. a� r: Zvi '.� Y•}r i:,�'t Y .. �Sd {^t R. • ! 1'x . ,ti _ F .. y,{_tet .-� a ' r ar! .ra rk�a .v �1e{..-ryY^`'g '_�r_:.7 +. .a �s c,\.y � ,I .'r`�-y`se, - + 1� i'q '��rµ• a Ly i�' -, i_ _'�} •. p. ,.� kt n .fix ; 1.�u 4 - I � t �_ N� .. 1 •� ,� ixo ' ��-Y k- z. . � .- � moi' � -y CD S, r5• ��.j t y r. N! _ 4Fr " -3;t va Oji i . 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LO �# O O � rte' t C)l Y5 l � 1 y � \ V ESR M Y CSE 1p • � rte' t u l � 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Ordinance No. ORDINANCE REQUIRING USE PERMIT FOR CONVERSION OR RESTORATION OF LAND FOR CONSERVATION PURPOSES he Board of Supervisors of the County of Butte ordains as follows: ection 1. e Legislative Findings and Intent: i The Board of Supervisors finds that th otential' for environmental impacts caused by the conversion o existing land uses for conservation purposes may include but ar of limited to the uncontrolled spread of fires, the spread o serious diseases by competent disease -carrying vectors, includin out not limited to mosquitoes, and the spread of exotic plan ecies, predation of crops by wildlife, property damage and iminution in the ability to control pests through acce to agricultural practices. Such impacts have the potential to har eo le, property and the environment within the unincor orated are f the County. Mitigation of such impacts over the long term ar likely to evolve into a significant financial burden for Count government and taxpayers. Within the last ten years, the number o acres of permanently designated natural habitat within the Count lave dramatically increased. Further, it is apparent that variou ederal and California State agencies and other entities resentl ave plans to continue to increase the amount of land permanentl 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 w 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 lesignat ed as natural habitat within the County. In many cases, when property is transferred to a government agenc Dr a private entity, association or person engaged in o acilitating conversions for conservation purposes, or conservation easement or similar deed restriction which limits th se of property to those uses consistent with such a conversion i ecorded, the income-producing potential of such property is los r diminished. If the income-producing potential of such propert s lost or diminished, the ability and/or willingness of the owner f such property to pay the costs of future impacts may diminish hus, the burden of funding future impact mitigation would likel hift to taxpayers unless such funding is considered and providec or in connection with the transfer of the property and/or th recordation of the easement or restriction. Public or rivat entities engaged in or facilitating land conversions fo conservation purposes offer property owners financial incentives t onvert land for conservation purposes and impact mitigatio unding should be considered in connection with such offers. t is the board's intent to ensure that future impact mitigation b unded by the owners of the properties from which such im act manate, rather than County taxpayers. A regulatory process whic valuates foreseeable future impacts will facilitate informe choices by propertyowners or potential property owners proposinc and conversions for conservation Purposes and will ensure adequat County oversight. In addition, a regulatory process which require Ihose proposing conversions for conservation purposes to ensur ver the long term that ade uate funds will be available t 2 ' 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 F• liminate or mitigate foreseeable future impacts such as those se orth above is necessary to protect the health, safety and genera elfare of the residents of the County. The purpose of thi rdinance is to provide such a regulatory process.. Section 2. Section 24-291, entitled "Conversion ei• �eejft�rat=i-en fo -onservation Purposes" added to Chapter 24, entitled "Zoning", o :he Butte County Code. Section 24-291 is added to the Butte Count -ode to read as follows: "Section' 24-291: Conversion e3• r-ester-atien for Conservation Purposes. A use permit shall be required in all zones for the—oenvereien e£ any -existing use of =-crx=rd, ei' ceTest6ra-ti-en- ef the habitat czzcrcvr€e� f ishei-ies and wildlife ei ether Conservation Purposes, , p1-ant=ing-er remeval—e -A buffer shall be required to protect existing agricultural uses on adjacent land and to ensure that normal, necessary farm operations- may continue thereon. The buffer shall normally be 300 feet between the'use established pursuant to the use permit and the agricultural use, but it may be adjusted to address unusual circumstances or features on the land, such as topographic features, substantial tree stands, water courses, or similarly defined features. Agricultural uses may be permitted in the buffer area.• The buffer, shall be located totally on the land subject to the use permit." 3 1 2 3 ection 3. Section 24-292, entitled "Initial' Review Process iered Permit System for Conversions for Conservation Purposes' 4 Ldded to Chapter 24, entitled "Zoning", of the Butte County Code 5 lection 24-292 is added to the Butte County Code to read 6 IEollows: 7 Section 24-292. Initial review process - tiered permit 8 system for Conversions for Conservation Purposes 9 [he Planning Manager shall develop an initial review process 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 for evaluating the scope and severity of impacts which are reasonably foreseeable to result from a proposed Conversion for Conservation Purposes. As part of the initial review process, the Planning Manager shall consult with other agencies and County departments as necessary, to develop impact severity criteria, which will be utilized in the development of an objective impact scoring system. When a use permit is applied for pursuant to section 24-291, 24-90(c)(8), or 24-220(b)(7), the Planning Manager shall employ the objective impact scoring system to place each individual proposed conversion project into one of three categories. Depending upon which of the three categories the Planning Manager places the proposed Conversion project into as a result of the point score received by the proposed project, the proposed Conversion project may be subject to the procedure specified in Section 24-40 (b) 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 (administrative permit procedure), or the procedure specified in Section 24-41(b) - (e) (minor use permit procedure), in lieu of the procedure specified in Sections 24-45 - 24-45.65 (use permit procedure). Section 4. Section 24-293, entitled "Exemption for im act addressed in other specified regulatoryprocesses" added to Chapte 4, entitled "Zoning", of the Butte County Code. Section 24-293 i I-dded to the Butte County Code to read as follows: Section 24-293. Exemption for impacts addressed in other specified regulatory processes. An aoDlicant for a use hermit for a Conversion for Conservation Purposes pursuant to Section 24-291, 24-90 (c) (8) , or 24-220 (b) (7) shall not be required to mitigate impacts already mitigated through permit conditions imposed pursuant to a regulatory .process administered by the California Reclamation Board or a regulatory process administered by the County, pursuant to the Flood Hazard Prevention and/or the Special Levee Permit Zone II provisions of Butte County Code Chapter 26. Section 5.• Subsection (c), entitled "Uses requiring use permits" Df Section 24-90, entitled "A-5 through A-160 (Agricultural Zones) Df Chapter 24, entitled "Zoning", amended by adding subparagrar (8). Subsection (c) of Section 24-90 of the Butte County Code i 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 '17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 ed by adding subparagraph (8) thereto, to read as follows: Section 24-90(c). Uses requiring use permits. The followin uses are permitted subject to a use permit: (1) Public or quasipublic uses. (2) Public tasting rooms in conjunction with a winery provided that such tasting room be considered accessor to the on-site winery. (3) Kennels, feed stores; ,public or riding stables, an academies. (4) Outdoor commercial recreational facilities on site not less than five (5) acres. (5) Wood lots and wood processing plants selling an processing wood not grown on site. Mining and commercia excavation requiring a mining permit and reclamation pla pursuant to chapter 13 of the Butte County Code. (6) Private airports or air strips that are not accessor to an agricultural use. .(7) The segregation of a homesite pursuant to section 24 285, the segregation of an agricultural processing sit pursuant to section 24-290. (84isheries and wildlife habitat preserves, ineiiidin Conversion for Conservation Purposes'. A buffer shall bE 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 required to protect existing agricultural uses o. adjacent land and to. ensure that normal, necessary far operations may continue thereon. The buffer shal normally be 300 feet between the use established pursuan to the use permit and the agricultural use, but it ma be adjusted to address unusual circumstances. or feature on the land, such as topographic features, substantia tree stands, water courses, or similarly define features. Agricultural uses may be permitted in th buffer area. The buffer shall be located totally on th land subject to the use permit." Section 6. Subsection (b), entitled "Uses requiring a use permit" Df Section 24-220, entitled "R -C (Resource Conservation) Zone" mended by adding subparagraph (7) thereto. Subsection (b) o Section 24-220 of the Butte County Code is amended to read a ollows: "Section 24-220 (b). Uses requiring.a use permit. (1) Preserves for nonnative wildlife species. (2) Establishment of rest stops, vista points, an bicycle, pedestrian and equestrian trails, not includin commercial sales and services. (3) Exploration and reconstruction of historical an archaeological sites and structures. (4) Permanent improvements needed for the protection o land and resources from fire, erosion, floods, slides 'quakes, insects, diseases and pollution. (5) Stations to monitor air_ quality, water quality an 7 I seismic activities. 2 (6) Mining and quarrying. This permit does not excludE 3 any other permits as required by other regulator 4 agencies or from review by said agencies. 5 (7) The-eego=ersien of any existing lase of thland, ei 6 the—riteratien ef the habitat thereen, €eifisheries- 7 isner=s7 wildlife preserves er- ether —e rvatien purpeses, —b�, 8 abandening the eiEisting use, grading, 9 e Conversion for Conservation Purposes. I 10 buffer shall be required to protect existing agricultural 11 uses on adjacent land and to ensure that normal, 12 necessary farm operations may continue thereon. ThE 13 buffer shall normally -be 300 feet between the USE 14 established pursuant to the use permit and the 15 agricultural use, but it may be adjusted to address 16 unusual circumstances or features on the land, such a: 17 topographic features, substantial tree stands, wate7 18 courses, or similarly defined features. Agricultural 19 uses may be permitted in the buffer area. The buffet 20 shall be located totally on the land subject to the USE 21 permit." 22 23 ection 7. Section 24-305.098.1, entitled "Conversion fol 24 onservation Purposes", is added to Chapter 24, entitled "Zoning", 25 If the Butte County Code. New definition section 24-305.098.1 i; 26 dded to the Butte County code to read as follows: 27 "Section 24-305.098.1. Conversion for Conservation Purposes. 28 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 (a). The conversion of any existing use of the land, or the enhancement and/or restoration of native habitat thereon, for plant, fisheries, wildlife and/or habitat preserves, or for other conservation purposes. Such conversion includes, but is not limited to related activities such as flooding, grading, planting, and/or the removal of vegetation, but does not include the fallowing, enhancement or conservation of land for agricultural purposes. . (b). Actions including, but not limited to the following are objective indicators that a Conversion for Conservation Purposes is contemplated or has occurred: 1. A pend )osed or completed recordation of. a conservation easement or similar deed restriction or agreement which limits the use of a parcel or parcels to those uses which are consistent with such a Conversion. 2. A pendi ed or completed transfer of ownership of property to a government entity or agency or a private entity, association or person engaged in and/or facilitating Conversion for Conservation Purposes. 6ction 8. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance or t 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 pplication thereof to any person or circumstances is for an eason held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction uch provision shall be deemed severable, and the invalidit hereof shall not - affect the remaining provisions or -othe pplications of the Ordinance which can be given effect without th nvalid provision or application thereof.. ection 9. Effective Date and Publication. This Ordinance shal ake effect thirty (30) days after the date of its passage. Th lerk of the Board of Supervisors is authorized and directed t ublish this ordinance before the expiration of fifteen (15) day fter its passage. This Ordinance shall be published once, wit he names of the members of the Board of Supervisors voting for an gainst it, in the a newspaper o eneral circulation published in the County of Butte, State o alifornia. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Supervisors of the Count f Butte, State of California,. on the day o 2002, by the following vote: ES: OES: BSENT: OT VOTING: TTEST: AUL McINTOSH, Chief dministrative Officer nd Clerk of the Board R.J. Beeler, Chair of the Butte County Board of Supervisors 10 1 2 :\ORDINANC\CON VERSIONuse3.wpd 3 ' 4 5 6 7 8 ,= 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 } 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 n 27 3 28 s r 11