HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/01/2009, B1 - PROJECT APPROACH FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A MASTER PLAN FOR CITY OWNED AGRICULTURAL LAND AT CALLE JOAQUIN Councit "'�`D� 9/1/09
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CITY OF SAN LUIS O B I S P O
FROM: Shelly Stanwyck,Assistant City Manager
Prepared By: Neil Havlik,Natural Resources Manager
SUBJECT: PROJECT APPROACH FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A MASTER PLAN
FOR CITY OWNED AGRICULTURAL LAND AT CALLE JOAQUIN
OPEN SPACE
RECOMMENDATION
1. Review and approve the proposed approach for the development of a Master Plan for
City-owned agricultural lands.
2. Authorize the staff to engage in discussions for possible interim uses on City-owned
agricultural lands until the Master Plan is completed with the understanding that the
approval of any agreements for interim use will be subject to Council's consideration and
approval.
DISCUSSION
2009-11 Financial Plan Major City Goal
Every two years the Council undertakes its process of establishing Major City Goals for the
City's Financial Plan. As part of the Plan, a scope of work with action steps is developed for
each Major Goal, and in the case with this Plan, for each Other Important Objective. One of the
adopted Other Important Objectives of 2009-11 Financial Plan is focused on Open Space
Preservation. The Objective reads as follows: Continue efforts to acquire, preserve, and protect
open space, and develop a master plan for City-owned agricultural land at Calle Joaquin. This
report outlines in general terms the proposed approach for developing this Master Plan.
City Owned Agricultural Land
The City presently owns 13 acres of open space lands zoned for agricultural purposes adjacent to
Calle Joaquin (Attachment 1). Adjacent to the City owned property are two other parcels of land
which if developed in the City could result in additional City owned or controlled agricultural
land. One of those properties, the so-called "Madonna Gap" property (Attachment 2), presently
has a development proposal, Prefumo Creek Commons. Council will consider the Prefumo
Creek Commons Environmental Impact Report this same evening, September 1, 2009. As part
of the Prefumo Creek Commons development, the City is expected to receive a dedication of
open space in fee. This dedication will at a minimum double the Calle Joaquin Agricultural
Area.
The other property adjacent to the City-owned Calle Joaquin agricultural land is the Dalidio
Ranch (Attachment 3). A significant portion of the Dalidio Ranch has been designated for
Master Plan for City Owned Agricultural Land Page 2
agricultural purposes in the City's General Plan. However, the Dalidio Ranch is presently not in
the City limits and does not have an active development application before the City. It does
however have a voter approved project plan for development in the County which reserves a
portion of the ranch for agricultural purposes.
Purpose of the Master Plan
There are potentially over 90 acres in the Calle Joaquin Agricultural Area which could be owned
or controlled by the City and used for a variety of agricultural purposes. The purpose of the
Master Plan is to identify the nature and extent of those agricultural uses. In developing this
Master Plan the City must be cognizant of the constraints which might arise from an area plan
which must encompass three different properties. There are potentially three different timelines
for City ownership or control which may result in different land tenures and even different uses,
including uses not envisioned by the Master Plan process.
The Master Plan is expected to contain the following:
1. The identification of key stakeholders and participants who are willing to implement the
plan.
2. An outline of possible uses in the area such as: a non-profit farm, community orchard,
community garden,research area, demonstration area, and production areas.
3. The identification of how the Prefu no Creek riparian corridor can be expanded and
enhanced.
4. The identification of where the extension of a bicycle/pedestrian trail between Calle
Joaquin and Madonna Road should be located and the timing of its construction.
5. How portions of the non-City owned properties could be utilized for agricultural
purposes.
6. Cost estimates for various activities and possible funding sources.
Public Outreach—Identification of Stakeholders and Interested Participants
As part of the development of its Major City Goals, Council facilitated extensive community
outreach. During one of its public forums on Major City Goals for the 2009-11 Financial Plan,
Council heard from numerous members of the public of their desire to garden and or farm. In
2009 gardening and or farming is nationally a popular activity. A Master Plan for City owned
agricultural lands would provide citizens with increased access to this activity.
Because of the expected high level of interest in this Plan's development, staff intends to make
the process as collaborative and participatory as is practically feasible. Staff will begin by
facilitating several public meetings to take input. Notification and outreach of these meetings
will be provided to previously identified respresentative groups, any individuals who have
requested notice, and via the usual public meeting noticing processes. Identified representative
groups so far include Sierra Club, ECOSLO, the Land Conservancy, Cal Poly, Farm Bureau, and
several interested individuals. Furthermore, staff encourages Council and the public to identify
additional interested parties during the discussion of this item.
B � — �
Master Plan for City Owned Agricultural Land Page 3
To provide even greater public participation, this project will utilize the City's website as its
main communication tool and repository of information (based on the prior practice that
Community Development has used for the Orcutt Area Specific Plan and Downtown Building
Height). An email "opt in" will be provided so that the City can develop a list of interested
parties. Announcements will be provided including information about upcoming meetings.
Additionally links to key documents, maps, and background research will also be placed on the
website.
Action Steps
Below are proposed action steps. Many are predicated on public input as described above.
Research. Staff will complete research on various models for community farming. Ongoing
Particular attention will be paid to emerging opportunities in public agriculture,
urban farming,and community orchards and gardens.
Public Input. As described above throughout the development of the Master Plan Ongoing
public input will be taken at public meeting and through comments and materials
submitted by the public.
Creating the Draft Plan. Using the template developed for the City's Conservation Spring 2010
Plans, upon completing preliminary research and public outreach staff will created a
draft Master Plan.
Review of Draft Plan. The public and stakeholders will be encouraged to provide Summer 2010
feedback on the draft Master Plan. Once that is complete revisions will be made and
a proposed Master Plan will be circulated for final review.
Recommendations to Council. Recommendations about the proposed Master Plan Fall 2010
will be solicited from the following: stakeholders individually and represented
groups,the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Planning Commission.
Council consideration. Council review and adoption of proposed Master Plan. December 2010
What the Plan Development Is Not
L Not a Revision of General Plan Policy for Land Use in the Area. The Master Plan for the
Calle Joaquin area is not intended to be a land use focused effort. Over the years there have been
differing public opinions as to the use and development of the Dalidio Ranch. This undertaking
presumes that a portion of the Dalidio Ranch will one day be designated for agricultural purposes
and under the City's control (either by fee or easement), as indicated in the City's General Plan.
The Plan will therefore not propose changes to the existing policies for the properties it covers.
Z Not a Review of Development Proposals The Master Plan will not review development
proposals that property owners put forward or are considering in the Plan area.
3. Not the Implementation of the Plan. Before getting to the implementation stage of the
Master Plan, and it may be hard for the public to wait because this is such an exciting
opportunity, the Plan itself must be established. Upon a cursory review of existing urban
BI - 3
Master Plan for City Owned Agricultural Land Page 4
agricultural operations, staff has noted that the formation of a nonprofit entity to manage the
lands is a likely recommendation of the Plan. This phase of the"project" will therefore focus on
the identification of the various uses of the land and how to accomplish those uses. It will not
focus on the formation of a nonprofit or the drafting of formal agreements with other
stakeholders. That will come after Plan adoption if those steps are identified in the Plan. It is
staff's hope that the public, through participation in the process of developing the Plan, will
develop a passion for the implementation phase.
Interim or Short-Term Management of the Property
Since a certain amount of time will be needed to develop the Master Plan and complete its
approval, a question arises about interim use of the 13-acre City-owned site, and possibly the
land expected to be dedicated as part of the Madonna Gap property development. Since the
Council tabled an earlier proposal for a five year hay-growing lease, the site has been managed as
a fallow field, meaning that the property was disked, seeded to a cover crop, and the cover crop
later turned under in an effort to keep weeds under control and keep the property ready for
agricultural use. This can continue, however, this action comes at a cost to the City of about
$3,000 per year.
The original lease proposer remains interested in a hay contract, even for one year, and the City
has also been approached by Chevron to consider use of about two acres of the site as a
"restoration nursery" to grow native plants for eventual out planting at the Tank Farm site as it is
remediated. Staff feels that it is in the interest of the City to foster the remediation of the Tank
Farm site and therefore recommends that the Council authorize discussion with Chevron to
prepare an agreement for such use of a portion of the Calle Joaquin site. This would be for two
to four years. Staff also recommends that the Council authorize advertising for a one-year crop
production lease to foster a hay or other low-input agricultural program that will be attractive to
one or more individuals and not prejudice the longer term goals coming out of the Master Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT
Costs for the planning study can be absorbed by the City's Natural Resources Protection
Program. However, no additional funding was allocated for this project in the 2009-11 Financial
Plan, and implementation would require either an outside source or sources of funding and/or
allocation of City funds for the 2011-2013 Financial Plan period.
ATTACHMENTS
1. City Owned Calle Joaquin Property
2. Madonna Gap
3. Dalidio Ranch
4. Aerial Photograph of the entire Project.Site
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Page 1 of 1
Coundl,SloCity
From: rosemary wilvert[rwilvert@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Wed 8/26/2009 11:10 PM
To: Council,SloCity
Cc:
Subject: Sept. 1 special meeting on Master Plan for 90 Acres
Attachments:
RECEIVED
Dear Mayor Romero and City Council Members,
As I will be out of town on Sept. 1, I wish to let you know that the Master AUG 2 68 2 �19
Plan that the City of San Luis Obispo is doing for the 90 acres of future SLO CITY CLERK
open space is of utmost interest to many residents of the city and county.
We urge you to make sure that public input is encouraged and given due
consideration as the Plan is developed.
With climate change and hard economic times ahead, for its own viability,
our city must promote urban agriculture, including sustainability workshops
and organic food production.
We care about our city's future and will work hard to help it become a model
for the rest of the nation.
Sincerely,
Rosemary Wilvert
President, Citizens for Planning Responsibly
RED FILE
MEETING AGENDA
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https://mail.slocity.org/exchange/slocitycouncil/Inbox/Sept.%201%20special%20meeting... 8/27/2009
Page 1 of 2
Council,SloCity
From: Brett Cross[bre=mss@yahoo.com] Sent: Tue 9/1/2009 1:53 PM
To: Counul,SloCity
Cc: RECEIVED
Subject: Item B-1 DEVELOPMENT OF A MASTER PLAN
Attachments: SEP 91 2009
DEVELOPMENT OF A MASTER PLAN SLO CITY CLERK
FOR CITY OWNED AGRICULTURAL LAND AT CALLE JOAQUIN
OPEN SPACE 4EE fit';y
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Having read the staff report I'm a bit curious as to why staff is recommending including the non-city
owned property, Dalido property, in the development of the master planning for the area. The major
City Goal incorporated in the staff report does not include privately owned parcels in the wording.
The Objective reads as follows : Continue efforts to acquire, preserve, and protec t
open space, and develop a master plan for City-owned agricultural land at Calle Joaquin.
I consider it highly speculative and premature to be discussing property that is privately held and was
the subject of a city vote that overturned a development proposal and annexation. Considering the
privately owned Dalidio property also infers that the City is planning on allowing a future
development on this site prior to community input.
Secondly, there is some discussion in the staff report regarding the current maintenance of the
property and the costs associated with managing the property as a fallow field. I think as Council
members you should be more curious as to why the hay, I believe Oat hay- which was fetching at least
$16 a bale at the time was plowed under. I think I pretty much know why (a ton of mustard grew into
the field)but staff should be honest about the reason and not make it appear as though the plan all
along was to plow the crop under.
Sincerely,
https://mail.slocity.org/exchange/slocitycouncil/Inbox/Item%20B-1%20DEVELOPMENT... 9/1/2009
Page 2 of 2
Brett Cross
hnps://mail.slocity.org/exchange/slocitycouncil/Inbox/Item%20B-1%20DEVELOPMENT... 9/1/2009