MANAGING THE AGRICULTURAL URBAN INTERFACE!IN IMPERIAL COUNTYCALAFCO 2011 Annual Conference – Napa

Jurg Heuberger, AICP, CEP

Executive OfficerImperial LAFCO

Imperial LAFCOJon EdneyEd SnivelyRay CastilloMichael KelleyColleen Ludwig

Imperial County

Located in the southeast corner of the state.

Bordered on the north by Riverside County, on the east by Arizona (Yuma), on the south by Mexico, and on the west by San Diego County.

General InformationArea 4,200 square mileAg. Land 440,000 acresPopulation 175,000City/County Population 85%/15%Demographics 76% Hispanic; 16% White; 3% Black; 2% Asian;Median Income $38,000 v state average of $58,000Largest Property Tax Agriculture, Geothermal, Mining

IMPERIAL COUNTY GENERAL PLAN

IMPERIAL COUNTY IMPORTANT FARMLAND 2008

FARM LAND PROTECTION POLICIES:

1993/1996 General Plan established: Urban boundary limits Right to farm ordinances Non-conversion policy Development agreements

LAFCO/County/Cities consensus on General Plan: Consensus on urban boundaries being same as sphere of influence

boundaries Urban development would be directed toward urban units LAFCO would not allow annexations of agricultural land w/o

approved projects County would not allow development outside urban boundaries and County would require developments in urban boundaries to meet

urban standards

Did It Work?

For the most part, at least until 2010………YES!

Did the community support the plan? For the most part, yes. Farmers supported only to the extent that “it wasn’t their land.”

Did the cities support it? Yes!

What was probably the major reason it really worked? The county has no infrastructure (sewer/water), so the only way substantial developments could be approved if they were positioned for annexation, which meant they had to be within the urban boundary/sphere of influence areas.

PROGRESS OR IS IT?

Is It Still Working? You Tell Me!

Is the conversion of agricultural land to renewable energy project comparable to urban land conversion?

MEGAWATTS This map depicts the

various projects that have been submitted to County Planning over the past two years.

A total of 30,000 to 78,000 acres is currently under permit review by the county for solar and wind projects.