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Supervisors order reset of rural zoning amendments after hours of testimony from farmers and equine owners
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Summary
After hours of public testimony from farmers, equine advocates and wineries, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Vice President Arenas’ referral to ‘reset’ rural zoning amendments, creating an agricultural task force, outreach consultant support and a requirement to explore agrivoltaics and amnesty options for existing uses.
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Nov. 18 to send the county’s draft rural zoning amendments back for revision and broad community engagement, following several hours of public testimony from agricultural owners and equestrian advocates who warned the draft would harm small farms, stables and agritourism.
Vice President Sylvia Arenas, who sponsored the referral, told the board she had heard persistent concerns from South County residents and business owners and asked staff to assemble an agricultural task force and consider hiring an outside outreach consultant to ensure the next draft reflects local needs. Arenas also asked administration to return with a review of agrivoltaics — the combined use of land for agriculture and solar — to determine whether it could be accommodated on large agricultural parcels.
Speakers from across the county described practical impacts the draft would have on their livelihoods. Owners of small wineries and flower farms said new permitting rules and building-coverage limits risked forcing operations to close. Equine advocates testified that horse boarding and equine therapy programs provide educational and therapeutic benefits and would be threatened if the code did not explicitly preserve existing facilities and reasonable permitting paths.
Supporters of the reset stressed concrete fixes they want considered, including: restoring farm stands and honor carts as ‘‘by-right’’ uses, creating an amnesty program and streamlined permitting for legally established agricultural activities, excluding primary residences and accessory dwelling units from certain non‑agricultural coverage limits, and setting a more flexible threshold than the draft’s proposed 24-acre livestock rule. Several speakers recommended a one‑acre standard for small farms.
Planning staff told the board they would review the referral components and return with recommended changes for the Housing, Land Use and Transportation Committee and ultimately to the full board. The board’s vote requires staff to integrate community feedback and return with formal recommendations and environmental review when appropriate.
Vice President Arenas framed the action as a reset focused on partnership: ‘‘We need to get this right for everybody — wineries, small farms, equestrian facilities and religious institutions — and we will.’’
What’s next: staff will coordinate the proposed task force and community outreach and return with recommended ordinance revisions and the associated environmental review and schedule for further board consideration.
