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Commission reviews plan to fold agricultural-preserve decisions into Planning Commission agenda
Summary
Staff presented a workshop proposing to move CAPTEC ag-preserve decision authority to the Planning Commission via an amended resolution, clarify findings and noticing, and add an ag-preserve agenda category; staff expects to return with a public hearing in December and to the Board in January/February.
Riverside County planning staff presented a workshop proposing amendments to Resolution 84,526 and related procedures to move agricultural-preserve (CAPTEC) decision authority to the Planning Commission, update noticing and definitions to reflect state law changes, and add a specific agenda category for ag preserves. Staff said the change aims to fix quorum difficulties and scheduling inefficiencies with the CAPTEC hearing body and noted technical exhibits and recommendations from ag-technical reviewers would still be part of the record.
Staff indicated a two-phase approach: a prompt revision to the resolution to transfer hearing authority (with a planned public hearing in December and Board of Supervisors consideration in January/February), followed by a second-phase cleanup that could address permitted uses within ag preserves after outreach. Staff emphasized that required technical documents, surveys and evidence will continue to support decision-making.
Commissioners asked about how technical expertise would be presented and confirmed technical exhibits and CapTec recommendations will remain part of the record when matters come before the commission, and staff said a GIS layer shows current preserves. The workshop draws attention to scheduling and outreach methods rather than substantive changes to allowable uses at this stage.
