(Ord. No. 765 § 2 (Exh. A) (part))

44-2.20.10 Purpose of the Agricultural Zones.

(a) Foothill Agriculture (F-A). The purpose of the F-A zone is to protect, support, and maintain a viable, long-term agricultural sector in areas of the County with soil types that are not optimal for crop production. The F-A zone is intended to be applied in areas where agricultural activities such as grazing, orchards, and vineyards are the natural and desirable primary land use, and where the protection of agriculture from the encroachment of incompatible land uses is essential to the general welfare and economic prosperity of the County.

(b) Exclusive Agriculture (E-A). The purpose of the E-A zone is to protect agricultural uses and agricultural operations in areas where fertile soils particularly suited to crop production are present, areas where agriculture is the natural and desirable primary land use, and where the protection of agriculture from the encroachment of incompatible land uses is essential to the general welfare and economic prosperity of the County.

(c) Upland Conservation (U-C). The purpose of the U-C zone is to protect the mountain and upland foothill areas where forestry, mining, grazing, and recreational uses are natural and desirable uses. The U-C zone is intended to provide protection in these areas of the County from man-made fire and erosion hazards, pollution, and other detrimental effects of incompatible land uses.

(d) Upland Transition (U-T). The purpose of the U-T zone is to provide opportunities for smaller-scale lot subdivision in the mountain and upland foothill areas where forestry, mining, grazing, and recreational uses are natural and desirable uses. The U-T zone provides opportunities for limited residential and commercial development in areas adjacent to established communities, and serves as a land use buffer between established communities and large-scale U-C parcels.

(e) Agricultural Transition (A-T). The purpose of the A-T zone is to provide areas for long-term rural and agricultural uses on smaller-scale parcels, and to provide a buffer around communities, urban areas, and planned future urban or community development. The A-T zone identifies areas where agricultural land has already been subdivided into parcels smaller than 40 acres, and areas where small-scale agricultural uses are appropriate. The A-T zone serves as a transition zone between established communities and the large-scale farms and agricultural operations beyond. Land in the A-T zone is intended to remain in agricultural use, and is not intended for conversion to urban or rural residential uses. The A-T zone includes A-T-10, which allows for a minimum 10-acre lot size, and A-T-20, which allows for a minimum 20-acre lot size. (Ord. No. 765 § 2 (Exh. A) (part))

44-2.20.20 Development Standards in the Agricultural Zones.

(a) General Standards. Allowed uses and associated structures shall comply with the following development standards, in addition to any other applicable requirements of this Title, unless a variance is obtained in compliance with Section 44-1.80 (Types of Permits). Table 44-2.20-1 identifies the development standards applicable to the agricultural zones.

(b) Performance Standards. The following performance standards apply to permitted uses and uses allowed with an administrative permit in the agricultural zones as required in Table 44-2.20-2. Projects that cannot meet the following performance standards shall be elevated to a Minor Use Permit.

(1) Maximum Noise Levels. Maximum noise levels shall meet the requirements of General Plan Table N-1. Further, maximum noise levels shall not exceed 60 dB at the property line of adjacent uses that are not in an agricultural or industrial zone.

(2) Maximum Daily Trips. New daily trips shall not exceed an additional one hundred car or light truck vehicle trips or an additional seventy heavy truck or bus vehicle trips, or a combination of the two over existing or previously established traffic volumes.

(3) Water and Sewer. Adequate capacity for provision of on-site water and sewer service consistent with the requirements of the Department of Environmental Health shall be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Director where the project will not connect to public water and/or wastewater infrastructure.

(4) Flood Management. Development shall comply with Chapter 33 (Flood Damage Prevention).

(5) Drainage and Water Quality. There shall be no net increase in off-site drainage flows, including peak flows during a storm event, and water quality measures shall be implemented to reduce stormwater pollutants.

(6) Roadway and Access Improvements. The project shall demonstrate adequate roadway and access improvements consistent with County standards to accommodate the maximum daily trips to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works.

(g) Fire Protection. The project shall demonstrate adequate fire protection measures to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official. (Ord. No. 765 § 2 (Exh. A) (part); Ord. No. 788 § 2; Ord. No. 816, § 2.)

44-2.20.30 Allowed Uses in the Agricultural Zones.

Table 44-2.20-2 identifies land uses allowed in the agricultural zones.

(Ord. No. 765 § 2 (Exh. A) (part); Ord. No. 788 § 3; Ord. No. 796, § 3; Ord. No. 827, § 5; Ord. No. 832, § 3.)