To: Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
Staff Name and Phone Number: Steph Tavares-Buhler, 707-565-7362
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): 2nd District
Title:
Title
Spring Hill Ranch (0053) Conservation Easement Acquisition
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Approve resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District to:
A) Amend Resolution No. 24-0001 dated January 9, 2024 solely to determine that the acquisition of a conservation easement over Spring Hill Ranch, excluding any area of land located north of Spring Hill Road, is consistent with the Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District’s Expenditure Plan and the 2020 Sonoma County General Plan;
B) Adopt a budget Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District budget to adjust the adopted budget for fiscal year 2023-24 by $2,620,000 dollars.
(Second District)(4/5 vote requirement)
end
Executive Summary:
The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District is proposing to purchase a conservation easement over approximately 580.75-acres of the Spring Hill Ranch property west of Petaluma. The conservation easement will protect the agricultural, natural resource, and scenic values of the property. This item was previously approved by the Board on January 9, 2024.
Subsequent to that Board action, Ag + Open Space discovered that there is a small area of this ranch located on the opposite side of Spring Hill Road from the remainder of the ranch that is included in the legal description but over which no conservation easement was contemplated.
Discussion:
The Spring Hill Ranch project (the “Project”) is the proposed acquisition of a conservation easement over approximately 580.75 acres of an approximately 581.5-acre farm and dairy near Lake Laguna commonly known as “Spring Hill Ranch”. The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (“Ag + Open Space”) is proposing to purchase a conservation easement over those portions of the ranch located south of Spring Hill Road to protect its significant agricultural, natural resource, and scenic properties.
During the baseline documentation process, staff discovered that a small portion of the Property is located on the opposite side of Spring Hill Road from the remainder of the Property. This approximately 0.75-acre area of land is located outside of the public right of way for Spring Hill Road and is comprised of a neighboring landowner’s driveway and road frontage and has no conservation value.
The landowner has requested that this area be excluded from the conservation easement. This Board action seeks approval to purchase a conservation easement over only those portions of Spring Hill Ranch that are located south of Spring Hill Road. This amendment does not impact all other actions approved in Resolution No. 24-0001.
Strategic Plan:
n/a
Prior Board Actions:
The Board approved the transaction in Resolution No. 24-0001 in a meeting on January 9, 2024 with a legal description that included the area on the opposite side of Spring Hill Road.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 23-24 Adopted |
FY 24-25 Projected |
FY 25-26 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$2,620,000 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$2,620,000 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$2,620,000 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$2,620,000 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Ag + Open requests additional appropriations in its FY 23-24 budget for the $2,620,000 contribution to fee and conservation easement acquisition (see Attachment 2), which is funded by Sonoma County voter approved Measure F. Adequate appropriations exist in FY 23-24 budget for escrow and closing costs, which are not included in the fiscal summary table.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
n/a
Attachments:
1. Amendment to Resolution Spring Hill Ranch
2. Budget Resolution
3. Revised General Plan Map 2020 Spring Hill Ranch
4. Revised Location Map Spring Hill Ranch
5. Revised Site Map Spring Hill Ranch
6. BOD Resolution 2024-0001
7. BOD Summary No. 1 (1-9-24)
8. Conservation Easement Spring Hill Ranch
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
n/a