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Mariposa planning commission backs three Land Conservation Act contracts covering several thousand acres near Hornitos and White Rock Road
Summary
The Planning Commission unanimously recommended three Land Conservation Act (Williamson Act) applications — totaling several thousand acres across multiple parcels — to the Board of Supervisors, finding each project exempt from CEQA under the open-space contract exemption and forwarding staff conditions and findings.
The Mariposa County Planning Commission unanimously recommended three Land Conservation Act (Williamson Act) contract applications to the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 21, 2025, forwarding staff findings that each project is exempt from environmental review under CEQA’s open-space contract/exemption provisions.
Planning staff presented the first application, DIS 2025-57, on behalf of applicants Summer Gray and Glen Gray. Staff explained the applicants seek to rescind a prior nonrenewal and enter two new Williamson Act contracts covering 37 parcels near Hornitos totaling about 6,853 acres. Staff reported the parcels have been grazed for at least three years and recommended the Planning Commission find the proposal exempt from CEQA Section 15317 and recommend Board approval. Planning Director Steve Ing read the staff recommendation and described the two proposed contracts (a single noncontiguous parcel and a second contract covering the remaining 36 parcels). Commissioners asked whether nearby exploratory mining activity affected the application; staff said the Blue Moon Zinc exploratory activities are on BLM-managed lands and that no county mining permit has been filed for that operation. Commissioner (speaker 3) moved to recommend approval; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.
The commission then considered a modification to two existing LCA contracts (file DIS2025-000051) presented by planner Shane Patterson. The proposal would add six parcels — about 927 acres — to existing contracts, for a combined total of roughly 7,482 acres. Patterson said the parcels meet the 160‑acre minimum and that Ag Commissioner comments verified ongoing, viable grazing operations; staff recommended a CEQA notice of exemption and forwarding the recommendation to the Board. No public comments were received; a motion to recommend approval passed unanimously.
A third application (DIS2025-000036) presented by senior planner Paulina Pivak would establish a new LCA contract covering three parcels totaling roughly 574.8 acres. Pivak said one APN contains structures supporting the agricultural operation and that staff found no agency concerns; she noted a single neighbor question about animal containment and that the applicant responded the property is "fully fenced and cross fenced" and reported no past issues with livestock leaving the property. The Planning Commission voted to recommend the Board adopt a resolution approving the contract and related findings.
All three items were forwarded as recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for final action; staff stated that contracts would be recorded and take effect January 1 if adopted. The commission’s motions included the standard findings that the projects are exempt from CEQA pursuant to the open-space contract exemption and that the parcels meet the Land Conservation Act size and use requirements. Each motion passed by voice vote with no recorded dissent.
Next steps: the Board of Supervisors will consider each Planning Commission recommendation at a future meeting (staff identified Dec. 9 as the anticipated Board hearing for some items).
