To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Permit Sonoma
Staff Name and Phone Number: Scott Orr (707) 565-1754, Katerina Orella (707) 565-1392
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth
Title:
Title
Agricultural Easement and Covenant for a Farm Family Dwelling Unit on a 395.64-acre parcel located at 17250 Bodega Lane, Bodega (APN 103-010-037); Permit Sonoma File No. ZPE25-0227
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Accept and authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to execute, and Permit Sonoma to record, a Grant Deed of Agricultural Easement and Covenant to allow one detached farm family dwelling unit on the property located at 17250 Bodega Lane, Bodega (APN 103-010-037); Permit Sonoma File No. ZPE25-0227. (Fifth District)
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Executive Summary:
The Land Extensive Agriculture zoning district allows for one (1) detached farm family dwelling unit per lot, provided that a Grant Deed of Agricultural Easement and Covenant (Farm Family Housing) is recorded. A Farm Family Dwelling unit is defined as an additional single-family dwelling incidental to the main dwelling in terms of size, location, and architecture which is not leased, subleased, rented, or sub-rented separately from the main dwelling nor divided by sale, and which is inhabited by a member of the farm operator's family. A Farm Family Dwelling is considered a compatible use as described in the County’s Uniform Rules for Agricultural Preserves and Farmland Security Zones for Williamson Act contracted lands.
Staff recommends your Board accept and authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to execute, and Permit Sonoma to record, the offered Grant Deed of Agricultural Easement and Covenant to allow one detached farm family dwelling unit on the property, because upon recordation, all zoning requirements for a Farm family Dwelling will have been met.
Discussion:
Background
Ronald, Linda, and Wesley Albini, the landowners, seek approval of a Zoning Permit to convert an existing 1,800 square-foot single-family dwelling into a Farm Family Dwelling Unit on a 395.64-acre grazing property located at 17250 Bodega Lane, Bodega; APN 103-010-037. The farm family dwelling will be occupied by a member of the farm operator’s family.
Site Characteristics:
The 395.64-acre property is accessed from Bodega Lane, approximately 0.1 miles south of the town of Bodega and 10.9 miles southwest of the City of Sebastopol. The Farm Family Dwelling is proposed near an existing 2,800 square-foot primary residence. Approximately 390 acres of the 395.64-acre property is devoted to a commercial grazing operation. Zoning for the site is Diverse Agriculture Coastal (allowed density: 40 acres per dwelling with a 160-acre minimum lot size), Land Extensive Agriculture (allowed density: 80 and 160 acres per dwelling), and Land Extensive Agriculture Coastal (allowed density: 160 acres per dwelling with a 640-acre minimum lot size) and combining zones for Riparian Corridor with 50-foot, 100-foot and 200-foot setbacks, Scenic Resources, and Valley Oak Habitat. The Farm Family Dwelling is proposed within the Land Extensive Agriculture zone of the property. The property is currently in compliance with a Williamson Act contract for non-prime agricultural land (Document No. 2025064179).
Farm Family Dwelling:
The Sonoma County Zoning Code allows Farm Family Dwelling units on properties zoned LEA (Land Extensive Agriculture), provided that the standards under Section 26-24-160 (B) are met.
Sec. 26-24-160 (B) Standards:
1. A maximum of one (1) Farm Family Dwelling unit is allowed per lot.
2. LIA zone: Allowed only on a property with a Williamson Act contract.
3. LIA and LEA zones:
a. An agricultural easement having a term equal to the useful life of the structure, but in no event less than twenty (20) years, shall be offered to the county at the time of application.
b. A covenant shall be recorded, in a form satisfactory to county counsel, which acknowledges that, in the event that the agricultural use is terminated on the property, the Farm Family Dwelling becomes a nonconforming residential use.
The request is consistent with the Zoning Code definition (Sec. 26-24-160 (A)) and standards for a Farm Family Dwelling as the 1,800 square-foot residence is incidental to the existing 2,800 square-foot primary residence and the Farm Family Dwelling will be occupied by a member of the farm operator’s family. Additionally, the request meets the Land Extensive Agriculture Zoning District requirements for a farm family dwelling as a Grant Deed of Agricultural Easement and Covenant (Farm Family Housing) has been prepared for the request. The easement will protect and preserve the resource value, agricultural viability, and productiveness of the property, and ensure that the property continues in agricultural use throughout the term of the easement and will cover the whole property.
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends the Board approve the request to accept and authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to execute a Grant Deed of Agricultural Easement and Covenant because all zoning requirements for the easement, covenant, and farm family dwelling are met and a Grant Deed of Agricultural Easement and Covenant (Farm Family Housing) has been prepared, which is included as Attachment 3.
Strategic Plan:
Not Applicable
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
Not Applicable
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Not Applicable
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
Not Applicable
Attachments:
Attachment 1: ZPE25-0227 Proposal Statement
Attachment 2: ZPE25-0227 Site Plan
Attachment 3: ZPE25-0227 Grant Deed of Agricultural Easement and Covenant
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Not Applicable