Siskiyou County planning commission to focus on land‑use element and broaden ag zoning amid water concerns
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Summary
Staff told the Planning Commission the land‑use element of the general plan will be prioritized for detailed, paragraph‑by‑paragraph review and that the zoning code will be drafted separately; commissioners raised concerns about state water reallocations and potential impacts on agricultural land and taxes.
SISKIYOU COUNTY — At a Planning Commission meeting, staff updated commissioners on the county’s general plan update and said the zoning code portion is being prepared for review.
Haley Lane, community development director, said staff expects a draft zoning code section to be ready for the April Planning Commission meeting and that the county intends to finish policy elements first so they can inform the zoning code. "Once that portion is complete, also that by the board, then we'll start the EIR process of the general plan update," Lane said.
Commissioners and members of the public urged a careful review of water issues as the land‑use element is finalized. A commissioner asked whether the Scott Valley area plan would remain separate; staff said Scott Valley policies will be incorporated into the land‑use element because there is no funding for a standalone area plan. Staff noted Scott Valley-specific rules — for example, larger agricultural parcel sizes (one commissioner noted "80 acres instead of 40") — will be preserved inside the element.
Several commissioners and speakers emphasized that state water reallocation and regulatory changes could lead to loss of water rights and that those changes would in turn affect land use and the viability of agricultural operations. One participant warned of a "snowball" effect in which farmland taken out of production would be reassessed and taxed differently, reducing the county’s tax base.
Staff said the zoning code update will aim to expand allowable uses in agricultural districts to help landowners diversify income (campgrounds and special food venues were given as examples) so property can remain productive even if water access changes. "We just wanna make sure that the people that own that land have the widest ability to utilize their land," a staff member said.
The commission did not take any formal votes on the land‑use element during the meeting. Staff plans a dedicated hearing focused on the land‑use element, so commissioners can review goals and proposed language in detail and offer real‑time edits before consultants finalize materials and the board considers the policy package.
The next regular Planning Commission meeting was announced for Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 9 a.m.