San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
FARMLAND So far, 2,405 county acres preserved
cultural zones.
Zoning changes introduced in 2011 meant that some land was designated at lower density, allowing fewer homes per acre, and some landowners lost the right to subdivide land their property altogether.
The updated rules will remove properties’ general plan status as an application criteria, so density and subdivision factors won’t be part of the equation for eligibility. Instead, the new rules will prioritize a land’s agricultural value, with a secondary emphasis on farmland that can serve as buffers to wildlife conservation areas.
Additional priorities will include a property’s potential to reduce greenhouse gases, compatibility with neighboring land use, and voluntary wildlife enhancements. The changes approved Wednesday also will add a monitoring process for land in the program, allowing the county to apply for state and federal grants for agricultural land conservation.
Officials hope the changes will increase participation in the program and sustain more agricultural lands in San Diego.
So far, 2,405 acres of farmland have been preserved through the program, with $6.5 million paid to land owners, Talleh said.
San Diego County’s agricultural production totaled $1.79 billion in 2019.
deborah.brennan@ sduniontribune.com