Board approves Williamson Act agricultural preserves covering 1,332 acres after public hearing

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 4 closed a public hearing and unanimously approved establishing new agricultural preserves under the Williamson Act for 16 applications totaling 1,332 acres.

Aaron Bach, assistant director with the county's Resource Management Agency, told the board the county published hearing notices and mailed them to property owners within 300 feet of subject parcels. He said the applications submitted for the hearing are all on prime farmland and reminded the board that the county lifted a moratorium on accepting new preserves and Williamson Act land-conservation contracts via resolution 2020-0400 in July 2020. "The county has received 16 preserve applications for the meeting today, which total 1,332 acres into the Williamson Act all on prime farmland," Bach said.

A resident in the chambers asked why she received a notice; staff explained landowner notifications are mailed to property owners within 300 feet of an affected parcel and provided a contact number for follow-up. Supervisor McCarrie moved the recommendation and Supervisor Valero seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

Bach also noted that, since the moratorium was lifted, more than 37,557 acres of farmland have been placed in new or expanded agricultural preserves. Staff said a consent calendar item scheduled for Dec. 9 will authorize the associated land conservation contracts and contract amendments.