HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.05.20 Greenline 5 year report
From:Daneluk, Paula
To:Alpert, Bruce;Bennett, Robin;Clerk of the Board;Connelly, Bill;Cook, Holly;Lambert, Steve;Lucero, Debra;
McCracken, Shari;Paulsen, Shaina;Pickett, Andy;Ring, Brian;Ritter, Tami;Rodas, Amalia;Sweeney, Kathleen;
Teeter, Doug
Cc:Pickett, Andy
Subject:Greenline 5 year report
Date:Thursday, November 5, 2020 5:50:40 PM
Attachments:Greenline 5 year review 2020.pdf
As per the General Plan policies, Development Services is tasked with reviewing the status of the
Greenline and the implementation of associated policies. This memorandum provides the second 5-
year review since General Plan 2030 adoption on October 26, 2010. The last review took place in
2015. Development Services staff has found no changes or items needing to be addressed or
updated at this time. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks.
Paula M. Daneluk, AICP
Director, Development Services
Butte County
7 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965
T: 530.552.3656 F: 530.538.7785
Department of Development Services Paula M. Daneluk, AICP, Director
Pete Calarco,Assistant Director
7 County Center DriveT: 530.552.3701
buttecounty.net/dds
Oroville, California 95965 F: 530.538.7785
MEMORANDUM
DATE: November 5, 2020
TO: Butte County Board of Supervisors
FROM: Paula M. Daneluk, AICP, Director
RE: Chico Area Greenline Five-Year Review
General Plan 2030 Land Use Element –Action Item LU-A13.1
I.EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Chico Area Greenline Policies were originally adopted by Butte County in 1982through
amendment of the General Plan’s Land Use Element. The purpose of the Greenline is to provide
a boundary between developed landand agricultural land, ensuringinfill development is
prioritized to protect agricultural land. Farmland provides a host of economic, environmental,
and socio-cultural public benefits forButte County. The Greenline acts as a means to protect the
benefits farmland provides to the community. The Chico Area Greenline policies were reviewed
and affirmed in 2010 through the approval process of Butte County General Plan 2030.The
policies support the General Plan 2030 Guiding Principles pertaining to Agriculture. Namely,
GOAL AG-1, which aims to protect, maintain, promote and enhance Butte County’s agriculture
uses and resources, a major source of food, employment and income in Butte County.
As required in General Plan 2030 Action Item LU-A13.1, Development Services has conducted a
review of the Chico Area Greenline Policies:
LU A13.1 To ensure that the land use needs of the Chico area are being met, review
and evaluate the location of the Greenline every five years. Any changes or
amendments shall be made only upon the findingsspecified in Policy LU-P13.9
(discussed in more detail below).
This memorandum provides the second 5-year review since General Plan 2030 adoption on
October 26, 2010. The last review took place in 2015. Development Services staff has found no
changes or items needing to be addressed or updated at this time. The next five-year cycle for
review will be in 2025.
II. ANALYSIS
Chico Area Greenline Policies: Five-Year Review
Action Item LU-A13.1 setsa five-year review cycle for evaluating the location of the Chico Area
Greenline starting for the period of October 2010 to October 2015, with the current period being
October 2015 to October 2020. The General Plan 2030 was adopted in 2010. This is the second
five-year cycle of review under Action Item LU-A13.1. The Chico Area Greenline Policies can be
found in the Land Use Element with Figure LU-7 (attached to this memo) showing the location of
the Greenline.
STAFF NOTE: Proposed new development as referenced within this report does not include land uses, building
permits, or land divisions (that meet the minimum parcel size) that are consistent with the General Plan and General
Plan Land Use Map within the existing designations of Agriculture, Agriculture Services, Very Low Density Residential,
Rural Residential, or Public, or that are located within the existing boundary of the City of Chico Waste Water Pollution
Control Plant.
2015-2020 CHICO AREA GREENLINE REVIEW
Thisevaluation and review has not identified any changes to the Chico Area Greenline. As shown
below, applicable Greenline policies from the General Plan are reviewed pertaining to the current
state of the Greenline. To summarize, the County continues to recognize the Chico Area
Greenline as the boundary between urban and agricultural land uses.Its location remains the
same as inthe 2015 Review.There have been no applications or requests to convert agricultural
land to urban land or change the location of the Greenline in any area along its length. All land
use on the Agricultural Side of the Chico Area Greenline consist solely of agricultural land uses,
with the exception of those areas designated for VLDR (Very Low Density Residential)and RR
(Rural Residential) uses on the Official Chico Area GreenlineMap shown in Figure LU-7.
To allow for development without encroaching on the Greenline, the County accommodates
future urban and suburban growth on lands within the urban side of the Chico Area Greenline.
Allowable areas for development include the areas within the City of Chico City Limits, areas
within the North Chico Specific Plan, and areas within the Doe Mill/Honey Run Specific Plan.
November 5, 2020 Page 2 of 8
Chico Area Greenline 5 Year Review
Development Services has evaluated the Chico Area Greenline and provides the following review
by Goal, Policy,and Action as they appear in the General Plan.
Since the last review of the Chico Area Greenline, the County adopted Ordinance 4105 in 2016,
which established a residential setback from orchards and vineyards under Zoning Ordinance
Section 24-56.1. The ordinance establishes a building setback from existing orchards and
vineyards located in residential zones to reduce interference with pre-existing agricultural
operations. A minimum 25 foot setback is applied, which may be enlarged as long as the setback
does not remove the ability to build or subdivide.The residential setback is reviewed by the
Agricultural Commissioner, in consultation with Development Services to determine an
appropriate setback width.This setback is not related to the 300 foot agricultural setback that
applies to agriculture zones. The residential setback from orchards and vineyards does not have
any impact on the Chico Area Greenline.
Review of Chico Area Greenline Goal, Policies, and Action
Goal:
Goal LU-13 Plan for growth and protect agriculture in the Chico area through the Chico Area
Greenline.
Policies:
LU-P13.1 Maintain the Chico Area Greenline, which shall be located as shown on Figure LU-7.
Analysis
The Chico Area Greenline has been maintained consistent with Land Use Element Figure
LU-7 as adopted with General Plan 2030 on October 26, 2010. For reference, the General
Plan Land Use Element Chico Area Greenline figure is Figure LU-7 in the November 6, 2012
General Plan. The Chico Area Greenline figure was previously Figure LU-6 in the October
26, 2010 General Plan Land Use Element, but was relabeled without changes to the
graphic due to other changes to the General Plan.
LU-P13.2 Should a dispute arise or ambiguity appear as to the exact location of the Chico Area
Greenline, apply the following rules in determining the exact location of such line:
a.The Greenline is specific; large scale maps certified by the Development Services
Director shall be consulted in the event of a dispute.
November 5, 2020 Page 3 of 8
Chico Area Greenline 5 Year Review
b.Where the Greenline is indicated as approximately following a street, alley, railroad
right-of-way, creek or channel lines, the centerline of such street, alley, railroad right-
of-way, creek or channel lines shall be construed to be the location of the Greenline.
c.Where the Greenline is indicated as approximately following a lot line, such lot line
shall be construed to be the location of the Greenline.
d.With respect to property that is not subdivided, and where the Chico Area Greenline
bisects a lot or parcel, the location of the Greenline, unless the same is indicated by
dimensions shown upon the Official Chico Area Greenline Map, shall be determined
by the use of the scale appearing on the Official Chico Area Greenline Map.
Analysis
There have been no disputes or ambiguity to resolve in the exact location of the Greenline.
LU-P13.3 Recognize the Chico Area Greenline as the boundary between the “Urban Side of the
Chico Area Greenline” and the “Agricultural Side of the Chico Area Greenline.”
Analysis
The County continues to recognize the Chico Area Greenline as the boundary of the Urban
Side and the Agricultural Side of the Chico Area Greenline.
LU-P13.4 Allow residential land uses on the Agricultural Side of the Chico Area Greenline only
within those areas designated for Very Low Density Residential and Rural Residential use on the
Official Chico Area Greenline Map shown in Figure LU-7.
Analysis
On November 6, 2012, the Board of Supervisors approved amendments to the General
Plan Land Use Map and a comprehensive update to the County Zoning Ordinance (Butte
County Code Chapter 24). In that action, the Bell-Muir Extension area (approximately 130
acres on the north side of Bell Avenue and west of Muir Avenue) was changed from Rural
Residential (5-acre minimum)to Very Low Density Residential (2.5 acre minimum)
consistent with LU-P13.4 as amended to include VLDR-2.5. This action was the subject of
Board of Supervisors discussions (August 25 and September 15, 2015). At its meeting on
September 15, 2015, the Board of Supervisors took no action on the issue thus leaving the
VLDR-2.5 as the zoning designation for the Bell-Muir Extension area.
November 5, 2020 Page 4 of 8
Chico Area Greenline 5 Year Review
LU-P13.5 Except as provided for in Policy LU-P13.4, require that all land use on the Agricultural
Side of the Chico Area Greenline consist solely of agricultural land uses as provided by the
“Agriculture” and “Agriculture Services” designations.
Analysis
With the adoption of General Plan 2030 on October 26, 2010, there are primarily
Agriculture and Agriculture Services land use designations on the Agricultural Side of the
Greenline shown on the General Plan Land Use Map. The exception are those areas
designated for Very Low Density Residential and Rural Residential use on the Official Chico
Area Greenline Map shown in Figure LU-7
LU-P13.6 Guide land uses on the Urban Side of the Chico Area Greenline by the policies of the
Land Use Element and the applicable urban land use designation as contained in the Land Use
Element.
Analysis
General Plan 2030 guides development within the unincorporated areas of Butte County.
This includes primarily urban designations on the Urban Side of the Chico Area Greenline
and primarily Agriculture land use designations on the Agricultural Side of the Chico Area
Greenline.
LU-P13.7 Conserve and protect for agricultural use the lands in the Chico area that are situated
on the Agricultural Side of the Chico Area Greenline.
Analysis
The Chico Area Greenline policies support one of the General Plan 2030 Guiding Principles
pertaining to Agriculture, which states: “The General Plan addresses agriculture as an
important aspect of Butte County’s economy that will be protected, maintained, promoted
and enhanced.” There are also a number of other General Plan policies in the Land Use
Element and other elementsof the General Plan including the Agriculture Element that
support this Guiding Principle.
LU-P13.8 Accommodate future urban and suburban growth that occurs in the Chico area of Butte
County on lands situated in the Urban Side of Chico Area Greenline.
November 5, 2020 Page 5 of 8
Chico Area Greenline 5 Year Review
Analysis
Areas available and suitable for growth on the Urban Side of the Greenline include but are
not limited to the following:
Areas within the City of Chico city limits
Areas within the approved North Chico Specific Plan
Areas within theDoe Mill/Honey Run Specific Planarea
LU-P13.9 The Board of Supervisors may only approve an amendment to the Greenline after the
adoption of written findings of fact, supported by substantial evidence in the public record,
showing the following:
a.The public benefits of converting the agricultural land to urban land substantially
outweigh the public benefits of continued agricultural production.
b.There are no other urban or suburban lands reasonably available and suitable for the
proposed development.
Analysis
There have been no requests to convert agricultural land to urban land. Therefore, there
has been no need to compare the public benefits of the conversion of the land to urban
uses and the public benefits of continued agricultural production. (LU-P13.9a)
LU-P13.10 Nothing in these Chico Area Greenline policies shall prevent an individual at any time
from petitioning the Board of Supervisors for a general plan amendment, including a change in
the location of the Greenline in accord with the applicable laws and policies of Butte County and
the State of California.
Analysis
There have been no applications filed with the County to request a change in the Greenline
or to propose urban uses on the Agricultural Side of the Greenline.
The City of Chico has not filed any requests for changes to the Greenline or annexations of
areas on the Agricultural Side of the Greenline.
November 5, 2020 Page 6 of 8
Chico Area Greenline 5 Year Review
Action Item:
LU-A13.1 To ensure that the land use needs of the Chico area are being met, review and evaluate
the location of the Greenline every five years. Any changes or amendments shall be made only
upon the findings specified in Policy LU-P13.9 above.
Analysis
This memorandum is the second 5-year review since General Plan 2030 adoption on
October 26, 2010. Staff has found no changes or items needing to be addressed or
updated at this time. This concludes Development Services 5-year review of the Chico
Greenline Area Policies of General Plan 2030. The next cycle for review will be 2025.
Attachments
Chico Area Greenline Figure LU-7 from the November 6, 2012 General Plan Update
November 5, 2020 Page 7 of 8
Chico Area Greenline 5 Year Review
Chico Area Greenline Figure LU-7
General Plan 2030
November 6, 2012
November 5, 2020 Page 8 of 8
Chico Area Greenline 5 Year Review