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Permitted And Conditionally Permitted Uses Section 17021.5 requires that any employee housing occupied by six or fewer employees be deemed a single family structure with a residential land use, and shall be treated the same as a single family dwelling of the same type in the same zone. To comply with this section it is recommended that all zones that permit one-family dwellings be modified to clarify that housing for agricultural employees, as defined by Sections 17021.5 and 17008, also be permitted. The zoning districts that permit one- family dwellings are the A Agricultural District, R-1 One-Family Residential Districts, RM Multi-Family Residential Districts, and H-P-D Hillside Planned Development District. As indicated above, Section 17021.6 requires employee housing consisting of no more than 36 beds in a group quarters, or 12 units or spaces designed for use by a single family or household to be deemed an agricultural land use requiring that it be treated the same as any other agricultural activity in the same zone. It shall not be considered an activity that differs from agricultural use. Currently the Pleasanton zoning regulations both permit and conditionally permit a variety of agricultural-type uses in the A Agricultural District. For example, orchards and vineyards are permitted and higher impact uses such as poultry raising, egg processing, and hatcheries are conditionally permitted. In the R-1 One-Family Residential District the raising of fruit and nut trees, vegetables and horticultural specialties is a permitted use, and the raising of rabbits or fowl is conditionally permitted. Since both the A and R- 1 districts permit some agricultural use by right, Section 17021.6 mandates that employee housing consisting of up to 36 beds, or 12 units or spaces, be deemed an agricultural use and therefore be permitted without discretionary approval in both zones. There is concern that higher impact agricultural activities and the associated employee housing described under section 17021.6 would not be compatible with residential neighborhoods in the R-1 zoning district. To prevent potential negative impacts without prohibiting all agricultural activities, it is recommended that the code distinguish between the growing of plants and animals for private, noncommercial use (such as a vegetable garden) and commercial-scale agricultural activities which could implicate the need for employee housing. Under this proposal, private and noncommercial raising of plants and animals would be permitted by-right in both the R-1 and A districts. Limited commercial-scale agricultural uses would be conditionally permitted in R-1 and permitted in A. Higher impact agriculture activities would continue to require a conditional use permit in the A district. Employee housing involving more than six employees, as provided in Section 17021.6, would then require a use permit in the R-1 district. The proposed distribution of noncommercial growing, commercial-scale agriculture and employee housing, as permitted or conditionally permitted uses in the A and R-1 districts, is shown in the table below. The full redlined text amendment is included as Exhibit A. Case No. P12-1785 City of Pleasanton Planning Commission Page 4of7