Parks and Recreation Commission - Regular Meeting

Okay. Is there a motion to adopt the agenda and approve the consent calendar? I'll make the motion.

Consent calendar.

He made it. You second it.

I'll second it then. Okay.

All those in favor, aye. Aye. Opposed? Okay. Go ahead. Verna, are you

Okay. Do you

have anything you have to say before we go to public

ahead go to public forum, and then we'll just read this into the record.

Okay. Is there anyone on Zoom just to be cover our bases?

We have, Brenda Thurston, and that's the applicant,

I believe.

So Okay. She's the only one out there.

Alright. So

Okay. So if

I will go ahead and and read that now. Now taking public comment on public forum, individuals will have three minutes to address the commission. Public comment will be taken first from those participating in the meeting room and then from those participating through Zoom. For those participating by Zoom, please make sure you unmute yourself when called upon. If you're joining the meeting by phone, press 9 to indicate a desire to comment. If you are joining by Zoom, press the raise hand button to indicate a desire to comment. Audience? And no hands are raised on Zoom.

Okay. No? Okay. Alright. Let's go on to action items.

Okay. We have ADM 26Dash0014. This is Thurston Agricultural Setback Relief, administrative relief from the agricultural setback to construct a new single family dwelling. Assessor's parcel number 085500012000. And now planning will introduce the item.

Okay. It's our new format, right?

Yes.

Okay. Good.

Yeah. Good afternoon, commission. My name is Spencer McKenna, project manager for this, ADM 260014. The applicant is requesting administrative relief from the required 200 foot agricultural setback to be reduced to 75 feet from the northern adjacent parcel, 100 feet from the eastern adjacent parcels, and 101. Five feet from the southern adjacent parcel for a new single family dwelling unit.

This was previously approved in 2023 under a different admin permit at, 50 feet north and a 100 and a 112.5 feet south. And, yeah, the applicant seems to be here online as well. So if you have any questions, please ask.

Okay. Corey, do you wanna

Yep. I'll do my presentation. So this parcel is parcel number 085500012. It is 3.6 acres. It is in the Camino Fruitridge Agricultural District.

The land use designation is agricultural lands, and it is zoned plant agriculture 20 acres. It is composed entirely of choice soils, music, sandy loam, nine to 15% slopes. We notified I think it was about 19 or 20, parcels with 1,000 foot notification. Here, you can see it's in the, again, Camino Fruitridge Agricultural District. The parcel to the south is in a Williamson Act contract, and that is property.

It is completely surrounded and is planned agricultural zoned. And it is, again, completely surrounded and is itself in the land use designation agricultural lands in the Camino Fruitridge Agricultural District. And music, sandy loam, choice soils, nine to 15% slopes, completely on this parcel and many of the surrounding parcels. Topography for this parcel, it's pretty flat. It slopes gently from downward from east to west, but for the most part, it's fairly flat parcel.

Here is the aerial view. Again, you can see to the south is Barsodes. I believe now I'm forgetting offhand, but I believe those are mostly grapes in the center and then some apples. Directly to the north is some apple trees as well, but those are not being maintained. And then the parcel directly to the west does not have any ag on it that I saw during my site visit.

Looks to be a single family home as well as the parcels the three parcels to the east appeared just to be, single family homes at this point, the one to the northeast and then the two due east of the pars of this parcel. There is an existing garage. You can kinda see in the center of this parcel, and then there's kind of like a shed that they're parking their RVs in. I don't know if that's gonna stay or not. I don't know if it's permitted or not, but it's there on the parcel currently.

Here's a little close-up aerial view. The parcel's very narrow, so it's only 257 feet from north to south. So no matter where they were to build on this parcel, they would be requesting agricultural setback. The pink square is where they are requesting the it's gonna be a manufactured home be placed. It's gonna be 75 feet from the northern parcel, 141 feet from the parcel to the south, and then a 100 feet in from the east.

When it came to the commission in 2023, the Orange Square is approximately where it was approved to be placed before. So, basically, they had to come back to us because they wanted to move the house that they're building a little farther east from where it was placed previously.

So let me understand. The the only deal with that is where we where it was when we saw

approved it in 2023.

Okay.

Yeah. And they never followed through. They didn't build anything. They've since changed their plans, and now they wanna move it to this location that's the Pink Square.

Okay. And

the the zoning of the parcel to the east where that residence is, what is that residential?

It's all, planned ag and ag lands. Everything in that area is all the same. So I did do a site visit, and he laid out some markers for me so I could see where the home is going to go. And so the pictures I took, I'm standing I'm standing to the south of where the home's gonna go looking due north. So I'm looking sort of at a 12:00 position, and I'm just gonna show pictures, and I'm kind of just moving clockwise around.

So looking due north is the apple orchard that's not currently being maintained. And I'm not sure how long it's not been been maintained for, but I believe in 2023, it was not being maintained at that time either from what I saw from the previous presentations that we did. So now we're moving more towards, like, the 02:00 position. This these are the single family homes. You can see the red and the white in the distance towards the 03:00, towards the east.

Now we're looking more towards, you know, four or 05:00. That's Barsody's property to the south. So due south, sort of the 06:00 position, that's a home on the property. And then towards about 07:00 position, towards the west, the garage, you can see there, and then, like, the lean to shed for the RVs is there as well. And then oh, let me go back real quick.

So they're much closer to the eastern end of the parcel now where they're planning to build. So beyond the RVs, where the tree line kinda is is would be the western end of the parcel. So that would be approximately where their parcel boundary is to the west.

So where the shed is? Mhmm. Where the RV is? But the the building in front, is that a house?

I don't he told me it was a garage. Oh. So from what I understand, it's a garage. It may have some sort of living quarters in it. It does have, like, a garage door on the front of

it. Okay.

And then now we're moving back towards the north. So a site visit was conducted on 02/13/2026 to review consistency with pertinent general plan policies. The Agricultural Commission is required to make three or four of the following findings by resolution number 079Dash2007 and adopted by the Board of Supervisors on 04/17/2007 to approve the request for administrative relief from agricultural setback. Number one is no suitable building site exists on the subject parcel except within the required general setback due, but not limited to, compliance with other requirements of the general plan or other county development regulations. Since the subject parcel is 257 feet wide north to south and surrounded on all sides by agriculturally zoned parcels, all possible building sites on the parcel would require agricultural setback relief.

Number two, the proposed noncombatible structure will be located on the property to reasonably minimize the potential negative impact on adjacent agriculturally zoned land. The proposed building site minimizes potential potential negative impacts on the adjacent agriculturally zoned lands by congregating the single family dwelling near the other single family dwellings on adjacent parcels to the east, northeast, and south. And number three, based on the site characteristics of the subject parcel and the adjacent agriculturally zoned land, including but not limited to topography and location of agricultural improvements, etcetera, the commission determines that the location of the proposed noncompatible structure would reasonably minimize potential negative impacts on agricultural or timber production use. The proposed building site faces the existing family single the existing single family dwelling on the parcel to the south, creating a buffer and minimizing the impact to the production agricultural use of the southern parcel. And the proposed building site is also closer to the eastern parcel boundary and the existing single family homes on the adjacent easternly parcels.

And for part four, we did not make any findings. So staff recommendation is to recommend approval of the request for administrative leaf from the required 200 foot setback for the above reference project to be reduced from 75 reduced to 75 feet from the northern adjacent parcel, 100 feet from the eastern adjacent parcels, and 141.5 feet from the southern adjacent parcel for a new single family dwelling unit through the building permit number 386252. And with that, the staff staff recommends the adoption of the criteria going with the notices with the deeds and all that stuff. I don't wanna read

it all. It's alright. Okay. Alright. Any questions? Questions of staff.

Could could you put the chart back up again that showed where the the

The aerial one?

Yeah. The overhead view. Yeah. That one right there. So previously, there were 275 feet from one of the egg. Now it's 75 feet.

And The 275 feet is the width of the parcel north to south.

The entire entire parcel? Entire parcel.

So Spencer mentioned that previously, they requested the setback to be from the north. What was it?

Let me go back one more slide because it shows it without that other So that's the entire parcel Yeah. With the 257.

Yeah. Previously, it was 112.5 South.

I I think the impact is that the house should be moved closer to the parcel to the east, which looks like it's maybe less than a one acre parcel and obviously not in any egg production.

Right.

Yeah. It seems to actually allow more usable land to the to the west on that parcel.

Yes.

Compresses the all the houses together and closer with

Yeah.

It does congregate all the buildings to the easterly side of the parcel.

I I think it increased the distance from the Barsody parcel, which is in ag production.

Yeah. From the Barsody house also, it it moved it further away too, I think.

Is there the the parcel that's to the the north, is that in production? I can't really tell from that.

That was the apple orchard, you mean?

It looks abandoned, Lloyd. When I looked at the photograph, you could see it hadn't been proven.

So it's it's an abandoned orchard?

Yeah. It it doesn't appear to be maintained.

Okay. So this moved at we're still at it's still there's no no way to get it further away from the production agricultural area, I take it.

Either way you go, Lloyd, even if you went to the north toward the abandoned orchard, that would still Yeah. And someone else wanted to regenerate the Yeah. They'd still be they're right about in the middle, so I don't I can't Six see 100

a half a dozen now.

Better location, and we have to permit something to be built.

Well, I have a I have a problem of, as you guys well know, of of the encroachment on the on the 200 foot setbacks. And I guess when has this property does anybody know whether it's been sold or changed hands recently? Or

I think in 2023

on the Zoom, we can ask them, but I believe they've owned it for quite a long time.

So the it's already been approved for the one that that was in orange, in o seven. Right?

2023.

Oh. No. That was Right here.

Maybe I missed that one. We voted yes. Okay.

Yeah. That was disapproved. Right?

It was approved. It was approved. It was approved. Yeah.

Yes. Because we have to they have to be able to have a building site. The 200 the 200 Why do we setback.

I I understand that, but but how do we end up and maybe it's a different situation. How do we end up with property being sold next to agriculture property Yeah. That drives it next to the to the 200 foot setback? And I can I can appreciate that, and I'm sure, Tim can also? Yes. Because because it it just Yeah. I've got houses next to my property that are within the the 200 foot setback, but they were built quite a while ago. But all new stuff is yeah.

But this is an older this parcel's been there forever, I think. It's well before maybe Eric

can you I don't know the exact day, but Yeah. Usually, smaller part of you.

Yeah. Come on up here. Yeah.

There's an assumption that because it's in an ag district that it wasn't created anytime recently because there'd be a 20 acre minimum.

That's right.

Yeah. So the assumption is that it would be an older parcel.

Yeah. But it but

it's still zone agriculture.

Correct. Yeah. Because that's a one thing you gotta remember is that they're at zone districts. Yeah. You know? So it's within that zone district. And because it's a smaller parcel, you know Yeah.

And and I I think, Lloyd, that's where the challenge comes in. It's it's zoned agriculture, which allows for a single family residence. Alright.

Yeah. But you're correct that, you know, the assumption would be an older parcel.

Yeah. Back in the sixties, before we got the new ag districts and everything in, I would think so.

Well, even with the MAP Act in 1972 for like a decade or two, they were approved at the counter, parcel maps. They didn't even inspect.

Hand them your $50 check and there's your map.

Okay. Does anyone else have any questions of staff? Or how about the applicant? Does anybody in the audience want to address this? Okay. Does the applicant, online ahead and wish to say say anything? It again. Pardon me?

We are now taking public comments specifically on item 20 six-four 63. Each speaker will have three minutes to address the board. A timer will alert you in thirty seconds remain. Sorry. We will be getting comments from individuals present in the boardroom followed by those participating via Zoom. So nothing in the boardroom. And I can go to Zoom. And I do have, Brenda would like to talk.

She's the applicant?

Yes.

Okay. And there's no other she's

the other one. One other person on Zoom. However, they do not have their

hand Okay. Sure.

I'm gonna allow her to talk.

Sure. Yep.

K. There. You can go ahead and speak. Please state your name. Hello? Unmute. Hello?

It says it's connecting. It's what? It says it's connecting.

Okay. That's weird. Hi, can you hear me? Hi, Brenda, you can go ahead and speak. It seems like she's trying to talk, but it's not coming on.

Connecting to audio. It's hard when you're not used to doing this. It's crazy out there. Brenda, if you're, on your iPhone? Not sure what's happening.

You call her on your iPhone?

No. I don't have her number. It says connecting to audio, but it's not coming through. So I'm gonna remove your permission to talk and then reinstate it and see if that'll work. Now we'll go back over, and we'll say allow to talk.

Can you hear us now? Can you speak oops.

Hello? Can you hear me now?

Yes. Yes. Yay. Yes. Yes.

I something worked. Okay. Sorry about that. I'm not sure what happened. My name is Brenda Thurston, and I've been, trying to listen in.

I've obviously been having some trouble. But, yes, I just wanted to say that we the reason that we're asking to move the location of the home is because we are doing a different design of the home. We were not able to follow through when everything was approved last time, due to personal reasons. But now we are ready and hoping that this gets approved, and we can build our forever home. And we are aware of all the ag around us. Actually, that's one reason why we

Oh.

Something's you know what? She's on two different phones. That's what it is. Here. Oh.

I'm not sure why

Sorry?

Not sure why it keeps moving me. I'm I've got

you signed on two times, and it's so it's conflicting here. Oh.

Go ahead. Interesting. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. It this Zoom is not my regular job, so I I don't know what I'm doing. But, so, anyway, yes, we we love it up here, and all the agriculture is it was actually part of the draw. It's because it's so beautiful. But, with the location of the house, I know it's it's a little bit different than it was before. Instead of putting it where we would have the, back of the house would be facing west, We're now have want the back of the home to just face north.

Like, the front will be facing the street like a like a, you know, like a regular house. So, yeah, so that's about it. I don't know if you guys have any questions for me.

Does anyone have any I do. Any questions? Or No. The reason would you state again the reason that you moved it? I I you cut out at that moment. Was was there a reason?

We yes. Because the the first house that we were going to build, we are not going to build. So it's a different, it's a little bit of a different plan. It's actually going to be we wanna do a manufactured, a brand new manufactured home. Mostly, you know, just personal reasons we never followed through three years ago when we were approved. So now that's what we wanna do, and we just wanna change the the location of the house due to, like, the front and the back kind of the where it's facing. We wanna change.

Okay.

Is the new location that you have, is it closer to the production agriculture than the previous one?

No. It's farther.

No. I'm gonna say it's farther because instead of the house being sideways now, the house is gonna be turned where the front of the house is to the street, and I think it added I don't know. My husband's at work, so I don't know the footage. Between us and the Varsody's property.

Okay. Well, I can see it does has two beneficial things moving, and one is it allows more development if in the future you wanted to do agriculture on the Western Side that opens all of that, gives you more room that way, and it clusters the houses together, so it'll be less of an impact on the surrounding agriculture. So it seems to me there's two two benefits to the the new location.

Ma'am Yeah. How how long have you owned this?

We bought the property in oh gosh. I'm trying to think. 21, I wanna say maybe.

Okay. Okay.

I'm not a 100 yeah. I think it was '21. '21 or '22. I'm sorry. I cannot remember right now off the top my head.

Does anyone else have questions of the applicant?

No. Thank you.

If not, thank you. And we will, if we need you, we'll we'll call you back. So let's

bring it back. Thank you.

Thank you. Let's bring it back for discussion and or motion.

I think it's Shane Marine's turn.

Shane oh, to make a motion.

To me I was gonna say, for what? Yeah. I don't I don't see any problems with that. I mean, I'm I would be ready to make a motion to approve the request per staff's recommendations.

I second.

Alright. It's been moved and seconded. Myrna, would you call the roll, please?

Commissioner Walker, how do you vote?

Aye. Reluctantly.

Commissioner Nelson, how do you vote? Aye. Commissioner Tong, how do you vote?

Aye.

Commissioner Holster, how do you vote? Aye. Commissioner or chair Boerger, how do you vote? Aye. Thank you. The motion passes.

Okay. Thank you. Good luck with your house.

Okay. Thank you very much.

You're welcome. Chameree gets to do it when there ain't a bunch of angry

people

out

there? Yeah. She gets to do the easy ones.

Yeah. Lucky. You're right. It's a good day.

You can actually go out in the hall after the meeting and make it to your car. Sneak out the back. Yeah. We don't have to go out the back door there.

Okay. Let's move on with the agenda. What else do you have, Corey? Staff update on legislation regulation or correspondence? Or

I don't have anything

Oh my god.

Under that topping topic.

How's Leanne doing on her vacation?

I don't think she's enjoying it enough because I'm getting way too many text messages and emails.

Oh, really?

So I'm trying to ignore her as much as possible.

Okay. Alright. Alright. Okay. Any other business?

You have an invitation for the ag roundtable dinner. Oh. And the the main emcee is gonna be Michael Rennelly.

Oh, good.

Some of you I I don't know if any

of you took part in had this thing yesterday, I believe. But I believe there's somebody you're related to as one of the speakers too, and there there's gonna be several. So it should be a good time. And Leanne said we can't do anything for her, but we'll probably do an announcement. And then also, you guys have all heard that Laurel Brentbaum

Yes. Yes.

Yeah.

Just It's Everyone is leaving who's Yeah. Was So Yeah.

Yeah. So, anyway, she will be at that dinner, and she's made us swear that we wouldn't do anything either. So

I lie.

You gotta do what you gotta do.

She does like agriculture, so we can certainly Yeah. Do something.

If we did something for Jack Sweeney, we can do something for Laurel.

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Is there anything else? If not

That's it.

Meeting adjourned. Alright. Gosh. 04:30.