Summary: Monday, October 27, 2014 Listeners may or may not have heard about a type of land use regulation intended to support a property owner’s “right to farm.” I am going to explain the concept, but if you would like really to understand the idea, you should attend tomorrow’s meeting of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors. At 3:00 p.m., the Board will be discussing proposed amendments to the current “right to farm” ordinance for Monterey County. That’s Agenda Item #15. A well test report for a major development proposal on San Benancio Road is Agenda Item 15.1. A “right to farm” ordinance does not, actually, establish a “right to farm.” The basic zoning and land use regulations affecting specific agricultural properties grant that right. What a “right to farm” ordinance does is to provide notice to adjacent property owners, letting them know that farming operations will be taking place on the agricultural properties near them. The idea is to insulate farmers from nuisance lawsuits based on the noise, dust, pesticide use, and early and late agricultural operations that are all involved in farming. I am all for a strong “right to farm” ordinance, but the best way to protect agriculture is to do what Santa Cruz County has done, and to say that the ONLY permitted use for prime agricultural land will be agriculture. No development on prime ag land. That really protects a “right to farm.” More Information Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Board of Supervisors Agenda Website
