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Permit Sonoma › Instructions and Forms › PJR-103 Agricultural Preserve Disestablishment
Instructions & Forms

PJR-103 Agricultural Preserve Disestablishment Application (AGP)

Permit and Resource Management Department Banner 750

Revised 08/28/2012

Sonoma County Land Conservation Act Program

Application Material

  1. Project Proposal Statement, describing the present agricultural operation, any open space land, and any future plans for the parcel. The Project Proposal Statement need not be in a particular form.
  2. Planning Application Form - PJR-001 (PDF) completed and signed by the property owner and/or authorized agent. 
  3. AGP-Supplemental Questionnaire Form, completed and signed by owner and/or authorized agent. This form is available from Permit Sonoma.
  4. Two copies of a current Preliminary Title Report (issued within 60 days of filing) for each legal parcel affected by the requested establishment, modification, or termination of the preserve.
  5. Assessor’s Parcel map showing the parcels affected by the application.
  6. 8 ½ “x 11” legible copy of the United States Geological Survey Map of the project site area clearly showing project boundaries and labeled with the quadrangle map name and applicant’s name. Also delineate the boundary of any existing Agricultural Preserve and/or existing Land Conservation Contract that this application proposes to affect. The USGS Map is available through Permit Sonoma.
  7. Approved subdivision or lot line adjustment map affecting the project area, if applicable.
  8. Recorded Land Conservation Contract or Farmland Security Zone Contract identifying land within the portion of the preserve sought to be disestablished.
  9. Recorded Notice of Non-Renewal or Notice of Partial Non-Renewal identifying land within the portion of the preserve sought to be disestablished.

Processing Procedures

Once the application is deemed complete, Permit Sonoma staff will review the application for compliance with the California Land Conservation Act, the County’s Uniform Rules, and consistency with the General Plan. Staff will prepare a report and recommendation to the Board of Supervisors on the request. Permit Sonoma staff will then schedule the application for consideration by the Board of Supervisors at a public hearing. Notice of the public hearing will be provided in compliance with all of the following:

  1. by publication pursuant to Gov. Code Section 6061,
  2. by written, mailed notice to the Sonoma County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) at least 14 days prior to the hearing,
  3. by written, mailed notice to any city within one mile of the exterior boundaries of the agricultural preserve affected by the proposed action at least 14 days prior to the hearing; and by written, mailed notice to the applicant, and if land is proposed to be removed from the preserve, by written notice sent by certified mail to each owner of contracted land within one mile of the exterior boundary of the land to be removed.

The Board’s final action on the application may not occur until it has received staff’s report and at least 60 days from the time the application is deemed complete has elapsed. If the Board acts to establish, modify, or disestablish a preserve, the Clerk of the Board will record the Board’s adopted resolution and map with the Sonoma County Recorder’s Office. Lastly, the Clerk will mail a conformed copy of the resolution and agricultural preserve map to the owner or agent designated on the application, and will provide conformed copies to Permit Sonoma and County Counsel. After recordation, the resolution and map are kept on file with the Clerk of the Board.

Filing Fee

See current Permit Sonoma Project Review Fee Schedule.

Application Deadline: May 1st. Applications for establishment, modification, or disestablishment of an agricultural preserve, and/or for a new or replacement contract must be submitted by May 1st of each year.

Ordinarily, disestablishment of an agricultural preserve is not exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.

Permit Sonoma staff will make every effort to process multiple related applications from the same owner together, provided that all required application materials and information has been submitted to allow joint processing.

References

Sonoma County Uniform Rules, Uniform Rule 3.0
California Gov. Code §§ 51230 – 51237.