To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: Hearing to Consider Adoption of Ordinance No. 2024-06 (Agritourism) (County File #CDZT22-00003)
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. OPEN the public hearing on Ordinance No. 2024-06; RECEIVE testimony; and CLOSE the public hearing.
2. ADOPT Ordinance No. 2024-06, authorizing and establishing standards for agritourism uses in agricultural zoning districts.
3. DETERMINE that adoption of Ordinance No. 2024-06 is exempt from CEQA under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) (common sense exemption).
4. DIRECT staff to file a Notice of Exemption with the County Clerk
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of preparing this ordinance has been funded by the Department of Conservation and Development, Land Development Fund.
BACKGROUND:
History of Board Direction on Agritourism
On December 20, 2016, at the recommendation of then Supervisor Piepho, the Board of Supervisors approved the expenditure of up to $150,000 from the Livable Communities Trust (District III Portion) and authorized the Department of Conservation and Development (DCD), in consultation with local agricultural stakeholders, to identify for future Board consideration specific actions the County could take to further promote and incentivize agricultural sustainability and economic vitality. The succeeding District III Supervisor, Supervisor Burgis, met with staff and outreached to the community to generate interest and ideas for the upcoming public process. On February 13, 2018, Supervisor Burgis recommended, and the Board approved, authorizing DCD to convene a series of open, public meetings with persons and groups interested in the policy reform topic.
Public engagement process on agritourism
DCD convened a series of public meetings with people and parties interested in agricultural sustainability and economic vitality in Contra Costa County to review exi...
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