HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 18-036 Approving an application to establish property located at 22100 Mt. Eden roadRESOLUTION NO. 18-036
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA
APPROVING AN APPLICATION TO ESTABLISH PROPERTY LOCATED AT 22100
MT. EDEN ROAD (APN 503-09-005) AS AN AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE AND
AUTHORIZING A WILLIAMSON ACT LAND CONSERVATION CONTRACT
WHEREAS, an application was submitted by John D. Couch ("Applicant") to establish an
agricultural preserve and enter into a land conservation contract with the City of Saratoga over a
20.94 -acre parcel (APN 503-09-005) located at 22100 Mt. Eden Road; and
WHEREAS, on June 20, 2018, following a duly noticed public hearing where the City
Council of the City of Saratoga (City Council) considered the application and evidence presented by
City Staff, the applicant, and other interested parties; and
NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Saratoga hereby establishes the
property located at 22100 Mt. Eden Road (APN 503-09-005) as an agricultural preserve and further
finds, determines, and resolves as follows:
Section 1: The recitals set forth above are true and correct and incorporated herein by
reference. The documents constituting the record of proceedings upon which this decision is based
are located in the City of Saratoga Department of Community Development and are maintained by
the Director of that Department.
Section 2: Establishing the property as an agricultural preserve is categorically exempt
from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14,
Section 15317, Class 17 "Open Space Contracts or Easements." This provision exempts the
establishment of agricultural preserves, the making and renewing of open space contracts under
the Williamson Act, or the acceptance of easements or fee interests in order to maintain the open
space character of the area.
Section 3: The following findings can be made regarding the subject application to
establish it as an agricultural preserve:
1. The subject property is located in the Hillside Residential (HR) zoning district and
establishing an agricultural preserve in HR zoning district is consistent with the permitted uses
within the HR zoning district.
2. The subject application is 20.94 acres and establishment of preserves of less than 100
acres is consistent with the City's General Plan.
3. The present uses on the proposed preserve include a vineyard, fruit orchard, and the
growing of organic produce. The property also has a single-family residence that houses the owner
and buildings associated with a wine making operation that uses the grapes grown on the property.
All these uses are compatible uses to establish an agricultural preserve.
Section 4: The City Council further directs and authorizes the City Manager to enter into a
land conservation contract with the owner of the property established as an agricultural preserve to
protect the City's agricultural and open space resources and provide uniform rules for administering
the preserve. The contract shall be substantially in the form attached to staff report for this matter.
The above and foregoing resolution was passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Saratoga
City Council held on the 20th day of June 2018 by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Mary -Lynne Bernald, Vice Mayor E. Manny Cappello, Council Members
Howard A. Miller, Emily Lo, Rishi Kumar
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
ATTES
DATE
Nora Pim.entel, MMC, City Clerk
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