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Importance, which are defined as Farmland by CEQA Guidelines Appendix G, along <br /> with other agricultural and non-agricultural classifications. According to the 2018 <br /> Important Farmland Map of San Joaquin County, the most current available, the 2706 <br /> Pock Lane site is designated Farmland of Statewide Importance, while the 3009 Pock <br /> Lane site is designated Farmland of Local Importance. <br /> Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures <br /> a)Agricultural Land Conversion. <br /> As noted above, the 3009 Pock Lane site is designated Farmland of Local Importance, <br /> which is not important "Farmland" as defined by the CEQA Guidelines. Development of <br /> the 3009 Pock Lane site would not Farmland conversion as defined. However, <br /> development of the 2706 Pock Lane site would result in the conversion of approximately <br /> 19.3 acres of Farmland, as the site is designated Farmland of Statewide Importance. This <br /> would be a potentially significant impact of the project. <br /> The San Joaquin County General Plan EIR analyzed development impacts on Farmland <br /> conversion. It noted that the majority of the anticipated converted farmland would be <br /> within existing incorporated city Spheres of Influence, where farmland would be annexed <br /> to the neighboring city and subsequently developed under that jurisdiction's approval <br /> process (San Joaquin County 2014). The project site is within the City of Stockton's <br /> Sphere of Influence. Moreover, as noted, the project site is currently zoned AU-20, which <br /> anticipates development. <br /> The County General Plan EIR concluded that impacts on Farmland conversion would be <br /> significant and unavoidable and that there are no feasible mitigation measures to reduce <br /> this impact (San Joaquin County 2014). In certifying the County General Plan EIR in <br /> 2016, the County Board of Supervisors adopted a Statement of Overriding Considerations <br /> that acknowledged the impact on agricultural lands but found other considerations <br /> outweighed the adverse impact. This Statement of Overriding Considerations remains <br /> operative. <br /> San Joaquin County has adopted an Agricultural Mitigation Ordinance (San Joaquin <br /> County Code Chapter 9-1080) that applies to lands under County jurisdiction. Mitigation <br /> shall be required for lands converted by General Plan amendment or rezoning from <br /> agricultural to non-agricultural use. Agricultural mitigation shall be satisfied by granting <br /> a farmland conservation easement or other farmland conservation mechanism to or for <br /> the benefit of a qualifying entity, such as a farmland trust. The number of acres of <br /> agricultural mitigation land shall be at least equal to the number of acres that will be <br /> changed to a non-agricultural use (a 1:1 ratio). Alternatively, the project applicant may <br /> pay an in-lieu fee with approval of the County Board of Supervisors. The Ordinance <br /> covers areas designated in the General Plan of, or zoned by, the County or any city for <br /> agricultural uses, including land zoned by the County as Agricultural-Urban Reserve. <br /> The entire project site, including the land designated as Farmland of Local Importance, <br /> would be required to comply with the County's Agricultural Mitigation Ordinance. <br /> Compliance with the ordinance would partially compensate for the conversion of <br /> Pock Lane Public Review Draft IS/MND 3-5 May 2022 <br />