SISKIYOU COUNTY — Planning commissioners and staff discussed whether solar and other accessory activities on land enrolled in the Williamson Act should require a conditional use permit or could be allowed by right after rezoning to AG‑2.

The issue matters because state legislation under consideration in Sacramento could change what the Williamson Act allows on enrolled land, commissioners said, and the county’s own implementation rules incorporate a 5‑acre or 5 percent threshold for allowed activity. “There’s current legislation being drafted in Sacramento that is potentially, if it goes through, going to modify Williamson Act language on what is allowable specifically dealing with solar,” a planning commissioner said during the meeting.

Planning staff explained the county currently treats activities that are less than 5 acres or 5 percent of a parcel as allowable with a use permit if the land is subject to the Williamson Act. “It’s built in to require a use permit,” a planning staff member said, referring to the county’s local procedure for parcels under Williamson Act contract. Commissioners noted the county also has the option to rezone portions of an AG‑1 parcel to AG‑2 when a portion clearly lacks AG‑1 productivity; rezoning would permit some accessory activities by right rather than by conditional permit.

Speakers also raised the practical effect of potential state changes. A commissioner said the proposed state legislation would allow solar “for sale” on Williamson Act land, not solar solely for on‑site personal use, and that whether the legislation passes remains uncertain. Commissioners discussed coordinating any zoning-code changes with subsequent Board of Supervisors action so county Williamson Act guidelines remain consistent with zoning.

No formal vote or regulatory change occurred at the meeting; staff said the discussion will inform the draft zoning code update that will return to the commission and later be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for final action.

Commissioners asked staff to continue drafting zoning‑code language that clarifies when accessory activities require a conditional use permit, when rezoning to AG‑2 is appropriate, and how to align county Williamson Act guidance with any future state legislation.