Title
Staff Report for a City of San Leandro City Council Resolution Consenting to the Establishment of an Urban Agricultural Incentive Zone in the Ashland Area of Unincorporated Alameda County (that is within the City's Sphere of Influence)
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Alameda County is considering adoption of an ordinance to create Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones (UAIZ) in the unincorporated area. One of the zones includes the unincorporated community of Ashland, which lies in the City of San Leandro's sphere of influence. State law requires that a county cannot establish an UAIZ within any portion of the spheres of influence of a city unless the legislative body of the City approves it.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the resolution consenting to the County's establishment of an Urban Agricultural Incentive Zone that includes the Ashland area in unincorporated Alameda County, which is within the City of San Leandro's sphere of influence.
BACKGROUND
State Assembly Bill (AB) 551, which was approved in 2013, authorizes cities and counties to designate Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones within their jurisdictions and to enter into contracts with the owners of vacant property within the designated zones. In exchange for agreeing to limit the use of the property to agriculture for the five-year contract term, the property owner would benefit from a reduction in property taxes on the parcel. The purpose of the program is to support urban agriculture by increasing the amount of land available for agricultural activities and to provide stability for urban farmers by ensuring that land will be committed to agriculture for a period of years.
In 2017, the State passed AB 465, which extends authorization for counties and landowners to enter into contracts from 2019 to 2029. In addition, AB 465 would allow a combination of contiguous parcels to qualify for a contract.
Analysis
To implement AB 551 and AB 465, Alameda County is preparing...
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