Chico General Plan Policy Recommendations

(General Plan Land Use, Open Space and Conservation, Economic, and Sustainability Elements)

Introduction

Long-term sustainability planning necessitates consideration of rising fuel costs, climate changes, diminishing water supplies, and their effects on Chico’s economic and food security. A transition to predominantly local sources of food and other necessities may become essential for community resilience and economic stability. Cautious planning therefore requires that productive and potentially productive agricultural crop and grazing lands be preserved within and around Chico to provide for most of the long-term food needs of future residents.

No Net Loss Policies

1. The City adopts a “no net loss” policy for land with significant potential for future food production and will protect such land from activities that would diminish that potential.

2. The City will continue to work with Butte County to maintain the Green Line and prevent further urban encroachment into traditional agricultural crop and grazing areas.

3. The City will establish an Agricultural Preserve program to assure long-term preservation of sufficient land within and around Chico to provide food security for future residents.

4. The City will allow and promote urban agricultural uses, mini-farms, community gardens, private gardens, and food marketing throughout the community and future growth areas.

5. General Plan policies will be interpreted to avoid creeping sprawl onto agricultural land.

Agricultural Land Development and Mitigation Policies

6. Parcels larger than one acre in areas traditionally dominated by agricultural crops or grazing will be designated Open Space Resource Management for agricultural uses, including mini-farms, grazing, community gardens, home gardens, and food stands.

7. Development of such parcels within 100 feet of street frontages may be considered only in locations with significant existing development, subject to dedication of the remainder of such parcels to a permanent Agricultural Preserve as a condition of approval.

8. Parcels no larger than one acre in traditionally agricultural areas may be further divided, subject to buffers adjacent to agricultural uses and agricultural mitigation fees.

9. Large parcel ranchette development on traditionally agricultural land is an unacceptable waste of agricultural potential, except where developed so as to provide a permanent urban growth boundary, with a sufficient buffer to separate urban and agricultural uses.

10. Any development of land in traditionally agricultural areas that reduces open space, future potential for food production, or carbon sequestration benefits shall fully mitigate such losses by dedicating comparable land on the urban edge as an Agricultural Preserve and permanent urban boundary, or shall pay in lieu fees sufficient to acquire such land.

11. A nexus study will establish more specific dedication requirements and mitigation fees to fully offset losses of open space, food production potential, and carbon sequestration.

12. Agricultural mitigation fees, land dedication, assessment districts, and other available means will be used to acquire and manage Agricultural Preserves on the urban edge, in agricultural buffer areas, and within the community for long-term food production. Agricultural Preserves will be managed by an appropriate public entity or land trust.

13. Title 19 will be amended to specify practices and procedures to implement these policies.

Agricultural Buffer Policies

14. Minimize conflicts between agricultural and urban uses by consistently applying Butte County’s scientifically based 300 foot open space buffer requirement, to be located on developing parcels as a condition of development approval, or utilizing roads, creeks, or intervening parcels to separate urban and agricultural uses by at least 300 feet.

15. Buffer areas will be credited to development as open space if required, as a condition of development approval, to be used for small scale farming, grazing, community gardens, parks, trails, environmental protection or restoration, aquifer recharge, or other publicly beneficial open space uses. Dedication of buffer areas to an Agricultural Preserve also may be required and credited toward mitigation requirements and impact fees. Where dedication is required, maintenance fees will be assessed to developed portions of the parcel and the buffer area will be managed by an appropriate public entity or land trust.

16. If a 300 foot buffer would prevent all beneficial uses of a parcel, the City will cooperate with the landowner to facilitate private or public use of the parcel for small scale farming, community gardens, or other beneficial uses appropriate to agricultural areas.

17. The Zoning Ordinance will be amended to provide for buffer requirements and uses, open space and mitigation credits, and dedication and maintenance procedures.

Local Food System Policies and Programs

18. Support local food production and distribution systems as essential components of a sustainable local economy, food security, and community resilience from climate change, rising energy costs, and potential shortages of oil and water.

19. Facilitate the use of underutilized parking lots, appropriate park sites, school sites and other public land throughout the community for community gardens and farmers markets readily accessible to neighborhoods. Consider acquiring or leasing additional sites in response to public need.

20. Amend the Zoning Ordinance to provide for dedication or acquisition of community garden or resident garden space as a condition of approval for large and high density development. Allow credit toward open space and development impact fees.

21. Collaborate with CARD to organize and manage community gardens and gardening as a recreational program in appropriate parks and other locations.

22. Assist farmers markets and community gardens by providing public restroom facilities and water. Provide city compost, fencing as needed, and informational signs for community gardens regarding open hours, contact information, and guidelines for use.

23. Consider waiving fees for use permits and liability insurance requirements for certified farmers markets and community gardens. Encourage Butte County to waive fees for farmers market health permits.

24. Promote and facilitate acceptance of food stamps at farmers markets.

25. Participate in cooperative efforts to provide farm-toschool, farm-to-institution, and distribution centers supplying local food products to local stores and restaurants.

26. Establish a local preference policy for food purchased for city-sponsored, contracted, and affiliated events and activities, including events utilizing public streets or facilities.

From the Fall 2009 issue of the Environmental News.