Agriculture in the Eastern Goleta Valley. Bonnie Freeman GVPAC Member for Agriculture December 16, 2009

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1 Agriculture in the Eastern Goleta Valley Bonnie Freeman GVPAC Member for Agriculture December 16,

2 Agricultural - General The GVPA contains a variety of agricultural uses ranging from truck farms and greenhouses in the urbanized areas of the valley to extensive orchards in the foothills. 2

3 The Urban/Rural Split Ag activities can be divided between the more urban agriculture south of Cathedral Oaks Lane farming from San Marcos Growers towards Turnpike Shopping Center and the more rural agriculture to the north 3

4 RURAL AGRICULTURE Rural Agriculture 4

5 Most of the rural agricultural production in the GVPA is in the lower foothills, consisting mainly of large parcels of lemons and avocados. Orchards above Cathedral Oaks 5

6 Watersheds These lands are central to the community s environment, providing the watershed which contributes run-off for a major portion of the area s water supply. This run-off contributes to recharge of the area s groundwater resources, for direct use via dams and stream diversions and also provides necessary nutrients for prime soils. The rural and urban agricultural lands, along with the rural mountainous areas provide important wildlife habitat and scenic open space greatly contributing to the valley s beauty. 6

7 Rural land use designations generally provide for large parcel agriculture, with minimum parcel sizes ranging from 40 to 100 acres. Large Foothills Parcel 7

8 The 2006 Vision Document, GVC 20/20, is used as a framework for some of the goals and tools that will support new Ag policy. Agriculture is a vital element in the mix of land use and sustainable economic activity. (Vision Statement, GVC 20/20, 2006 Vision Document) Promote opportunities for sustainable agriculture. (Goal, GVC 20/20, 2006 Vision Document) 8

9 URBAN AGRICULTURE 9

10 In the 1993 Community Plan, two agricultural blocks in the GPA were identified to remain in production in the urban area until San Marcos/Hollister Block South Patterson Block 10

11 GOAL Develop a comprehensive plan for the two large blocks of agricultural land (San Marcos/Hollister and South Patterson) within the urban planning area. 11

12 San Marcos/Hollister Block Grower Products Acres Location Comments SAN MARCOS GROWERS Wholesale Plant Nursery 33 (leased) LANE FAMILY FARMS McCLOSKY NURSERY MONTESSORI SCHOOL Organic Vegetables, Fruits Cymbidium Greenhouse, Avocados Was owned/farmed by Lane Family Trust 3.3 (owned) Hollister Hollister, Zoned 10-R-1 20 acres leased by San Marcos Growers, 12 by John Lan e (row crops) Neighborhood Produce Stand, F arming since 19 th century 3 rd Generat ion Farmers 6.6 Hollister, west of San Marcos Rd. 12 Off San Marcos Rd. Conditional use convers ion, development plans pend ing Green: Leased Blue: Owned Red: Converted 12

13 San Marcos Growers San Marcos Growers Wholesale Pots, greenhouses, trucking in background Growing grounds, looking NE 13

14 Lane Farms San Marcos leased property Lane Farms, east along Hollister Lane Farms leased land and market along Hollister Lane Farms Market at Walnut 14

15 McClosky Nursery Entry off Hollister, east of San Marcos Road Descendant Kim Miller manages avocado orchards and the Cymbidium greenhouse 15

16 South Patterson Block Grower Products/Comments Acres Designation POR LA MAR NURSERIES GIVENS FAMILY FARM Floral, Greenhouses, Trucking 127 AG-1-10 Organic Produce, Specialty Crops, Various + 38 acres in Buellton, All leased except 8 acres for his home 180 AG-1-10 AG-1-5 SEA CREST NURSERY Palms 17 AG-1-5 SEAVIEW NURSERY Floral, Potted, Greenhouse 5 AG-1-5 WEST COVINA Potted Ornamentals 30 AG-1-5 NURSERY DEIGAARD Palms, Potted, Greenhouse 33 AG-1-5 NURSERIES, INC F. W. MEYER, INC Leases to John Givens for row 5 AG-1-5 crops GROEN ROSE CO. 2/3 Greenhouses unusable, 1/3 leased 19 AG-1-5 CENTRAL COAST Seasonal Florals, Greenhouse Approx AG-1-5 PLANT CO. 6 ST. ATHANASIUS Conditional use conversion, development plans pending, was farmed by J. Givens 20 AG-1-10 GIORGI RANCHES POZZATO PROPERTY Lemon Groves (along Hollister) Farmed by J. Givens (off Ward Drive) 64 AG AG-1-10 Green: Leased Blue: Owned Red: Converted 16

17 Por la Mar Nurseries Patterson at Ekwill, Jordano operations on east, office/institutional to west Further south, Por la Mar encompasses both sides of Patterson, approx. 127 acres Por la Mar consists mainly of greenhouse operations in the GPA 17

18 Por la Mar in Santa Maria Gladaway Gardens Flat, open lands Plenty of water available from the nearby mountain (runoff) Harvesting the gladiolas with a steady work force 18

19 GOAL Assist farmers and landowners in promoting sustainable agriculture and protecting viable farm lands for production in the Eastern Goleta Valley. 19

20 GIVENS FAMILY FARMS Givens' entry off Ward Avenue, Pozzato property Five acres leased from Fred Meyers Ten acres leased from Por la Mar 20

21 Shoreline Wholesale Nurseries Seacrest Palm Nursery Seaview Nursery, greenhouses West Covina Nursery, potted ornamentals 21

22 Deigaard Palm Nursery Entry from Shoreline Drive up to main operations Greenhouses Looking east Nursery abuts residential area of 100 homes Looking west 22

23 Groen Rose Greenhouses 187,000 ft 2 (seriously deteriorating) 100,000 ft 2 leased 23

24 Groen Rose & Central Coast Plant Co. Sandy Soils Seasonal Ornamentals 24

25 St. Athanasius & Giorgi Lemon Orchards 50 acres along Hollister 64 acres adjacent Land use policies from the 1993 GCP allows decision makers some flexibility to approve or deny conversions of agricultural lands, if the land is no longer appropriate for agriculture, or there is an overriding public need for conversion to other uses. 25

26 MTD Property MTD looking north, from San Antonio Rd In addition to the two large blocks of land in the EGV, there are also scattered small parcels with an Ag designation, and one large parcel not in use. MTD northeast, from Calle Real Property abuts Calle Real, looking east 26

27 GOAL The County shall explore conversion of infill property to Community Gardens and Parks or Open Space. 27

28 Some Things to Think About Bridge on the Obern Trail Pocket park Tee along Obern Trail Be Bold Community Benefit Connectivity More Mesa Pocket park 28

29 Existing Policy from the 1993 Community Plan: The 1993 Community Plan contains policies and tools to protect viable agricultural land, and the plan also calls for periodic review of the South Patterson Block. 29

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