1. Morgan Hill’s Agriculture Mitigation Policy

2. Morgan Hill’s Agriculture Mitigation Policy
 History: Began with policies established in 2001
Comprehensive general Plan Amendment
 Open space policies to protect agricultural uses and foster long term
agricultural industry
 Desire to ensure mitigation close to Morgan Hill, in the SOI
 Understanding that incentives may need to be provided to encourage
ag production
 Introduction to the Agriculture Mitigation Policy
 Morgan Hill’s SOI includes approx 10,000 acres of
agricultural and grazing uses: 7,463 grazing, 438 farmland
of local import, 174 unique farmland, 227 farmland of
State import, 1679 Prime farmland (FMMP Maps).

3. Goals
 Identify lands viable for long-term agriculture
 Develop a program that fosters long-term
agricultural production via land use
planning, agricultural preservation
policies/programs and mitigation
 Encourage the retention of agricultural activities and
minimize conflicts in the transition from agriculture
to urban uses

4. Challenges identified through public input
 Cost of Land near urban areas
 Cost of Water
 Farming/development interface
 Size and shape of parcels conducive to viable
production
 Aging Farmers and inheritance issues
 Underlying, existing development rights

5. Opportunities
 Many ag properties in large ownership and existing
Desire to farm
 Create mitigation easements
 Provide incentives for preservation
 Use land use policy to protect active agriculture and
create large, active ag properties
 Use development agreements to implement
incentives

6. Agricultural Policy Consultants
 House Agricultural Consultants – Davis, CA
 EPS (Economic Planning Services) – Berkeley, CA

7. Agriculture
Mitigation
Policy
Current Status

8. Current Status of Work
 Policy Release Dec. 22, 2011
 Meetings with interested Parties: LAFCO, Greenbelt
Alliance et. al., SC County Farm Bureau, Property
owners and agricultural tenants
 www.morganhill.ca.gov – Agricultural Policies

9. Agriculture
Mitigation
Policy
How to get engaged

10. Get Engaged
 Review and provide comments regarding the Draft Agricultural
Policies.
 Attend one or many meetings that are being scheduled with key
stakeholder groups regarding the policies
 Become familiar with the City’s Slow Food Policy
 Become familiar with the City’s Right to Farm Ordinance
 Develop ways to enrich Farm to Table Economic development
initiatives
 Develop ways to increase Farm Trail visibility
 Look for grants to assist with healthy eating, lifestyle programs and
education projects that could enhance and support an active
conservation area
 Buy local produce

11. Agriculture
Mitigation
Policy
For more information contact Rebecca
Tolentino, Senior Planner –
rebecca.tolentino@morganhill.ca.gov