Managing theAgricultural/Urban Interface

City of LivermoreMarc Roberts

Community Development Director

September 1, 2011

Where is Livermore?

Livermore

South Livermore Valley Area

To Oakland and San

Francisco45 miles

To Stockton and Modesto

40 miles

South Livermore Valley History Active wine-producing since mid 1880s.

In 1900, there were 50 wineries, over 5,000 acres planted in vineyards and 1,500 acres of orchards.

Wine production ebbed during the early 1900s due to depression, prohibition, and outbreak of Phylloxera.

Since World War II, the wine industry’s greatest threat has been encroaching development. By the 1960s there were only six wineries and 1,500 acres of vineyard land remaining.

Early Responses to Development Pressures

1970s: County downsizes to minimum 100-acre parcel size.

1981: Ruby Hill “mini vineyards” proposed and Friends of the Vineyards established.

1984: South Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association established.

1987: South Livermore Valley study begins but then terminated two years later. Williamson Act on 1,000 acres cancelled in 1989.

Ruby Hill Development

Seeing this as the beginning of the end for South Livermore, the City sued the County when it approved this 850-unit project in 1991.

South Livermore Valley Area Plan The Area Plan was adopted by

Alameda County in 1993 as a result of a settlement agreement over Ruby Hill.

Encompasses 14,000 acres of land most suitable for viticulture.

Primary objective was the expansion of cultivated agriculture from 2,100 acres to 5,000 acres.

South Livermore Valley Specific Plan 7-member citizens advisory

committee – landowners, Friends of the Vineyards, Winegrowers Assoc., environmentalists, local residents.

Consensus achieved through staff-driven process; keys to success were strong vision, tangible goals, and clear mechanisms to achieve the goals.

Adopted by Livermore City Council in 1997.

Specific Plan Subareas

Specific Plan Agricultural Mitigation

One Acre Developed

One Residential Unit Two Acres of Planted Vineyard

=

Specific Plan Results: Agriculture

In 1993, there were 2,100 acres in vineyards and 11 wineries. Today there are over 5,000 acres of vineyards and 42 wineries

Specific Plan Results: Open Space

The dedication of 371 acres to the Park District, as an addition to Sycamore Grove Park, and the dedication of 55 acres as regional open space.

Specific Plan Results: Homes

1,155 homes built in six new neighborhoods to create a new ag/urban interface

Tools to Achieve Objectives - Annexation

City annexed land to preserve agriculture.

Per Government Code Sections 56301 and 56377, one LAFCO purpose is to preserve open space and prime ag land, discourage urban sprawl and encourage infill development.

Insert picture of Ruby Hills and Vineyard Estates together

Tools to Achieve Objectives

Conservation Easements

Tri-Valley Conservancy

Right-to-Farm Ordinance

Insert Picture of Tri-Valley Conservancy Sign againt vineyards

Tools to Achieve Objectives

Urban Growth Boundary

Transfer of Development Credits

Appropriate Urban Design

Challenges Moving Forward• Long-term viability of

small parcel, discontiguous agriculture adjacent to suburban development.

• Reinforcement of Urban Growth Boundary – e.g., City challenged RV storage expansion into vineyards

Long Term Stability of Plan

• Broad based outreach and consensus based process led to stability even with changing City Council over the years.

• No significant changes to Plan since adopted in 1997.

Benefits – Downtown Revitalization

Questions?

Contact: Marc Roberts, 925-960-4400, mroberts@ci.livermore.ca.us