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Giuseppe Sanfilippo San Joaquin County Community Development Department Re: PA-2100238 (UP): Comments on Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration May 2, 2023 Page 3 Direct most urban development towards cities and urban and rural communities within the unincorporated county to promote economic development, while preserving agricultural lands and protecting open space resources. (P. 3.1-5, emphasis added) The Project also is inconsistent with General Plan Policy LU-1.1 Compact Growth and Development, which commands: The County shall discourage urban sprawl and promote compact development patterns, mixed-use development, and higher development intensities that conserve agricultural land resources, protect habitat, support transit, reduce vehicle trips, improve air quality, make efficient use of existing infrastructure, encourage healthful, active living, conserve energy and water, and diversify San Joaquin County's housing stock. (Ibid., emphasis added) The General Plan specifically identifies that: "How and where growth occurs within San Joaquin County over the next 20 years is a major issue. Historic inefficient development in the Central Valley and San Joaquin County cities has resulted in lower densities and rapid conversion of agricultural lands." (P. 3.1-7.) The General Plan thus includes an entire goal section(Goal LU-2)requiring the County to "[p]romote efficient development and land use practices in new development that provide for the protection of vital resources and enhancement of communities." (Ibid.) Policies designed to implement this goal include: LU-2.1 Compatible and Complimentary Development. The County shall ensure that new development is compatible with adjacent uses and complements the surrounding natural or agricultural setting. (Ibid.) For the reasons described herein, the District does not believe the proposed use is compatible with the adjacent agricultural uses, or that it complements the agricultural setting. This Project proposes to locate a massive regional public facility in the middle of a rural agricultural area.3 Additional policies require consideration of specific information relevant to agricultural resource protection: LU-2.10 Soils Information. The County shall consider the soils information from the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program during review of proposed new development projects. (P. 3.1-8.) s In this way the Project also conflicts with GOAL LU-9:Provide for governmental,utility, institutional,educational,cultural,religious,and social facilities and services that are located and designed to complement San Joaquin County communities and to minimize incompatibility with neighborhoods and other uses. (P. 3.1-69.)