To: Board of Supervisors
From: Planning and Building Department
Agenda Section: Public Hearing
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Continuance Request for the Williamson Act Contract Partial Cancellation on a 4.36-Acre Developed Portion of the Approximately 77-acre Westfall Agricultural Preserve Contract No. 08-109 in Order for the Remaining Vacant Approximately 73-Acre Portion to be Dedicated to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for Public Access and Habitat Conservation. This Contract is in the Elk River Area, APN 311-041-034 and 311-041-036, Record Number PLN-2025-19187
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Continue to a date uncertain.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Sustainable Natural Resources & Infrastructure Stewardship
Strategic Plan Category: 5005 - Implement landscape stewardship through the General Plan
DISCUSSION:
The original item was a request to partially cancel the Williamson Act Contract for a 4.36-acre developed portion of the 77-acre Westfall Agricultural Preserve in Elk River to enable the remaining vacant approximately 73-acre portion to be dedicated to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Westfall Agricultural Preserve is currently owned by Save the Redwoods League and is to be dedicated to the BLM to add public lands along Elk River, adjacent to the 7,472-acre Headwaters Forest Reserve. If cancellation is approved, a cancellation penalty fee up to 25 percent of the appraised value of the property is assessed. The 4.36-acre portion would be retained as a remainder parcel, and would contain the existing single-family residence and barn, which would be privately sold and retained as part of the County’s housing stock and tax base. The project went before the Williamson Act Advisory committee on July 31, 2025, and the partial cancellation was supported; however, the committee did not support waiving any of the cancellation fees.
It is being requested that this item be continued to a date uncertain to allow staff time to work with BLM and Save the Redwoods League to address some minor concerns related to the proposed conveyance. BLM is currently closed and unavailable due to the federal government shutdown.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Applicant fees
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact from this continuance.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Processing of this application has been accomplished with existing staff resources.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
n/a
ATTACHMENTS:
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: March 16, 2021
File No.: 21-322