Chapter 21.92
Dimensional standards
Servicing
- Geographic extent
- Unincorporated inland areas of Monterey County
Extracted standards
16 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Density
- Gross density threshold for priority project reduction25 du/acdu/acreDwelling units per acre — the number of homes allowed on each acre of land.
gross density of twenty-five (25) dwelling units/acre gross or greater
Other
- Maximum percentage of total mitigation that can be Alternative and Complementary Mitigation5 percent
The proposed Alternative and Complementary Mitigation may be up to but shall not exceed five percent of the total acreage or total value of the required mitigation.
- Timeline for appraisal of conservation easement value90 days
The appraisal of the fair market value of acquiring a conservation easement on the land being converted shall be completed within 90 days from consideration by the Appropriate Authority.
- Reduction in base mitigation ratio if Mitigation Land is in a high potential groundwater recharge area0.13 ratio
If the Mitigation Land is determined to be in a high potential groundwater recharge area identified by a recognized groundwater sustainability agency, the Base Mitigation Ratio shall be reduced by up to a maximum of .125.
- Number of Good Faith Efforts required before paying In-lieu Fees2 efforts
Applicants shall make two Good Faith Efforts before applicants are allowed to pay In-lieu Fees to the Qualifying Conservation Entity.
- Mitigation Land criteria
Mitigation Lands... shall meet all of the following criteria: Be designated as Farmland and in an Agricultural Zone; Be acquired from willing sellers only; Be of adequate size, configuration, and location to be viable for continued agricultural operations and use; Be of substantially equivalent FMMP Important Farmland Category or better; Have a Water Supply available; Be located within the County of Monterey; Not be on land that has an existing easement or deed restriction that prevents converting the property to nonagricultural use.
- Base mitigation ratio for Prime Farmland inside Community Areas, Rural Centers, and Affordable Housing Overlays1.5 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones. per acreacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.
Prime Farmland shall be mitigated for at a replacement ratio of 1.5:1.
- Base mitigation ratio for Prime Farmland outside Community Areas, Rural Centers, and Affordable Housing Overlays2 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones. per acreacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.
Prime Farmland shall be mitigated for at a replacement ratio of 2:1.
- Base mitigation ratio for Statewide, Unique, and Local Farmland inside Community Areas, Rural Centers, and Affordable Housing Overlays1.25 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones. per acreacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.
Statewide, Unique, and Local Farmland shall be mitigated for at a replacement ratio of 1.25:1.
- Base mitigation ratio for Statewide, Unique, and Local Farmland outside Community Areas, Rural Centers, and Affordable Housing Overlays1.75 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones. per acreacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.
Statewide, Unique, and Local Farmland shall be mitigated for at a replacement ratio of 1.75:1.
- Timing of mitigation for permits
Projects that require a Use Permit or Administrative Permit or a variance... shall provide the Farmland Conservation Easement, Farmland Deed Restriction, payment of In-lieu Fees, or Alternative and Complementary Mitigation prior to or concurrent with the recordation of a parcel or final map or prior to issuance of the first construction permit, whichever occurs first.
- Reduction in base mitigation ratio if Mitigation Land is in a Priority Area for Mitigation0.13 ratio
If the Mitigation Land is located in Priority Areas for Mitigation... the Base Mitigation Ratio shall be reduced by up to a maximum of .125.
- Reduction in base mitigation ratio for priority projects with gross density of 25 du/acdu/acreDwelling units per acre — the number of homes allowed on each acre of land. or greater0.13 ratio
If the land being converted is for the development of dwelling units and has a gross density of twenty-five (25) dwelling units/acre gross or greater, the Base Mitigation Ratio shall be reduced by up to a maximum of .125.
- Reduction in base mitigation ratio if Mitigation Land includes a water quality improvement project0.13 ratio
If the Mitigation Land is determined to include a water quality improvement project that addresses agricultural pollutants... the Base Mitigation Ratio shall be reduced by up to a maximum of .125.
- Increase in base mitigation ratio if Mitigation Land is under a Williamson Act contract0.5 ratio
If the Mitigation Land is under a Williamson Act contract, the Base Mitigation Ratio shall be increased by up to a maximum of .50.
- Timeline for mitigation for land use designation changes24 months
Projects that change the land use designation... shall be conditioned to provide the mitigation within twenty-four (24) months of the approval of the zone change or prior to commencement of use, whichever occurs first.
From the ordinance
The purpose of this Chapter is to provide clear and consistent regulations to mitigate the loss of farmland due to development or conversion to non-agricultural uses in the unincorporated inland areas of the County of Monterey.