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MOUNTAIN HOUSE NEIGHBORHOOD"F"PROJECT INITIAL STUDY <br /> B. AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES <br /> Trimark Communities owns and leases all adjacent agricultural fields for tenant farming to the north, south <br /> and west of the site, except for the adjacent dairy operations to the south of the project site. The applicant <br /> proposes to cease agricultural operations on a phased basis in the immediate vicinity of the project site, for <br /> those lands owned by Trimark. On-going irrigation at the site and on lands just west of the site would be <br /> discontinued as the project develops. The applicant proposes a minimum 100-foot setback between the <br /> ultimate buildout boundary of the project and ongoing agricultural operations to the north, west and south <br /> (see Figure 4). In some cases,the setback may be over two hundred feet and sometimes as great as 1,000 <br /> feet. For the lands where agricultural operations are ceased, the applicant proposes to plant the fallow <br /> areas with a low-maintenance groundcover, such as alfalfa, in order to minimize dust impacts to future <br /> residents and to create a natural barrier between farm operations and development. <br /> Environmental Checklist <br /> Potentially <br /> Significant <br /> Potentialiv Unless Less Than <br /> Significant Mitigation Significant No <br /> Impact Incorporated Impact Impact <br /> AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES. In determining whether impacts <br /> to agricultural resources are significant environmental effects, lead <br /> agencies may refer to the California Agricultural Land Evaluation and <br /> Site Assessment Model(1997)prepared by the California Dept. of <br /> Conservation as an optional model to use in assessing impacts on <br /> agriculture and farmland. Would the project: <br /> a) Convert Prime Farmland,Unique Farmland, or Farmland of <br /> Statewide Importance(Farmland), as shown on the maps prepared <br /> pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the <br /> California Resources Agency,to a non-agricultural use? <br /> b) Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use,or a Williamson <br /> Act contract? <br /> c) Involve other changes in the existing environment which, due to <br /> their location or nature, could result in conversion of Farmland to <br /> non-agricultural use? <br /> Environmental Checklist Explanations <br /> a) Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance(Farmland), as.shown on <br /> the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources <br /> Agency, to a non-agricultural use? <br /> The project would result in the removal of 406 acres of Prime Farmland as defined by the California <br /> Department of Conservation, Office of Land Conservation. The Findings prepared for the 1992 EIR and <br /> 1994 Master Plan EIR concluded that this impact was significant and unavoidable, and the Board of <br /> Supervisors adopted"Statements of Overriding Consideration"as required by the California <br /> Environmental Quality Act to justify the loss of 3,600 acres of prime agricultural lands associated with the <br /> entire Mountain House New <br /> C:VO&SWCVMML STUDY)FlNALINRIALS=Y-PARTI.D0C(7W00) 36 V.B. AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES <br />