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VIDEO. From the San Mateo County Agricultural Advisory Commission on Monday, April 14th, 2025 at 6:00pm, as a hybrid meeting. The AAC continued the item to the next meeting in May asking for more information on the possible damage to Prime Soils under the hoophouses.
Agenda Item #6. and Full Staff Report including County and California Fish and Wildlife Violation Letters, drawings and maps.
Owner: Half Moon Bay Properties, LLC
Applicant: Jim Guan
File Number: PLN2023-00334
Location: 12761 San Mateo Road, Half Moon Bay
Assessor’s Parcel No.: 056-270-010, 056-270-030, 056-270-060, 056-270-090 and 056-270-100
Consideration of a Planned Agricultural District Permit, Coastal Development Permit, and Grading Permit, to address facility and operational violations (VIO2023-00035) at Terra Gardens, including grading of 14,050 cubic yards associated with site clean-up, drainage/access improvements, and permitting existing work, located at 12761 San Mateo Road (Highway 92) within the unincorporated Half Moon Bay area of San Mateo County. Please direct any questions to Project Planner, Camille Leung at [email protected].
MEETING MINUTES for 4/14/2025:
Committee Member, James Oku, asked what type of permits were required for the greenhouses, if there are future plans to replace the farm labor housing that is being removed, what is the replacement for the greenhouses and what type is it. He also commented that he does not see a need to remove the hoop houses.
Public Member, Marilyn Johnson, asked if the violations will be remediated.
Committee Member, Natalie Sare, asked is it a requirement for violation to be resolved prior to issuance, shared her desire for more information regarding damage to prime soils after the farm labor housing units are removed, what will occur and the time frame, and that she would like to see a narrative, before making a recommendation.
Member of the Public, Kerry Burke, asked why there is so much grading, what is the cut and fill, where will the off haul go, will all structures meet the 30 ft. setback and riparian requirements. She expressed that it is frustrating that so much work was done without permits and asked if the landowner is required to bond for compliance, what is the water source for the ultimate project, was there review by the water board for the illegal erosion from the creek. She commented that it is a lot of degradation to the farm area, that she noticed the degradation over the years, and she asked to see the improvements happen for certain, so mitigations can occur, including conditions of approval.
Committee Member, Daniel Theobald, asked what are the specific negative impacts, he recommends soils be tested and if adverse conditions are found, those need to be resolved.
Committee Member, Cole Mazariego-Anastassiou, asked if ownership is the same now as when the violations happened, how will the County oversee the improvements, and how does the County ensure the violations won’t repeat.
San Mateo County Farm Bureau Executive Director, Jess Brown, asked how long has the property been owned.
Committee Vice Chair, Peter Marchi, asked about fencing for wildlife.
Public Member , Erik Hagstrom, asked if compost be handled on site.
Committee Chair, Natalie Sare, moved and Crystal Chaix seconded, a motion to continue to the item to the May meeting, in order to receive additional necessary information to make a recommendation, including a prime soils report.
Committee Member, Daniel Theobald, moved and Cole Mazariego-Anastassiou seconded, a
recommendation that the soil be tested prior to approval of the project to keep the project moving.
Motion passed 5-3 to continue the item to a future date as determined by the project planner.
San Mateo County Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) Meetings ~ 2nd Monday @ 6:00pm
Watch on Pacifica Coast TV (PCTV).
Comments and questions by email.
Mission Statement
The purpose of this Committee is to assist in the achievement of the objectives of the Planned Agricultural District Ordinance and the San Mateo County Local Coastal Program.
The Williamson Act is a means to restrict the uses of agricultural and open space lands to farming and ranching uses during the length of the contract period. The Williamson Act Program was also envisioned as a way for local governments to integrate the protection of open space and agricultural resources into their overall strategies for planning urban growth patterns.
To this end, three principal objectives were originally outlined.
Protection of Agricultural Resources
Preservation of Open Space Land
Promotion of Efficient Urban Growth Patterns
AAC Members
15 members, consisting of one Agricultural Business, one Conservationist, seven Farmer/Growers, two Public Members and four Non-Voting members (Executive Director, San Mateo County Farm Bureau; Executive Director, National Resource Conservation Service NRCS; County Director, UC Cooperative Extension; and County Agricultural Commissioner).
- John Vars
1st Term
Jan 26, 2021 to Sep 30, 2024Title
MemberRepresenting
Farmer/Grower - Peter Marchi
1st Term
Aug 03, 2021 to Sep 30, 2025Title
MemberRepresenting
Farmer/Grower - Ryan Casey
Partial Term
Jan 25, 2022 to Sep 30, 2025Title
ChairRepresenting
Farmer/Grower - James Oku
Partial Term
Jan 25, 2022 to Sep 30, 2025Title
Vice ChairRepresenting
Farmer/Grower - Crystal Chaix
Partial Term
Dec 12, 2023 to Sep 30, 2026Title
MemberRepresenting
Farmer/Grower - Natalie Sare
2nd Term
Jul 01, 2022 to Sep 30, 2026Title
MemberRepresenting
Farmer/Grower - Cole Mazariegos-Anastassiou
Partial Term
Jul 11, 2023 to Sep 30, 2026Title
MemberRepresenting
Farmer/Grower - Daniel Theobald
Partial Term
Jul 11, 2023 to Sep 30, 2026Title
MemberRepresenting
Agricultural Business - Jim Howard
No Term
N/A N/ATitle
Non-VotingRepresenting
USDA Natural Resources Conservation - Jess Brown
No Term
N/A N/ATitle
Non-VotingRepresenting
Farm Bureau - Koren Widdel
1st Term
N/A N/ATitle
Non-VotingRepresenting
Agricultural Commissioner - Igor Lacan
1st Term
N/A N/ATitle
Non-VotingRepresenting
UC Coop. Extension - Ray Mueller
1st Term
N/A N/ATitle
SupervisorRepresenting
Board of Supervisors
Author: mdrag
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