Planning Commission backs Williamson Act contracts for two ranch parcels in unanimous votes

Calaveras County Planning Commission — On Oct. 19 the Calaveras County Planning Commission voted unanimously to adopt resolutions recommending the Board of Supervisors establish agricultural preserves and enter into Williamson Act (California Land Conservation Act) contracts for two privately owned ranch parcels.

Planning Manager Gina Caffin presented both applications. The first, from Edward and Jennifer Bardsley, proposed a 252.42-acre agriculture preserve and Williamson Act contract (Williamson Act contract 394) for a parcel off Hunt Road, about 3.7 miles west of the Hunt Road–Highway 4 intersection near Copperopolis. Caffin said the parcel is designated Resource Production in the county general plan, meets the zoning and minimum-acreage criteria, and reported a gross annual agricultural production income of $94,500; a feasibility study by the county farm advisor estimated production capability at $209.75 per acre.

The commission took public comment in support, including a statement from Tom Infasino of the Calaveras Planning Coalition. Applicant Edward Bardsley thanked staff for their work. A motion to adopt the resolution and rezone the parcel to the Agriculture Preserve (AP) zone carried 5–0.

The second application, from Robert Garamendi and family, requested an agriculture preserve and Williamson Act contract for a single 132.31-acre parcel at the southwest corner of Camp Sako and Watertown Road. Caffin said the parcel met the same eligibility tests: Resource Production designation, minimum acreage and a reported gross annual production of $20,000, supported by a feasibility estimate of $154.22 per acre. The Agriculture Advisory Committee recommended both applications for Board of Supervisors action. The commission voted 5–0 to adopt the resolution for that parcel as well.

Regulatory and procedural notes: Caffin said the county relies on Board of Supervisors resolution 75-4-89 to administer local Williamson Act contracts and that both projects were found consistent with Title 17 of the county code. Both applications were found categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under CEQA Guideline §15317 (open-space contracts).

Discussion vs. decision: The commission made no substantive changes to the projects; staff presentations concluded the parcels met statutory and local criteria and the commission approved resolutions recommending the Board of Supervisors establish the preserves and contracts.

What happens next: The commission’s resolutions will be transmitted to the Board of Supervisors for final action to establish the agriculture preserves and execute the Williamson Act contracts.