Agricultural Preserve Advisory Committee
http://sbcountyplanning.org/boards/ag_preserve/ag_preserve.cfm
Contact:
Sharon Foster
Board Assistant Specialist, Planning & Development
Mailing Address:
Engineering Building
123 E. Anapamu Street
Santa Barbara CA 93101
Phone Number: (805) 568-2026
Email Address: sfoster@co.santa-barbara.ca.us
Legal Authority:
The Santa Barbara County Uniform Rules for Agricultural Preserves and Farmland Security Zones (hereafter referred to in this document as Uniform Rules or Rules) is the set of rules by which the County administers its Agricultural Preserve Program under the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, better known as the Williamson Act. The purpose of the Williamson Act is the long-term conservation of agricultural and open space lands. The Act establishes a program to enroll land in Williamson Act or Farmland Security Zone contracts whereby the land is solely restricted to agricultural, open space, or recreational uses in exchange for reduced property tax assessments. Participation in the program is voluntary by the County and by the eligible landowners. Formed by Minute Order of July 31, 1967.
Membership:
The Agricultural Preserve Advisory Committee was created by, and is advisory to, the Board of Supervisors and includes representatives from the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, Assessor’s Office, County Surveyor’s Office, Cooperative Extension, Planning and Development and the agricultural community.
Term:
The members of the Agricultural Preserve Advisory Committee serve open terms.
Duties:
The Committee is responsible for administering the County’s Agricultural Preserve Program and the Uniform Rules. Its duties include reviewing applications and making recommendations for creating agricultural preserves, entering new contracts, making revisions to existing preserves or contracts, terminating contracts and disestablishing preserves. In conjunction with these duties, the APAC is responsible for monitoring and enforcement of the Agricultural Preserve Program.
When an application for a permit (or other County entitlement) involves land in a Williamson Act contract, the APAC has the responsibility to review the application to determine its consistency with the County’s Uniform Rules. In addition, the APAC is responsible for determining the compatibility of land uses under the provisions of the Uniform Rules and the Williamson Act. From time to time it is also responsible for recommending revisions to the Rules to ensure their continuing consistency with the Williamson Act and suitability to Santa Barbara County. The APAC is a committee subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act and the public is welcome to attend meetings and provide input and comments on proposed recommendations or issues being discussed. (Source: Uniform Rules for Agricultural Preserves and Farmland Security Zones)
Meeting Date and Location:
The APAC meets on the first Friday of every month in the Planning and Development Courtyard Conference Room, located at 123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.