SU0004149 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Description of Local Environment Existing Uses ! Land uses adjacent to the project site include agriculture and quarry operations, specifically: apricot, walnut, and almond orchards, and row crops to the north; row crops to the south; an almond orchard and existing quarry operations (Teichert Aggregates) to the west; and existing and proposed expansion of quarry operations (Brown Sand) to the east. In addition to these uses, there are two residences located adjacent to the project site (refer to Figure 4.6-1 in the Noise Section for a location of these residences). Current use of the project site is for agriculture and intermittent grazing, with one residence in the southwest corner of the site (see Figure 3-9). Existing agricultural practices consist of fruit production, specifically apricot orchards. Over half(approximately 81 acres) of the orchard was recently removed due to loss of production caused by the age of the trees. The remaining trees are planned for removal, also due to their age and lack of production, and are not currently being utilized for fruit production. Historically, low tillage agriculture has been utilized due to the rocky nature of the top soil. Irrigation is by surface flooding and furrow irrigation with water supplied by an on-site well. Grazing practices during the winter and spring of 1996-1997 were for sheep and lamb production. Planning Context Current General Plan land use designations for the project site are General Agriculture (AIG), and Open Space Resource Conservation (OS/RC), as shown on Figure 4.3-1. The AIG land use designation is assigned to lands which are suitable for agriculture which are located outside areas planned for development. AIG lands are typically committed to agriculture with viable commercial agricultural enterprises that require large land areas to efficiently produce their crops. The OS/RC designation is used for a variety of lands, and is normally applied to those areas with significant resources that generally are to remain in open space (San Joaquin County, 1992). The entire project site and surrounding areas are zoned General Agriculture, 40-acre minimum (AG-40). Within.this zone, crop production is considered a permitted use, and quarry operations are "uses permitted subject to Quarry Excavation Permit" (San Joaquin County, 1996). As described in Chapter 3, the proponent has applied for a Quarry Excavation Permit (and review of that application is the subject of this EIR). Prime Farmland The project site is underlain by two soils types: Zacharias clay loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes and Zachararias gravelly clay loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes (United States Department of r Agriculture, 1988). Both of these soil types are designated "Prime Farmland" by the United States Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Conservation, Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program. Draft Environmental Impact Report 4-26 ER-96-3