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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 />