SECTIONS 51220-51223 - California Statutes

GOVERNMENT CODE

SECTION 51220-51223

51220. The Legislature finds:
(a) That the preservation of a maximum amount of the limited
supply of agricultural land is necessary to the conservation of the
state's economic resources, and is necessary not only to the
maintenance of the agricultural economy of the state, but also for
the assurance of adequate, healthful and nutritious food for future
residents of this state and nation.
(b) That the agricultural work force is vital to sustaining
agricultural productivity; that this work force has the lowest
average income of any occupational group in this state; that there
exists a need to house this work force of crisis proportions which
requires including among agricultural uses the housing of
agricultural laborers; and that such use of agricultural land is in
the public interest and in conformity with the state's Farmworker
Housing Assistance Plan.
(c) That the discouragement of premature and unnecessary
conversion of agricultural land to urban uses is a matter of public
interest and will be of benefit to urban dwellers themselves in that
it will discourage discontiguous urban development patterns which
unnecessarily increase the costs of community services to community
residents.
(d) That in a rapidly urbanizing society agricultural lands have a
definite public value as open space, and the preservation in
agricultural production of such lands, the use of which may be
limited under the provisions of this chapter, constitutes an
important physical, social, esthetic and economic asset to existing
or pending urban or metropolitan developments.
(e) That land within a scenic highway corridor or wildlife habitat
area as defined in this chapter has a value to the state because of
its scenic beauty and its location adjacent to or within view of a
state scenic highway or because it is of great importance as habitat
for wildlife and contributes to the preservation or enhancement
thereof.
(f) For these reasons, this chapter is necessary for the promotion
of the general welfare and the protection of the public interest in
agricultural land.

51220.5. The Legislature finds and declares that agricultural
operations are often hindered or impaired by uses which increase the
density of the permanent or temporary human population of the
agricultural area. For this reason, cities and counties shall
determine the types of uses to be deemed "compatible uses" in a
manner which recognizes that a permanent or temporary population
increase often hinders or impairs agricultural operations.

51221. The Legislature further declares that the expenditure of
public funds under the provisions of this chapter is in the public
interest and is necessary to the accomplishment of the purposes
herein set forth.

51222. The Legislature further declares that it is in the public
interest for local officials and landowners to retain agricultural
lands which are subject to contracts entered into pursuant to this
act in parcels large enough to sustain agricultural uses permitted
under the contracts. For purposes of this section, agricultural land
shall be presumed to be in parcels large enough to sustain their
agricultural use if the land is (1) at least 10 acres in size in the
case of prime agricultural land, or (2) at least 40 acres in size in
the case of land which is not prime agricultural land.

51223. (a) A city council or board of supervisors, as the case may
be, shall, prior to rescinding a contract for the purpose of
restricting the same land by an open-space contract pursuant to
Section 51254 or by entering to an open-space agreement pursuant to
Section 51255, determine that the parcel or parcels are large enough
to provide open-space benefits, by providing habitat for wildlife, or
preserving its natural characteristics, beauty, or openness for the
benefit and enjoyment of the public.
(b) Uses or development permitted on land subject to an open-space
contract, or subject to an open-space easement agreement pursuant to
Section 51255, shall satisfy one or both of the following:
(1) Comply with the provisions of Section 51238.1 or 51238.2.
(2) Consist of, cause, facilitate, or benefit one or more
open-space uses on the land.
(c) If an open-space contract is executed pursuant to Section
51205, or if a contract is rescinded for the purpose of restricting
the same land by an open-space contract pursuant to Section 51254, or
an open-space easement agreement pursuant to Section 51255, either
of the following shall apply:
(1) The resulting open-space contract shall not permit new
development during the period the contract is in effect, except that
uses compatible with or related to the open-space uses would be
permitted.
(2) The resulting open-space easement agreement shall not permit
new development during the time equal to the time remaining on the
contract at the time of its rescission, except that uses compatible
with, or related to, the open-space uses would be permitted.
(d) For the purposes of this section, agriculture and uses
compatible with agriculture are compatible with open-space uses,
unless otherwise provided by local rules or ordinances.
(e) A board or council shall not accept or approve a petition for
rescission pursuant to Sections 51254 or 51255 if the city or county,
within which the land for which the rescission is sought is located,
has discovered or received notice of a likely material breach on the
land pursuant to the process specified in Section 51250, unless the
rescission is a part of the process specified in Section 51250.