3.10 LAND USE AND AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

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1 3.10 LAND USE AND AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

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3 This section describes existing land uses, proposed land use designations, future potential development patterns, and evaluated land use impacts resulting from implementation of the proposed General Plan. Agriculture and forestry resources are also described, summarizing farmland types and impacts associated with the implementation of the proposed General Plan. Key issues addressed in this section include conflicts with land use plans/policies, incompatibilities between land uses, and incompatibilities with prime agriculture lands. Information for this section was obtained primarily from public documents and public and agency contacts. Refer to Section 3.4, Biological Resources, for discussions regarding biological impacts related to land use EXISTING SETTING GENERAL PLAN SETTING AND BACKGROUND The Calimesa General Plan expresses the City s vision of its long-term physical form and development. This General Plan is comprehensive in scope and represents the product of years of effort on the part of residents and businesses in the community working to maintain and improve Calimesa s quality of life and implement the community s shared vision for the future. General plans are mandated by the State of California, which requires that each city and county prepare and adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for its jurisdiction and any adjacent related lands. The General Plan services as a basis for decision-making. It helps the City Council, Planning Commission, and staff, who must balance competing community objectives, make decisions regarding proposed development and other crucial issues. The General Plan is the official policy framework guiding physical, social, and economic development in the city, as well as the City s own operations and decisions. The General Plan is a long-range guide for attaining the City s goals. Existing Land Use Within and Adjacent to the City Calimesa has developed primarily as a low-density residential community. Many of the existing residential lots are sized to accommodate horses and other animals. However, much of the population growth in recent years has been accommodated in newer developments, including those subdivisions around the Calimesa Golf and Country Club, located in the eastern portion of the city. Land uses found in Calimesa include residential, commercial, public facilities, and open space. The road network in Calimesa is anchored by Interstate 10 (I-10), which runs north south through the city and is a major transportation route connecting the Los Angeles Basin to the Coachella Valley and the inland desert areas. The city s roadway system generally consists of local roads, residential and major collectors, and secondary arterials. Pedestrian facilities in the city include sidewalks, walkways, bridges, crosswalks, signals, illumination, and benches, among other amenities, and provide a vital link between other methods of travel and can make up a considerable portion of short-range trips made in the community. Calimesa has bicycle lanes painted adjacent to existing roadways, and the City also maintains a series of multi-use trails, which accommodate bicycles as well as pedestrians. Table provides a breakdown of acres of existing land uses within Calimesa

4 TABLE EXISTING LAND USES Calimesa Planning Area Land Use Acreage Percentage Agricultural % Commercial % Manufactured/Mobile Home % Multi-Family Residential % Open Space % Residential % Roads % Single-Family Residential 1, % Vacant 7, % Total 9, % EXISTING RIVERSIDE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS As shown in Table , there are currently 16 acres of Agricultural designated land uses. Agricultural operations are a significant feature in the economy of Riverside County. According to the County s 2011 Agricultural Production Report, the estimated gross value of agricultural production in Riverside County for 2011 was over $1.2 billion. This is a $188.6 million increase over the 2010 gross valuation. Table lists the ten leading farm commodities in Riverside County. TABLE RIVERSIDE COUNTY LEADING AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES (2011) Commodity Value 1 Nursery Stock Milk Table Grapes Hay Bell Peppers Eggs Lemons Avocados Dates Cotton $200 million $192 million $119 million $101 million $85 million $82 million $66 million $60 million $41 million $38 million Source: County of Riverside Valuation rounded to the nearest million

5 FARMLAND CLASSIFICATIONS AND RATING SYSTEM Two classification programs are generally used to determine a soil s potential agricultural productivity. The US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) Land Capability Classification System takes into consideration soil limitations, the risk of damage when the soils are used, and the way in which soils respond to treatment. The Storie Index Rating system ranks soils based on their suitability for agriculture. The Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP) administered by the California Department of Conservation maps agricultural areas based on soil quality and land use, with categories such as Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, and Grazing Lands. More information about each of these classification systems is provided below. Land Capability Classification System The Land Capability Classification System designed by the US Department of Agriculture includes eight classes of land designated by Roman numerals I through VIII. The classes are arable land suitable for cropland in which the limitations on their use and necessity of conservation measures and careful management increase from I through IV. The criteria for placing a given area in a particular class involve the landscape location, slope of the field, and depth and texture of the soil. The remaining four classes, V through VIII, are not to be used for cropland but may have uses for pasture, range, woodland, grazing, wildlife, recreation, and aesthetic purposes. Within the broad classes are subclasses that signify special limitations such as erosion, excess wetness, problems in the rooting zone, and climatic limitations. A general description of soil classification, used by the National Resource Conservation Service, is provided in Table TABLE SOIL CAPABILITY CLASSIFICATION Class I II III IV V VI VII VIII Soils have few limitations that restrict their use. Definition Soils have moderate limitations that reduce the choice of plants or that require special conservation practices. Soils have severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants, require conservation practices, or both. Soils have very severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants, require very careful management, or both. Soils are not likely to erode but have other limitations, impractical to remove, that limit their use largely to pasture or range, woodland, or wildlife habitat. Soils have severe limitations that make them generally unsuited to cultivation and limit their use largely to pasture or range, woodland, or wildlife habitat. Soils have very severe limitations that make them unsuited to cultivation and that restrict their use largely to pasture or range, woodland, or wildlife habitat. Soils and landforms have limitations that preclude their use for commercial plant production and restrict their use to recreation, wildlife habitat, or water supply, or to aesthetic purposes. Source: USDA-NRCS

6 Storie Index Rating System The Storie Index Rating System ranks soil characteristics according to their suitability for agriculture. Ratings range from Grade 1 soils (80 to 100 rating), which have few or no limitations for agricultural production, to Grade 6 soils (rating of less than 10), which are not suitable for agriculture. Under this system, soils deemed less than prime can function as prime soils when limitations such as poor drainage, slopes, or soil nutrient deficiencies are partially or entirely removed. The six grades, ranges in index rating, and definitions of grades defined by the NRCS are provided in Table TABLE STORIE INDEX RATING SYSTEM Grade Index Rating Definition 1 Excellent Good Fair Poor Very Poor Nonagricultural Less than 10 Soils are well suited to intensive use for growing irrigated crops that are climatically suited to the region. Soils are good agricultural soils, although they may not be so desirable as Grade 1 because of moderately coarse, coarse, or gravelly surface soil texture; somewhat less permeable subsoil; lower plant available water holding capacity, fair fertility; less well drained conditions, or slight to moderate flood hazards, all acting separately or in combination. Soils are only fairly well suited to general agricultural use and are limited in their use because of moderate slopes; moderate soil depths; less permeable subsoil; fine, moderately fine or gravelly surface soil textures; poor drainage; moderate flood hazards; or fair to poor fertility levels, all acting alone or in combination. Soils are poorly suited. They are severely limited in their agricultural potential because of shallow soil depths; less permeable subsoil; steeper slope; or more clayey or gravelly surface soil textures than Grade 3 soils, as well as poor drainage; greater flood hazards; hummocky micro-relief; salinity; or fair to poor fertility levels, all acting alone or in combination. Soils are very poorly suited for agriculture, are seldom cultivated and are more commonly used for range, pasture, or woodland. Soils are not suited for agriculture at all due to very severe to extreme physical limitations, or because of urbanization. Source: USDA-NRCS 2010 The prime soil classifications of both systems indicate the absence of soil limitations which, if present, would require the application of management techniques (e.g., drainage, leveling, special fertilizing practices) in order to enhance production. Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program The Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP) was established in 1982 to continue the important farmland mapping efforts begun in 1975 by the US Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service. The intent was to produce agricultural resource maps based on soil quality and land use across the nation. As part of the nationwide agricultural land use mapping effort, the USDA developed a series of definitions known as Land Inventory and Monitoring (LIM) criteria. The LIM criteria classified land s suitability for agricultural production. Suitability included both the physical and chemical characteristics of soils and the actual land use. Important Farmland Maps are derived from the USDA soil survey maps using the LIM criteria

7 Since 1980, the State of California has assisted the USDA with completing its mapping in the state. The FMMP was created within the California Department of Conservation (DOC) to carry on the mapping activity on a continuing basis and with a greater level of detail. The DOC applied a greater level of detail by modifying the LIM criteria for use in California. The LIM criteria in California utilize the NRCS Soil Capability and Storie Index rating systems described above but also consider physical conditions such as a dependable water supply for agricultural production, soil temperature range, depth of the groundwater table, flooding potential, rock fragment content, and rooting depth. Important Farmland Maps for California are compiled using the modified LIM criteria. The minimum mapping unit is 10 acres unless otherwise specified. Units of land smaller than 10 acres are incorporated into the surrounding classification. The Important Farmland Maps identify five agriculture-related categories: Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, Unique Farmland, Farmland of Local Importance, and Grazing Land. Refer to the discussion of the FMMP under the Regulatory Framework subsection below for definitions. Figure shows the mapped categories in the Calimesa Planning Area. The most current data available from the FMMP is from Important Farmland Map Figure depicts Important Farmland in the Planning Area, as identified by the FMMP. Table provides a breakdown of farmland acreage based on the FMMP categories. Calimesa contains no Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, or Unique Farmland. The Calimesa Planning Area includes approximately 474 acres of Grazing Land and 2,368 acres of Farmland of Local Importance. Table and Figure do not take into account any development in the Planning Area after 2010, when the most recent Important Farmland Map was published. TABLE IMPORTANT FARMLAND IN PLANNING AREA Farmland Type Prime Farmland 0 Farmland of Statewide Importance 0 Unique Farmland 0 Grazing Land Farmland of Local Importance 2, Other Land* 5, Urban and Built-Up Land 1, Total 9, Source: DOC 2010b Important Farmland (acres) Note: The total acreage in this table does not match the total acres for the Planning Area. This is due to rounding and to slight differences in the information bases used to calculate the tables. * Other Land indicates those lands not otherwise placed in a FMMP category. For the Planning Area, this includes natural vegetation, rural residential, wetlands, and vacant lands

8 Williamson Act Contract Lands Riverside County participates in the Williamson Act program (described in greater detail below). As of 2009, there were 59,307 acres of land in Riverside County under Williamson Act contracts (DOC 2010b). An extension of the Williamson Act, called the Farmland Security Zone (FSZ) program, permits farmers and ranchers to garner an additional 35 percent property tax reduction by keeping their land in agriculture for a minimal initial term of 20 years; however, the FSZ program has not been adopted by Riverside County. There are no Williamson Act contracted lands in Calimesa

9 T:\_GIS\RIVERSIDE_COUNTY\MXDS\CALIMESA\EIR\FIGURE FMMP.MXD - 1:22:06 PM Legend City Limit General Plan Planning Area Farmland Classification Farmland of Local Importance Grazing Land Other Land Urban and Built-Up Land Source: Microsoft Bing Maps, 2013; Riverside County, 2013; City of Calimesa, 2013; FMMP, MILES Figure Important Farmlands

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11 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FEDERAL Farmland Protection Policy Act The Natural Resources Conservation Service, a federal agency within the US Department of Agriculture, is the agency primarily responsible for implementation of the Farmland Protection Policy Act. The purpose of the act is to minimize federal programs contribution to the conversion of farmland to nonagricultural uses by ensuring that federal programs are administered in a manner that is compatible with state, local, and private programs designed to protect farmland. The NRCS provides technical assistance to federal agencies, state and local governments, tribes, or nonprofit organizations that desire to develop farmland protection programs and policies. The NRCS summarizes Farmland Protection Policy Act implementation in an annual report to Congress. The act also established the Farmland Protection Program and the Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA), which are discussed below. Farmland Protection Program The NRCS administers the Farmland Protection Program, a voluntary program aimed at keeping productive farmland in agricultural uses. Under the program, the NRCS provides matching funds to state, local, or tribal government entities and nonprofit organizations with existing farmland protection programs to purchase conservation easements. The goal of the program is to protect between 170,000 and 340,000 acres of farmland per year (USDA-NRCS 2010). Participating landowners agree not to convert the land to nonagricultural use and retain all rights to use the property for agriculture. A minimum of 30 years is required for conservation easements, and priority is given to applications with perpetual easements. The NRCS provides up to 50 percent of the fair market value of the easement being conserved (USDA-NRCS 2010). To qualify for a conservation easement, farmland must meet several criteria. The land must be: Prime, Unique, or other productive soil, as defined by the NRCS based on factors such as water moisture regimes, available water capacity, developed irrigation water supply, soil temperature range, acid-alkali balance, water table, soil sodium content, potential for flooding, erodibility, permeability rate, rock fragment content, and soil rooting depth; Included in a pending offer to be managed by a nonprofit organization, state, tribal, or local farmland protection program; Privately owned; Placed under a conservation plan; Large enough to sustain agricultural production; Accessible to markets for the crop that the land produces; and Surrounded by parcels of land that can support long-term agricultural production

12 In Riverside County, the Farmland Protection Program is supplemented by the California Department of Conservation s Important Farmland Inventory System and Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program, which are discussed in further detail under state regulatory programs below. Land Evaluation and Site Assessment Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), lead agencies may refer to the Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA) model in their environmental analysis but are not required to do so. The LESA system ranks lands for suitability and inclusion in the Farmland Protection Program. LESA evaluates several factors, including soil potential for agricultural use, location, market access, and adjacent land use. These factors are used to numerically rank the suitability of parcels based on local resource evaluation and site considerations. The LESA system has spawned many variations, including the California LESA model described below. STATE California Government Code California law requires each city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan to guide the physical development of the incorporated city. The city may adopt a general plan in the format that best fits its unique circumstances in an integrated, internally consistent, and compatible statement of development policies. Together, the seven mandated elements, or chapters, of a general plan form a comprehensive set of planning policies. In accordance with California Government Code Section 65302, the Calimesa General Plan addresses the issues of land use, circulation, housing, noise, safety, conservation, and open space. The proposed General Plan also addresses additional topics of special and unique interest, including infrastructure and public services, air quality, and sustainability. These topics reflect additional issues that are important to the community. While optional elements are not required by state law, once they are adopted by a city, optional elements are as legally binding and valid as the required elements. By law, the general plan is the primary document a city utilizes to regulate land use. It provides the city with a consistent framework for land use decision-making. Once a general plan is adopted, its maps, diagrams, and development policies form the basis for city zoning, subdivision, and public works actions. Therefore, the zoning ordinance, specific plans, planned development master plans, and individual public and private development proposals must be consistent with the general plan goals, policies, and standards. Under California law, no specific plan, area plan, zoning, subdivision map, or public works project may be approved unless the city finds that it is consistent with the adopted general plan. California Department of Conservation The Department of Conservation administers and supports a number of programs, including the Williamson Act, the California Farmland Conservancy Program, the Williamson Act Easement Exchange Program, and the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program. These programs are designed to preserve agricultural land and provide data on conversion of agricultural land to urban use. The Department of Conservation is responsible for approving Williamson Act Easement Exchange Program agreements

13 California Department of Housing and Community Development Chapter 633, Statutes of 2007 (Senate Bill [SB] 2) clarifies and strengthens housing element law to ensure zoning encourages and facilitates emergency shelters and limits the denial of emergency shelters and transitional and supportive housing under the Housing Accountability Act. The law will facilitate efforts to address the critical needs of homeless populations and persons with special needs throughout the communities in California. General, SB 2 amends housing element law regarding planning and approval for emergency shelters and transitional and supportive housing as follows: Planning (Government Code Section 65583) At least one zone shall be identified to permit emergency shelters without a conditional use permit or other discretionary action. Sufficient capacity must be identified to accommodate the need for emergency shelters and at least one year-round emergency shelter. Existing or proposed permit procedures, development, and management standards must be objective and encourage and facilitate the development of or conversion to emergency shelters. Emergency shelters shall only be subject to development and management standards that apply to residential or commercial within the same zone. Written and objective standards may be applied as specified in statute, including maximum number of beds, provision of on-site management, length of stay, and security. Includes flexibility for jurisdictions to meet zoning requirements with existing ordinances or demonstrate the need for emergency shelters can be accommodated in existing shelters or through a multi-jurisdictional agreement. Transitional and supportive housing shall be considered a residential use and only subject to those restrictions that apply to other residential uses of the same type in the same zone. Local Approval (Government Code Section : Housing Accountability Act) Limits denial of emergency shelters, transitional housing, or supportive housing by requiring specific findings. Some findings shall not be utilized if new planning requirements of SB 2 are not met, such as identifying a zone without a conditional use permit. Important Farmland Inventory System and Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program As discussed above, the Important Farmland Inventory System initiated in 1975 by the US Soil Conservation Service (now the NRCS) classifies land based on ten soil and climatic characteristics. The Department of Conservation started a similar system of mapping and monitoring for California in 1980, known as the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program

14 Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program As discussed above, maps of Important Farmlands are prepared by the California Department of Conservation as part of its Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP). Important Farmland maps are prepared periodically for most of the state s agricultural areas based on information from the Natural Resource Conservation Service and land use information mapped by the California Department of Water Resources. These criteria are generally expressed as definitions that characterize the land s suitability for agricultural production, including physical and chemical characteristics of the soils and actual land use. The following are descriptions of farmland mapping categories. Prime Farmland Prime Farmland is land with the best combination of physical and chemical features able to sustain the long-term production of agricultural crops. These lands have the soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to produce sustained high yields. Lands defined as Prime Farmland must have been used for production of irrigated crops at some time during the four years prior to the Important Farmland Map date. Farmland of Statewide Importance Farmland of Statewide Importance is land similar to Prime Farmland but with minor shortcomings such as greater slopes or with less ability to hold and store moisture. The land must have been used for the production of irrigated crops at some time during the four years prior to the Important Farmland Map date. Unique Farmland Unique Farmland is land of lesser quality soils used for the production of the state s leading agricultural crops. This land is usually irrigated but may include nonirrigated orchards or vineyards, as found in some climatic zones in California. The land must have been cultivated at some time during the four years prior to the Important Farmland Map date. Farmland of Local Importance Farmland of Local Importance is land of importance to the local agricultural economy, as determined by each county s board of supervisors and a local advisory committee. In Riverside County, Farmland of Local Importance is defined as: Soils that would be classified as Prime and Statewide but lack available irrigation water. Lands planted to dryland crops of barley, oats, and wheat. Lands producing major crops for Riverside County but that are not listed as unique crops. These crops are identified as returning one million or more dollars on the 2011 Riverside County Agriculture Crop Report. Crops identified are permanent pasture (irrigated), summer squash, okra, eggplant, radishes, and watermelons. Dairylands, including corrals, pasture, milking facilities, and hay and manure storage areas if accompanied with permanent pasture or hayland of 10 acres or more

15 Lands identified by city or county ordinance as Agricultural Zones or Contracts, which includes Riverside City "Proposition R" lands. Lands planted to jojoba which are under cultivation and are of producing age. Grazing Land Grazing Land is land on which the existing vegetation, whether grown naturally or through management, is suited to the grazing of livestock. The minimum mapping unit for this category is 40 acres. Under CEQA, the lead agency is required to evaluate agricultural resources in environmental assessments at least in part based on the FMMP. The state s system was designed to document how much agricultural land in California was being converted to nonagricultural land or transferred into Williamson Act contracts. California Land Evaluation and Site Assessment Model The California Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA) model was developed in 1997 based on the federal LESA system. It can be used to rank the relative importance of farmland and the potential significance of its conversion on a site-by-site basis. The California LESA model considers the following factors: land capability, Storie Index, water availability (drought and non-drought conditions), land uses within one-quarter mile, and protected resource lands (e.g., Williamson Act lands) surrounding the property. A score can be derived and used to determine if the conversion of a property would be significant under CEQA. Williamson Act The California Land Conservation Act of 1965, commonly referred to as the Williamson Act, is a non-mandated state program, administered by counties and cities to preserve agricultural land and discourage the premature conversion of agricultural land to urban uses. The act authorizes local governments and property owners to (voluntarily) enter into contracts to commit agricultural land to specified uses for ten or more years. Once restricted, the land is valued for taxation based on its agricultural income rather than unrestricted market value, resulting in a lower tax rate for owners. In return, the owners guarantee that these properties remain under agricultural production for an initial ten-year period. The contract is automatically renewed annually unless the owner files a notice of nonrenewal, thereby maintaining a constant ten-year contract. As of January 1, 2009, approximately 15 million reported acres were enrolled under the Williamson Act statewide. This represents approximately half of California s farmland total of about 30 million acres, and nearly one-third of the state s privately owned land (DOC 2010c). Prime Farmland under the Williamson Act includes land that qualifies as Class I and II in the NRCS classification of land or that qualifies for rating 80 to 100 in the Storie Index rating. Participation is on a voluntary basis by both landowners and local governments and is implemented through the establishment of agricultural preserves and the execution of Williamson Act contracts. Termination of a Williamson Act contract through the nonrenewal process is the preferred method to remove the enforceable restriction of the contract. Cancellation is not appropriate when objectives served by cancellation could be served by nonrenewal. Cancellation is reserved for unusual, emergency situations. In order to approve tentative cancellation, a board or council must make specific findings based on substantial evidence that a cancellation is consistent with the purposes of the act or in the public interest. Contracts can specify that both findings must be made in order to approve tentative cancellation

16 Farmland Security Zones Farmland Security Zones (FSZs) were established by the legislature in FSZs are meant to protect participating Important Farmland from development pressure. An FSZ must be located within an agricultural preserve (area designated as eligible for a Williamson Act contract) and designated as Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Local Importance. The agricultural and open space lands enrolled in the program are protected for a minimum of a 20-year term under an FSZ and are offered an even greater property tax reduction than land under a Williamson Act contract. This program has not been adopted by Riverside County. REGIONAL Southern California Association of Governments The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is an association of all the local governments in the Southern California region. SCAG is the nation s largest metropolitan planning organization, representing 6 counties, 191 cities, including Calimesa, and more than 18 million residents. SCAG undertakes a variety of planning and policy initiatives to encourage a more sustainable Southern California now and in the future. SCAG s mission is to, under the guidance of the Regional Council, collaborate with its partners and facilitate a forum to develop and foster the realization of regional plans that improve the quality of life for residents of Southern California. SCAG s primary responsibility is to prepare all state and federally required transportation plans and programs that are necessary for securing transportation funding for highways, streets and roads, transit, bike and pedestrian facilities, and other transportation modes. SCAG also adopts the Regional Housing Needs Plan allocating affordable housing responsibilities to its member agencies (SCAG 2013). LOCAL Riverside County General Plan The Riverside County General Plan provides policy guidance and land uses for all of the unincorporated lands in the county. The Riverside County General Plan was last comprehensively updated in 2003 and continues to serve as the guiding policy document for planning in the unincorporated areas of the county today. The Riverside County General Plan establishes the following County general land use designations to the west, east, and south of Calimesa (County of Riverside 2013). To the north of the city is the City of Yucaipa. West: Rural Residential (5-acre minimum) Rural Mountainous (10-acre minimum) Conservation Habitat Open Space Recreation East: Community Development Very Low Density Residential (1-acre minimum) Community Development Commercial Retail Rural Community Very Low Density Residential (1-acre minimum)

17 Rural Community Low Density Residential (0.5-acre minimum) Rural Mountainous (10-acre minimum) Cherry Valley Gateway Policy Area South: SP-318 Oak Valley Specific Plan The County s General Plan generally designates those lands located west of Calimesa, with Rural Residential, Rural Mountainous, Conservation Habitat, and Open Space Recreation land use designations. The eastern boundary of Calimesa is bordered by a mix of Community Development land use designations, including Very Low Residential Density, Commercial Retail, and Rural Community land use designations, including Very Low Density Residential, Low Density Residential, and Rural Mountainous. The Community Development land use designations of Very Low Density and Commercial Retail also apply in the Cherry Valley Policy Area. Calimesa is bordered to the south by SP-318, the Oak Valley Specific Plan (County of Riverside 2013). Oak Valley Specific Plan Riverside County adopted the Oak Valley Specific Plan in 1990, prior to Calimesa s incorporation. The original specific plan area was subsequently split when a portion of the area was incorporated into Calimesa. The portion remaining in Riverside County continues to be the Oak Valley Specific Plan. The Specific Plan now encompasses 1,747.9 acres and includes a mix of residential dwelling units per acre (du/ac) over acres, including Low Density (0.2 2 du/ac), Medium Density (2 5 du/ac), Medium High Density (5 8 du/ac), and High Density ( du/ac) residential land use designations. A majority of the acres of residential land uses are distributed between the Medium Density (524.1 acres) and High Density (92.9 acres) designations. The plan also calls for 25 acres of Mixed Use, which allows a density of 20 dwelling units per acre. Neighborhood Commercial and Community Commercial uses are planned for a total of 46.4 acres, with 40 acres designated for schools. Parks, Golf Course, and Open Space land uses comprise acres within the plan area, with the remaining acreage accommodating planned roads. The residential land uses have been integrated throughout the planned golf course, with the higherdensity residential land uses located around commercial nodes and/or parks. Riverside County Local Agency Formation Commission The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) of Riverside County is a state-mandated local agency that administers California Government Code Sections et seq., known as the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of Among the purposes of LAFCo are discouraging urban sprawl and encouraging the orderly formation and development of local government agencies, including cities and special districts, based on local conditions and circumstances (Section 56301). LAFCo regulates, through approval and denial, the boundary changes proposed by other public agencies or individuals. In reviewing proposals for boundary changes, LAFCo is required to consider certain factors such as the conformity between city and county plans, current service levels, and the need for future services to the area, as well as the social, physical, and economic effects that agency boundary changes present to the community (Government Code Section 56841)

18 Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) Approximately 1,240 to 2,240 acres in Calimesa are located within the Western Riverside County MSHCP, which was formally adopted in 2003 as part of the Riverside County Integrated Project. The MSHCP encompasses all of western Riverside County. The MSHCP has the overall goal of maintaining biological and ecological diversity in the rapidly urbanizing western portion of the county. The MSHCP is intended to serve as a habitat conservation plan pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as well as a natural community conservation plan (NCCP) under the NCCP Act of It allows the incidental take of plant and animal species identified within the proposed MSHCP for deemed covered activities. The proposed MSHCP allows wildlife agencies to grant take authorization for otherwise lawful actions that may incidentally take or harm individuals of a species outside of preserve areas in exchange for supporting assembly of a coordinated reserve system. For further information, refer to Section 3.4, Biological Resources, of this Draft EIR. City of Calimesa Calimesa Municipal Code The City s Zoning, Land Use, and Development Regulations (Title 18, Calimesa Municipal Code) implement the General Plan as it pertains to parcel-specific standards for development. All development must comply with both land use and development regulations. The Calimesa Municipal Code applies to the incorporated area of the city. By state law, the Municipal Code must be consistent with the adopted General Plan. The purpose of the Zoning, Land Use, and Development Regulations is to serve the public health, safety, and welfare of the community by establishing zone districts within the boundaries of Calimesa. All established districts are designed to obtain the economic and social advantages resulting from the planned use of land, as referred to in the General Plan. The regulations guide the growth and development in a proper and orderly manner for the maximum benefit of its citizens. Downtown Business District Code The purpose of the Downtown Business District Code (Chapter 18.39, Calimesa Municipal Code) is to encourage the creation of a pedestrian-friendly downtown area along Calimesa Boulevard. The boundaries of the Downtown Business District include approximately 144 acres of land (see Figure in Section 2.0, Project Description) and include designations of Downtown Village Commercial (DVC), Downtown Neighborhood Commercial (DNC), Downtown Visitor- Serving (DVS), and the Calimesa Creek overlay. More information on the Calimesa Creek overlay is provided below in the discussion of the Calimesa Creek Master Plan. The Downtown Business District Code was prepared to allow the new zoning districts to be commercial in nature and is intended to supplement the existing land uses by improving the marketability of the region, encouraging facade and other site improvements, decreasing vacancy rates, attracting new development, and increasing pedestrian activity with the implementation of pedestrianoriented design features. Specific Plans The City of Calimesa has two adopted Specific Plans: the Summerwind Ranch Specific Plan and the Mesa Verde Estates Specific Plan

19 Summerwind Ranch Specific Plan The Summerwind Ranch Specific Plan was originally part of the larger Oak Valley Specific Plan, which was adopted by Riverside County in 1990, prior to incorporation of the City of Calimesa. Upon incorporation, the City adopted that portion of the Oak Valley Specific Plan that lay within the newly adopted city boundaries, which became Oak Valley SP1. Subsequent to adoption by the City of Oak Valley SP1, an opportunity to purchase additional lands for open space uses arose. The Riverside Land Conservancy purchased acres of the specific plan area with an option for the conversion of an additional acres for open space. An amendment to Oak Valley SP1 was prepared for the southern portion of the site only and in 2005 was adopted by the City of Calimesa to reflect these changes to the original specific plan land uses. The adopted amendment is now referred to as the Summerwind Ranch Specific Plan (Calimesa 2005). The Summerwind Ranch Specific Plan encompasses 2,590.1 acres approved for the development of up to 3,841 dwelling units, as well as commercial, business park, open space, recreation, and public facility uses. The easterly portion of the specific plan area boundary runs parallel and adjacent to the rights-of-way for Interstate 10. Two interchanges, I-10/Cherry Valley Boulevard and I-10/Singleton Road, are located along this shared boundary. The southwesterly portion of the specific plan area boundary is defined by the alignment of San Timoteo Canyon Road, and the southern boundary is defined by the Oak Valley Specific Plan, a Riverside County plan. Mesa Verde Estates Specific Plan As with Summerwind Ranch, the Mesa Verde Estates Specific Plan was originally part of the larger Oak Valley Specific Plan, which was adopted by Riverside County in 1990, prior to incorporation of the City of Calimesa. Upon incorporation, the City adopted that portion of the Oak Valley Specific Plan that lay within the newly adopted city boundaries, which became Oak Valley SP1. Subsequent to the adoption by the City of Calimesa of Oak Valley SP1, an amendment was processed and adopted by the City in 2005, which affected the southern portion of the site and became the Summerwind Ranch Specific Plan. The northern portion of the Oak Valley SP1 site was also subject to an amendment, which was processed as the Mesa Verde Estates Specific Plan and was adopted by the City of Calimesa in The Mesa Verde Estates Specific Plan encompasses 1,493 acres approved for the development of up to 3,850 dwelling units, as well as mixed-use, open space, recreation, and public facility uses. Mesa Verde Estates is generally bounded on the east by I-10, on the north by San Bernardino County, and on the south by Garden Air Wash and the Summerwind Ranch Specific Plan boundary (Calimesa 2007). Master Plans The City of Calimesa has one adopted Master Plan, as described below. Calimesa Creek Master Plan The Calimesa Creek Master Plan was adopted in July 2012 and encompasses the area along Calimesa Creek in the Downtown Business District, within the Calimesa Creek overlay. The intent of this plan is to promote public access to and pedestrian use along Calimesa Creek, to protect and enhance the scenic character of the downtown, and to improve development potential within the overlay zone. The plan provides conceptual analyses of the creek drainage system and explores measures for creek stabilization and flood control while preserving the natural look

20 of the creek to function as a recreational amenity for the community. Shared parking strategies for properties along the creek are also included in the plan. Redevelopment Areas As of February 1, 2012, all redevelopment agencies in California were dissolved per legislation enacted in Each redevelopment agency has what is known as a successor agency to finish redevelopment activities in progress. The existing Redevelopment Plans in Calimesa will remain in place and continue to guide the successor agency in meeting obligations in place prior to the dissolution of redevelopment agencies. The City of Calimesa has three existing Redevelopment Plans. Redevelopment Plan Area No. 5, July 1999 Prior to the incorporation of Calimesa, the Riverside County Redevelopment Agency established a redevelopment project area, referred to as Area 5, encompassing approximately 172 acres to provide for the elimination of blight conditions. Subsequent to Calimesa s incorporation, the City Council activated the Calimesa Redevelopment Agency in Pursuant to a Jurisdictional Transfer Agreement executed on June 13, 2000, the Riverside County Redevelopment Agency transferred jurisdiction of Area 5 retroactively as of July 1, Redevelopment Plan Area No. 1, December 1993 This plan was the first initiated and adopted by the Calimesa Redevelopment Agency. The plan was adopted on December 30, 1993, and consists of about 762 acres located in four subareas. Redevelopment Plan Area No. 2, May 2011 This plan was pursued in response to the failure of residential subdivisions in the city after the collapse of the residential real estate market in Area 2 contains a portion of the former Summerwind Ranch project by SunCal, the Mastercraft Project, and a portion of JP Ranch, in addition to the existing developed subdivisions known as Rancho Calimesa Mobile Home Park and The Plantation by the Lake. The plan was adopted on May 2, 2011, and encompasses about 1,143 acres IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES STANDARDS OF SIGNIFICANCE According to CEQA Guidelines Appendix G, impacts to land use are considered significant if implementation of the project would result in any of the following conditions: 1) Physically divide an established community. 2) Conflict with any applicable land use plan, policy, or regulation of an agency with jurisdiction over the project (including, but not limited to, the general plan and zoning ordinance) adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect. 3) Conflict with any applicable habitat conservation plan or natural community conservation plan

21 4) Based on Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines, agricultural resource impacts are considered to be significant if the following could result from the implementation of the proposed General Plan: 5) Conversion of Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance, as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency, to nonagricultural use. 6) Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or a Williamson Act contract. 7) Changes in the existing environment which, due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of farmland to nonagricultural use. 8) Conflict with existing zoning for, or cause rezoning of, forestland (as defined in Public Resources Code Section 12220(g)), timberland (as defined by Public Resources Code Section 4526), or timberland zoned Timberland Production (as defined by Government Code Section 51104(g)). 9) Result in the loss of forestland or conversion of forestland to non-forest use. Calimesa is located in an urban setting with little to no forested land that could be classified as timberland, and no land within the city limits is zoned timberland and for timber production uses. Therefore, adoption and implementation of the proposed General Plan will not result in the conversion of any forestland or conflict with land zoned as forestland or timberland. As a result, Standards of Significance 7 and 8 will not be addressed further in this DEIR. METHODOLOGY Evaluation of potential land use impacts in Calimesa resulting from implementation of the proposed General Plan was based on a review of planning documents pertaining to the City of Calimesa, including the existing 1993 City of Calimesa General Plan, Specific Plans, Master Plans, Redevelopment Plans, and the City of Calimesa Municipal Code; a review of planning documents pertaining to lands adjacent to the proposed project, including the Riverside County General Plan; and consultation with appropriate agencies. The focus of this land use analysis is on land use impacts that would result from the proposed General Plan policy document and Land Use Map. Evaluation of potential agricultural impacts of the proposed City of Calimesa General Plan was based on review of the current Riverside County General Plan and Zoning Code and a field review of the Calimesa Planning Area to better understand the current agricultural/land use interface. The agricultural analysis is based on information gathered from the Riverside County General Plan and the proposed Calimesa General Plan, the California Department of Conservation Farmland Conversion Reports (DOC 2010a), and the Riverside County Important Farmland Map (DOC 2010b). This analysis addresses direct impacts and losses of farmland as well as indirect impacts on agricultural uses (e.g., growth pressure to convert farmlands, conflicts between agricultural operations and urban land uses) as a result of the development of land use designations proposed under the General Plan. Roadway improvements and implementation of policy provisions are also analyzed. The analysis herein is based on projected growth and buildout conditions for Calimesa as provided in Section 3.0, Introduction to the Environmental Analysis. This analysis does not assess impacts associated with the phasing of projects or interim improvements

22 Specific impacts and issues associated with population and housing, hazards, geology and soils, hydrology, aesthetics, recreation, cultural resources, biological resources, and public services and utilities are addressed in each technical section, and the reader is referred to other Draft EIR sections for detailed analyses of other relevant environmental effects as a result of development associated with the proposed General Plan. The following proposed General Plan policies and action items address impacts to land use compatibility, land use consistency, and agricultural resources: Policy LU-3 Action Item LU-6.1 Action Item LU-6.2 Policy LU-10 Policy LU-11 Policy LU-12 Action Item LU-12.1 Policy LU-13 Policy LU-15 Zoning in the city limits shall be consistent with the General Plan Land Use Map. Where multiple zoning districts may be compatible, the City shall apply the most compatible district that best achieves the goals and policies of this General Plan. Adopt a separate Zoning Map that implements and is consistent with the Land Use Map of this General Plan. Create residential and other zoning categories that provide more specificity than the land use categories of this General Plan and apply them to parcels as part of future changes of zone. Where a density range is specified for residential development, developments shall provide at least the minimum density. Maximum density may be exceeded pursuant to an applicable density bonus provision. Table LU-C shows the zoning districts that are compatible with the land use categories shown on the General Plan Land Use Map. All zoning decisions must be consistent with Table LU-B. Preserve the desired small-town characteristics of Calimesa through the selection and placement of land uses. Coordinate with adjacent cities and communities on land use planning for the preservation of the small-town character of the area. Preserve the natural character and visual quality of Calimesa s hillsides through sensitive site design and grading. Commercial and industrial developments shall be designed to reflect the small-town atmosphere of Calimesa, using building materials such as exposed heavy timbers, weathered wood, and new and used bricks and stone, while maintaining good planning and design principles. Policy LU-16 Discourage land use conflicts and incompatibilities by providing buffers to include, but not be limited to, landscaping, setbacks, walls/fencing, site design, architectural features, density/intensity/operation reduction, or shielding of lighting between incompatible land uses and new development