RES 91013 - Laserfiche WebLink

cultivable lands. However, a provision is included in the Plan which appears to waive the $30,000 per unit fee if 'land is preserved, acre for acre, in another part of the Study Area. Cultivable land within the Gateway, however, is only subject to the $10,000 per unit fee. The fee approach is a simpler method than TDRs of compensating owners of cultivable land who do not wish to develop by those who own land and wish to develop. Staff believes that fees are a more realistic and administratively simpler method of achieving the same objective. Agricultural Land Trust The objectives of the Land Trust are to purchase conservation easements, facilitate the planting of vineyards and the development of wineries, and promote the South Livermore Valley as a wine producing destination. Staff believes that all three objectives are necessary in order for the Valley to be a successful wine region and tourist destination. Staff believes that agricultural land should remain in private ownership and that the Trust should only purchase land in two types of situations. The first situation would involve an agricultural parcel which, if developed, would jeopardize the contiguity of adjacent vineyards. In this case, the Trust might purchase a conservation easement equal in value to the development rights of the property. These rights generally are estimated to be about 80% to 90% of the total value of the land. The land, then, would remain in private ownership with an easement prohibiting development, and thereby preserving the potential for agriculture. It should be noted, however, that a conservation easement, in and of itself, does not guarantee the use of the land for viticulture or any other agricultural use. The Trust may wish to also provide additional incentives to encourage the owner to plant grapes. These incentives might include low interest loans for agricultural improvements, reduced infrastructure costs, or assistance in gaining Williamson Act contracts to reduce taxes. The second situation would involve a parcel of land that was about to be sold to a developer. The Trust may wish to purchase the property outright, retain the development rights, and then sell the property to a grape grower. This situation should only be used in emergencies, as the costs of maintaining and administering publicly held land should be minimized. The third use of the Trust Fund would be to promote the South Livermore Valley as a premier wine grape growing region and tourist destination, similar to the Napa or Sonoma Valleys but on a smaller scale. The key to marketing any product, such as wine, SR:91:30 -10-