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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: February 9, 2006 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. /Q-Q <br />SUBJECT: Potential Agricultural Activities on Lands Legacy Properties <br />DEPARTMENT: ERCD PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Staff Report, with Maps <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />David Stancil, 245-2598 <br />PURPOSE: To receive a report from staff on the potential (current and future) for agricultural <br />activities on certain Lands Legacy properties. <br />BACKGROUND: Over the past several years, Orange County has acquired a number of <br />properties through the Lands Legacy Program for future parks or open space that are (or have <br />previously been) in agricultural production, primarily in the production of grass/hay. In some <br />cases, these properties have been acquired and "land-banked" for a future park or open space <br />purpose that is not yet programmed for construction. Some of the lands have continued to <br />have grass/hay in production, under the continuation of existing arrangements. <br />Staff has created a report evaluating these properties that looks at the possibility of raising <br />revenue from these activities toward maintenance and stewardship of the land (or other <br />purposes). This may also provide an opportunity for local farmers to gain income from <br />agricultural production on these lands, on a temporary basis, until future parks are built. <br />Many of the properties in Lands Legacy are in agricultural conservation easements, where the <br />farmer retains ownership and the ability to conduct farm operations, and are thus not available <br />for lease. The report identifies four properties as having the potential for agricultural activity. <br />Two of the properties (the future New Hope Park at Blackwood Farm and the future Millhouse <br />Road Park) currently are in grass/hay production, and could remain so in the next several years <br />until facilities are designed, funded and built.. <br />The attached report outlines these properties, the current and potential uses, the potential and <br />process for future contractual (leased) fields arrangements, and a general projection of revenue <br />that might be generated using current lease rates. A number of other ideas, such as alternative <br />agriculture and the use of biosolids application, need additional research,. Information on <br />biosolids and the potential application on these properties is being gathered from OWASA and <br />will be provided at the meeting.