HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence from James Jarald Davidson - TSM16-0002 Project Number TSM16-0002
Exception to Agricultural Buffer Setback
Greetings:
I am here as a farmer,agronomist, and neighbor of this proposed housing development. I hold a
Bachelor's of Science degree from CSUC in Agronomy. I have been an agricultural consultant for 36
years covering orchard and row crop.
I also operate the Organic Mandarin orchard on the East border of this property.
The 300-foot buffer was not arbitrarily determined, it was a result of studying California Pesticide
Labeling law and normal agricultural operations. Operations include, but not limited to, mowing,
spraying, harvest, and mulching of trimmings.
There is not a sufficient natural barrier to separate the Walnut orchard located directly south and
sharing the boundary on Comanche Creek. The walnut orchard has been planted with the working rows
north and south. In relation to this project this means all farming operations will result in maximum
production of dust, noise, and pesticide applications due to making the turn at each row.
Photos will show significant gaps in foliage between the two parcels, insufficient height of the creek
vegetation,absence of levees, and many larger trees in the waterway are in damaged condition and
over mature.
There are literally several dozen gaps existing right now. I would expect any new residents would likely
remove plants,damaged trees, and noxious plants from their side of Comanche Creek further
compromising the vegetative curtain. This has already taken place on such locations as Lindo Channel,
Paseo Campaneros, and directly North of my property,and an additional excavation has been done to
create a "recreational beach" (by a previous resident). This is not a recreational waterway, it's an
irrigation water ditch, and storm drain for the City of Chico.
Please note,the City of Chico is expanding development south of 20th street and the drainage is likely to
be directed to Comanche Creek. Presently part of the Chico Mall drainage is directed to Comanche
Creek.
Walnuts by nature are tall and pesticide applications need to reach the top of the tree. This requires
large horsepower and noise to produce volumes of air to push the pesticide through the tree and to the
top of the canopy, and applications by air are very common,especially at this location.
Remember this orchard is oriented North and South which is the prevailing wind direction for this area.
I have included a picture showing catkin push in this orchard taken on 03/20/2017. This signals the
beginning of blight season the most frequent pesticide application period. The pictures show the foliage
is just emerging on the natural trees,thus there is a reduced effective vegetative curtain.
Since an onsite inspection was NOT performed by the Butte County Agricultural Commissioner's office,
under another administration, please reference my photos for evidence of what exists.
It is clear to me, as I have lived here since 1989,this vegetative curtain will continue to decline and not
be robust enough to mitigate the dust, noise,or pesticide applications.
There are many organic pesticide products that are available for use in organic farming. Usually they
come with an offensive odor that tends to linger.
I am sure you have been aware that during the fail organic farming operations spread chicken manure
through their orchards. This has resulted in odors permeating much of west Chico. l have personally
detected it as far as the fairgrounds and Chico State. There are many letters to the editor and tell the ER
to back that up.
The walnut orchard has been placed in a Land Trust to be farmed in perpetuity.
The existing Comanche Creek is not maintained now or since 1989 when I moved to my farm directly
East of this project.
For additional information, I have attached a soil survey of the project. It show the property is 100%
Chico Loam a Class 1 soil with extensive depth and perfect for the use in irrigated farming. Any crop
grown in this region would be expected to do extremely well. Let's leave it as farm land.
Regarding the Staff Report I would like to make some points.
1. My agricultural property is being ignored.
2. Organic does not mean no sprays.
3. Section 24-84 item 1.the adjustment will result in a modification to adjacent agricultural
practices. It will require additional modification of adjacent agricultural practices. The existing
Trailer Home development only affects a couple of acres for Nicolaus Nut Company. The
proposed subdivision will add 69%of the North border to modification.
4. Item 4 Improvements to Stanley Ave to Dayton road are not described or tentative schedule for
work discussed.
5. Item 5 in the resolution document will provide a 250-foot buffer for any nesting raptors, during
construction. If it is that is what is required for the bird,why isn't 300 feet,as per ordinance,
expected for the farmer.
6. The Staff Report is 332 pages long.
In summary:
➢ Dozens of gaps exist in current vegetative curtain.
➢ Vegetative curtain is too short for adequate protection.
➢ Vegetative curtain is not made up of deciduous species.
➢ Orchard orientation is North and South,all turns occur on the boundary.
➢ Vegetative curtain contains many damaged and dying trees.
➢ Likely reduction of the vegetative curtain will occur on the residential side.
➢ The south agricultural property will be agricultural in perpetuity.
➢ Your decision will affect the Agricultural operation forever and perhaps with future ordinance
put the agricultural operation in partial jeopardy.
➢ The entire project lies on Chico Loam, some of the best soil in California.
➢ The City of Chico diverting new drainage to Comanche Creek needs to be addressed
➢ Potential flooding risks exist. Remember Maxwell California 2017.
➢ 69%of the Northern Border for Nicolaus Nut Company will be affected by this development
➢ The Fish and Game requires a 250-foot buffer from nesting raptors. 1000 feet if it is a Bald
Eagle.
➢ The 300-foot Agricultural Buffer was not an arbitrary decision, it was based on solid information
based on State Pesticide Label Regulation and Agricultural Activities.
➢ The 300-foot buffer provides safety
I would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for your service and attention to
this matter.
Jam Jaral I Da idson
Agron ist
t.
r
r,U
r,
aG
Catkins emerging 3/20/17
'Ron, s
Jp„ ✓d�s � ssss s
,;✓
Aik
+ °�
°
1 0
✓ U /('9' +
r
�+ ,,
1
��� � � r���s ��s s1°b✓�/�Ai �''',,,'�'�'����r fry✓�ii��D✓y'��f ° G � � �s � � '
s1r�,� r i s s ✓ ��� � 11�>'�✓�/% �����'rs�nes ,� o
(j'�i�'rs ! ��y9`�iiy +i /ssi��s�j�isj+9 ✓� +✓i✓✓i� �s �l'� �� rf'�wY
�i t/�1�+✓�r�^ �� �ssJ(✓,v+��(�✓y�����r s��i�sia s s s
r G" ✓ ✓�y � �/ ri� i /� sii- r�%s slii' � �i
/�i✓ s If/� s✓ aJsl�f��s� s/i�// s J s �/sa{,�✓+r s �"✓7��� r�
kik � ���,/ ��/i�'(�N�✓�+�� �iir�✓✓✓�✓N✓t��('"�' 7 " ��� a ��i
ry'7J��1( �ru'+✓ /+j�✓� s✓�/✓/s l� s+ � �/ if d �: �Wm
r + / s �s �✓ii {4faiz+/�r�i s +J'+ s+a�fs ;aa r(
� r r / ✓ r/s f i Ls V V
a /i/�✓r/a+ it � /�
r s+
7 r�� /i s/ s l/i/r(F✓s �a�'� ✓� !
I'� / s l s s / ll ✓s✓/i //� ss//l s � a+
si✓>i a s s s it/r i s/%✓���si s r %��si� / s *�J! � s ��' r b � ru r
t' ��6✓�/s�fl/�i sal/ �✓/✓✓ 1 s� ��1 ^� r +j �,; r 1l
!i ��� � auk " �������(�If�ri s� rr. � s s ''d� �� P� �l�1f��✓ +o ✓��"�sh''>w' �
r � ��/s» ✓ r r ° 1
a�N,l�i"r. � �i+ir✓�fis✓� ✓iii%�s �%✓/(% �/YIu /�✓s✓tai '�°: r
r
�sr
� U
,
n
W
dT M
I d
r ✓
4
a .,µ
w
ow
x
" a
I
4
I
a �
u � w
r
"
�/: ua,� I n•n ,t,
TY
i
t'
u
u
w� n
w`
� ,� mwµ" �,' �✓w � �,� �""� �. �"
~m
"
" SyW
r "
ry
4
.ry ry r
w
� f
k
%u vi ✓ l� k,p ,� r'ip / �,
u,
"
r
nr �
d
vu
p
i
"
r
� u e..iwlWory
r
.t
w �
o w p 9
w,
r� y
a.
r
q
q
r V
a a �
r a4
F
y
, w
" I
0
Y�,
;
ta!4
�
P
t
u
i � m
i
w
w A�
P �
m
1
N�, wlWn
u r,
��I�„, �ufroi �� ��l����k'��/(9il w nV i�`� ���lG�'��'a✓ � ,h ..9 � � � 'y �"a � �w
31
r
a p'
r
0 �
d
0.
r�
/
ME
ar
77,
TO
1w
M,
8
�n a
rtM,.
n r
fry " ' � �1 % "�W J°:i u➢ � F
�1 ✓( yry^�au
� Ik
M
yy
I
irk
o�
rok
r
*7 P r
It,ot
a
m
u
o
w.
µ
m
1
p p,
y, Feer
a
r
�V �S
r7
n o
u a�
w
0
d
r10
I w $
u
r ,✓i r , I 1
W A �y
pr p'
b�
a
a,b
IYI
m
y
r ,
V 1
� N
I � i III
Iiu
� 1
b �r
d
o .
it
��✓ a� I �,"% �m "`.� q'�r�h0� 1 �r �",�✓,^'''" „'%'1�l1(dlf�'flll4��/7 i��"�rr�'n,�.�rrk�,
......._
r � r
6rr�r
r M �� nw th w q yw m �Jb rk r wf u
_� '' � ,v��„ � W�4 ''q, .. 1!. ✓i/i/%/j�/,/i�l'//r%' i/rgr//,l✓�/ft ��i J/I
t «;a r//�i/�%/� ���f%�/✓/✓/q✓�� O,
q
r
r {,
s
� y
,w 1 % r q 'w:w�a Iq ",' ilii i�✓/ 'ii�e,, ii/
n
I
i
A
�f
i
I
l n
Y p
n ;
{14^L h OL99BCP CSV 0@99&V
C? O
MOT Ds�m48'F p.„ � fW4 A'f QS s�T'�'!' N _
O
l'7 tt}
I
y N!/
r
T
0
f
cn
3
O
m
3
CL
� CD 3
16 E U)
IL.
CO
° Z + 0
CO m
33
i
4
f
J
20# 0
[A.a.05 JET
z
av y
Soil Map—Butte Area,California,Parts of Butte and Plumas Counties Project plumber TBM16-0002
Map Unit Legend
Butte Area,California,Parts of Butte and Plumas Counties(CA612)
Map Unit Symbol Map Unit Marne Acres In�CtlI Percent of AOI
4145 Chico loam,0 to 1 percent 20.0 100.0%
slopes
Totals for Area of Interest 20.0 100.0%;
us- Natural Resources Web Soil Survey 312012017
Conservation Service National Cooperative Soil Survey Page 3 of 3
r, CO
C) 0
LO
a) m
0) m
m co
01 76 'D CL
M
vm as - cm
R
-Cc 'COL) a) m
0 :3
ur CN c C,
-F m ca — -�e
E
-5 d 04 o m E
z ca 0 m t-- (D .O CD E >1 0�o o
E Cc to ay U) or w C11 0 (D U' -Z
Q.-O M (o co CL :1
0 L) M a AZ =� c
U) E ca -3 IQ
cn
il (n CD 0 Z CL E 0)
CD ID OL U) U) - oar-Dm I -
c CL (D -0 u, < ca
-r- m 0 (b C o F Cj 0 0) 2
aw `CL to () s 0 , 2 o p
a- C: CL cl c
76 E C-
-0 20
0 m 0 :D as m o 0 <
Cl) 0" 0 0' 70- a)
�m m
0) crs 0
o,
> ;3 CL m E
U. c > c C: 0 ro 0 E
Z fn 0 0
o cloo 'CL UO) E
CL 0 71 0 2 < .2
p a) 41 CL -0 LD 2 2
IL 0) w
16
lu 0 4) CL-E 0 > 0
0 —
ca
m Z
CL E c0d c2
-.S
m E
c Z): 00).
�2 (D .2 cM, (D
Oi isa0,
0 �a ro - =
as 0 'a — a- i> 5, a) =
C C 0 < r-
V) 0 C M -S c
.T a 5 E
E - m 0
o tis E U) E
E M o S
Cj, — a= ca' Q) o < CL c, 0 -0
C:, w 0 2.2 8 C
Q) -0 0) —2 2 > CD
T3 0
0 C: (u M, , ;;)
0) EL
ca
CU -0 a) 0
En a) c 0 v C, a) E 'cum
7a J= 0� 76 �c S-_
m 0) 0 :3 0 tp
w E= . -- 0)
E rL E U) 30): 50 CL m o (D CL V) a) cli
'0
m CJ
CD
9
16
ur U) as
0
U) as
ca m m 0
0
a5 a co L) c m
2 U)CL U-ay 20 .0
-0 -0 2 16
< U) 75 CL
Ln
0
z LL
0
w 2 r- I I
ua CD 9 4 03
ui
CL
0 0 CL
s '9 w
0
0- E 0 CL
0-
:teu g �a :3 cr
CL CL 0 2 CL
CL a ca
CL 70 w Z, -T (D -
m z , 0 2 o
- -5 z 1 0
U-
> > (D CD
0 0 0 S A2 >
.E on .2 CLO (nmo
w U) U) 0 co m 0 U (D 0 co co (n cn U)
2 CL
U)
0
co
z 0