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-2- <br /> agricultural use; and a Zoning Reclassification that changes the permitted uses from <br /> agriculture to a nonagricultural use, regardless of the General Plan designation. <br /> Therefore, Love's Travel Center is required to provide mitigation for the loss of the 5.06 <br /> acres of agricultural land. <br /> Pursuant to Development Title Section 9-1080.3 (c), agricultural mitigation can be <br /> satisfied by granting a farmland conservation easement or other farmland conservation <br /> mechanism as set forth in Subsection (d)of this Section to or for the benefit of a <br /> Qualifying Entity. The number of acres of agricultural mitigation land shall be at least <br /> equal to the number of acres that will be changed to a non-agricultural use [a 1:1 ratio]. <br /> Alternatively, the Agricultural Mitigation Ordinance provides an option for applicants to <br /> provide mitigation through payment of a fee, rather than by providing an easement. <br /> Development Title Section 9-1080 (d) (5), provides a process whereby the applicant may <br /> request that the Board of Supervisors grant the option of payment of the in-lieu fee. <br /> The Board may consider the following Facts when considering making a decision <br /> regarding an applicant's request: <br /> A) Multiple good faith offers to purchase an easement or other preservation <br /> instrument, which offers have been declined by the seller or sellers, <br /> B) Good faith efforts to purchase an easement or other preservation instrument <br /> over an extended period of time where further efforts would make it unreasonable for the <br /> applicant to continue such efforts, and <br /> C) Good faith efforts to purchase an easement or other preservation instrument, <br /> but where the high cost of such purchase makes it unreasonable for the applicant to <br /> continue such efforts. <br /> REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION: <br /> The applicant has tried unsuccessfidly to acquire 5.06 acres of land to satisfy the <br /> mitigation requirement. The applicant has submitted a letter, see attachment A, <br /> describing their efforts beginning in April of 2013. These efforts included discussing <br /> purchasing land from Golden Bear Ranch, working with a realtor with Grupe Real Estate, <br /> and consultation with Bill Martin with the Central Valley Farmland Trust, as the <br /> Qualifying Entity. <br />