COUNTY OF VENTURA MEASURE

(SOAR) SAVE OPENSPACE and AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

INITIATIVE -2050
FULL TEXT OF ORDINANCE

The people ofthe County of Ventura, having adopted the Save Open-space and
Agricultural Resources Ordinance (SOAR) on November 3, 1998, and recognizing that
said Ordinance will sunset on December 31, 2020, desire to continue the philosophy of
and primary substantive matters contained in that initiative measure until December 31,
2050. Accordingly, they do hereby ordain as follows: [Changes from the text of the
original initiative and any changes in the County's General Plan being restated and
readopted are indicated with "strike=ottt" for deletions; italics for additions].

Section 1. Findings and Puroose.

A. Nearly two decades ago, the voters of Ventura County adopted the Save
Open-space and Agricultural Resources (SOAR) in order to protect the County's
agricultural, rural, and open space lands, to strengthen the local agricultural economy,
and to preserve the County's quality of life. SOAR has been highly successful in
achieving these goals, while allowing for reasonable residential development, allowing
the County to meet its housing requirements under state law. Accordingly, for the
benefit of existing and future residents, visitors and investors, the people of Ventura
County hereby declare their intent to reaffirm, update and extend the provisions of SOAR
until the year 2050.

B. Agriculture has been and remains a major contributor to the economy of

the County of Ventura, directly and indirectly creating employment for many people,
creating enormous actual income which multiplies through the community and
generating substantial tax revenues for the County.

Specifically, the Ventura County General Plan provides as follows:

"Agriculture plays an important role in the National, State, and County

economy. Ventura County is one of the principal agricultural counties in
the State ranking tenth in 198 7, with a total income of over 610 million
dollars and ranking seventeenth in farm earnings out of 3,175 counties
nationally.
This high productivity is made possible by the County's abundance of the
natural resources required for agricultural production; primarily soils,
water, climate and topography." [General Plan, ~1.6].

C. The County ofVentura with its unique combination of soils, micro-

climate and hydrology has become one ofthe finest growing regions in the world.
Vegetable and fruit production from the county of Ventura and, in particular, production

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from the soils and silt from the Santa Clara and Ventura rivers have achieved
international acclaim, enhancing the County's economy and reputation and standard of
living.

D. For agriculture to be sustainable in Ventura County, it must remain

economically viable. This SOAR ordinance seeks to add and improve necessary goals
and policies to encourage agriculture to remain viable in the County for the life ofthe
ordinance and beyond.

E. Open space likewise contributes to the welfare of the County, as

recognized in paragraph 3.2 ofthe General Plan, not only through the productive use of
the land for grazing and other non-irrigated usage, such as forest lands, rangelands, and
agricultural lands not designated agricultural, but through the preservation of unique
natural resources including but not limited to areas required for the preservation of plant
and animal life, habitat for fish and wildlife, areas required for ecological and other
scientific study purposes, rivers, bays, estuaries, wetlands, coastal beaches, lakeshores,
banks of rivers and streams and watershed lands. Open space continues to contribute to
the public health and safety additionally by setting aside from development those lands
which require special management or regulation because of hazardous or special
conditions such as earthquake fault zones, unstable soil areas, flood plains, watersheds,
areas presenting high fire risks, areas required for the protection of water quality, and
water reservoirs and areas required for the protection and enhancement or air quality.
Open space has worked to promote and continues to promote the formation and
continuation of cohesive communities by defining the boundaries and by helping to
prevent urban sprawl. Open space promotes efficient municipal services and facilities by
confining urban development to defined development areas.

F. Open space designations also include productive lands that are used for
agriculture and grazing. These lands are important to the overall economy of the County
and the long-term economic viability of these productive lands shall be supported.

G. As importantly, the Rural designation under the General Plan serves not
only to buffer intense urban usage from agricultural and open space lands, but it fosters
small scale agricultural production while allowing for low-density and low intensity land
uses and is a critical component in accommodating the full range of residential and
farming/ranching environments.

H. Urban encroachment into Agricultural, Open Space and Rural designated

areas can negatively impact agriculture by lessening cultivated acreage, threatening the
viability of the agricultural industry and could threaten the public health, safety and
welfare by causing increased traffic congestion, associated air pollution, and potentially
serious water problems, such as pollution, depletion and sedimentation of available water
resources. Such urban encroachment could eventually result in the unnecessary and
expensive extension of public services and facilities as well as create inevitable conflicts

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between urban and open space and agricultural uses, degrading wildlife habitat and
connectivity. To the extent possible, farm worker housing, located in existing urban
areas, should be encouraged in order to help sustain the viability of agriculture.

I. The unique character ofthe County of Ventura and quality of life of

County residents depend on the protection of a substantial amount of open space,
agriculture, and rural lands. The protection of such lands not only ensures the continued
viability of agriculture, but also protects the available water supply and contributes to
flood control and the protection of wildlife, environmentally sensitive areas, and
irreplaceable natural resources.

J. The purpose of this initiative is to continue to ensure that agricultural,

rural and open space lands are not prematurely or unnecessarily converted to other more
intensive development uses incompatible with the purposes of the Agricultural, Open
Space and Rural land use designations. Thus, this initiative seeks to further Agricultural,
Rural and Open Space objectives which could include, for example, adequate farm
worker housing. This initiative further proposes to restate and readopt, with minor
amendments, the section of the Ventura County General Plan document entitled Goals,
Policies and Programs to support Agricultural, Rural and Open Space objectives thereby
helping to ensure that agriculture will remain economically viable in the County for the
life of the ordinance and beyond, and the beneficial aspects of the Rural and Open Space
designations continue to be protected. Accordingly, the initiative ensures that until
December 31. 2050 the General Plan provisions governing Agricultural, Rural and Open
Space land use designations and intent, as amended herein, may not be changed except
by vote of the people. In addition, the initiative provides that any lands designated as
"Agricultural," "Rural" or "Open Space" on the County of Ventura's General Plan
"General Land Use Maps" (North Half and South Half of each) [attached as exhibits A
and B] adopted by the Board of Supervisors May 24, 1988 as revised through October,
2015 will remain so designated until December 31. 2050 unless the land is redesignated
to another land use category by vote ofthe people, or redesignated by the Board of
Supervisors for the County of Ventura pursuant to the procedures set forth in this
initiative.

K. This initiative allows the Board of Supervisors to redesignate Rural,

Agricultural, and Open Space lands to other more intensive land use designations only if
certain findings can be made, including (among other things) that the land is proven to be
unsuitable for any form of utilitarian use, and redesignation is necessary to avoid an
unconstitutional taking of property without just compensation.

Section 2. General Plan Amendment.

1. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Save Open-space and

Agricultural Resources Initiative hereby amends, reaffirms, restates, and readopts until
December 31, 2050 the following aspects of the Ventura County General Plan. Deletions

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indicated by strike-out; additions indicated by italics (The Urban land use designation is
not part of this initiative, but is added here for context, only):

Limitations on General Plan Amendments Relating to Agricultural,

Open Space and Rural Designations
I.
Pursuant to the provisions ofthe SAVE OPEN-SPACE and
AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES (S.O.A.R.) INITIATIVE the following
shall obtain until December 31,2626 2050:

a) Until December 31,2050, the Agricultural, Open Space and Rural land
use designations, and the goals and policies as they specifically apply to
those land use designations in Sections 3:+ 1.6 and 3.2 Ventura County
General Plan- GOALS, POLICIES & PROGRAMS (10-20-15 edition) of
this General Plan shall not be further amended unless such amendment is
approved by vote ofthe people or by the Board of Supervisors pursuant to
the procedures set forth herein.

b) All those lands designated as"Agricultural," "Open Space" or "Rural on

the "General Land Use Maps" or the "Resources Protection Maps"
adopted by the Board of Supervisors for Ventura County on May 24,
1988, and amended through Septernber 16, 1997 October 20, 2015, shall
remain so designated until December 31, 205 0, unless redesignated to
another general plan land use category by vote of the people, or
redesignated by the Board of Supervisors pursuant to the procedures set
forth herein. [Said Maps are attached hereto and incorporated herein as
Exhibit's A and B. The General Land Use maps cover the mainland only.
Anacapa Island is designated "Open Space" and San Nicholas Island is
designated "State or Federal Facility.'']

c) The Board of Supervisors, following at least one public hearing for

presentations by an applicant and the public, and after compliance with the
California Environmental Quality Act, may place any amendment to land
use designations of Agricultural, Open Space or Rural, or any provision,
goal or policy as set forth in subsection paragraph "a", above, on the
ballot pursuant to the mechanisms provided by State Law.

d) The Board of Supervisors without a vote ofthe people may reorganize,

reorder or renumber individual provisions, including the provisions set
forth herein in the course of ongoing updates of the General Plan in
accordance with the requirements of state law. Additional technical, non-
substantive language modifications may be made to the General Plan with
reference to Agricultural, Open Space or Rural designations for
clarification and internal consistency provided such modifications are

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 consistent with the Findings and Purpose ofthe initiative creating these
prOVISIOnS.

e) The Board of Supervisors, without a vote ofthe people, may re-designate

Rtual designated properties otherwise designated (e.g., residential or
commercial) to Rural, Agricultural, or Open Space; may redesignate
Rural properties to either Agricultural or Open Space; or, may re-
designate Open Space to Agricultural pursuant to the provisions for
making such amendments set forth in state law and Board adopted
policies. Once redesignated, those redesignated lands become subject to
the rules contained in this initiative for any further redesignation.
Moreover, the Board ofSupervisors without a vote of the people may
increase the minimum lot size for any land use designation, but may not
decrease Rural, Agricultural or Open Space minimum lot sizes.

f) The Board of Supervisors, without a vote of the people, may redesignate

"Agricultural" designated properties to Open Space if the Board of
Supervisors makes all ofthe following findings supported by substantial
evidence:
i) The land proposed for redesignation has not been used for
agricultural purposes in the past 2 years and is unusable for
agricultural due to its topography, drainage, flooding, adverse soil
conditions, or other physical reasons;
ii) The land proposed for redesignation is immediately adjacent to
areas developed in a manner compatible with the uses allowed
under Open Space;
iii) Adequate public services and facilities are available and have the
capacity and capability to accommodate the Open Space uses
allowed;
iv) The proposed redesignation is compatible with agricultural uses,
does not interfere with accepted agricultural practices, and does
not adversely affect the stability of land use patterns in the area;
and
v) The land proposed for redesignation does not exceed 40 acres for
any one landowner in any calendar year, and one landowner may
not obtain redesignation pursuant to this subdivision (f) more often
than every other year. Landowners with any unity of interest are
considered one landowner for purposes of this limitation; and
vi) Notice ofsuch Proposed Modification is given according to the
County's standard notice requirements to neighboring properties;
and as well, not less than 30 days prior to the proposed
modification appearing on the Board ofSupervisors ' agenda, to
LAFCo, to the City in whose Area ofInterest the property to be
redesignated is located, and to all individuals or organizations

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 who or which have indicated a desire for such Notice by
requesting the same by placing his/her/its name and contact
information with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors.

g) The Board ofSupervisors, following at least one public hearing for

presentations by an applicant and the public, and after compliance with
the California Environmental Quality Act, may amend, without a vote of
the people, the Rural, Agricultural, or Open Space land use designations
to comply with state law regarding the provision ofhousingfor all
economic segments of the community. Such amendment may be adopted
only if the Board of Supervisors, based on substantial evidence makes
each of the following findings:
i) The land is immediately adjacent to existing compatibly developed
areas and the applicant for the amendment has provided to the County
evidence that the Fire Department, Police Department, Department of
Public Works, the Resource Management Agency applicable water and
sewer districts, and the school districts with jurisdiction over such land
have or will provide adequate capacity to accommodate the proposed
development and provide it with adequate public services; and,
ii) That the proposed development will address the highest priority
need identified in the analysis by which the County has determined it is
not in compliance with state law, i.e., low and very low income housing;
and,
iii) That there is no existing residentially designated land available to
accommodate the proposed development; and,
iv) Notice of such proposed amendment is given according to the
County's standard notice requirements to neighboring properties; and as
well, not less than 30 days prior to the proposed modification appearing
on the Board of Supervisors' agenda, to LAFCo, to the City in whose Area
ofInterest the property to be redesignated is located, and to all
individuals or organizations who or which have indicated a desire for
such Notice by requesting the same by placing his/her/its name and
contact information with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors.

g}-h) The Board of Supervisors, without a vote ofthe people, may redesignate
Agricultural, Open Space or Rural properties provided the Board complies
with the following two conditions:
i) The Board makes a finding based upon the advice of the County
Counsel that the designation of the property effects an
unconstitutional taking ofthe landowners' property; and
ii) In permitting the redesignation, the Board allows a less restrictive
designation to be applied to the property only to the extent
necessary to avoid the unconstitutional taking of the landowner's
property.

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 i) Approval by a vote of the people is accomplished when a General Plan
amendment is placed on the ballot through any procedure provided for in the
Election Code, and a majority of the voters vote in favor of it. Whenever the
Board ofSupervisors adopts an amendment requiring approval by a vote of the
people pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, the Board's action shall have
no effect until after such a vote is held and a majority of the voters vote in favor
of it. The Board ofSupervisors shall follow the provisions of the Election Code in
all matters pertaining to such an election.

b}j) The Board of Supervisors, without a vote of the people, may amend the
provisions of the General Plan which apply to the Agricultural, Open Space or
Rural designations, as set forth in subsection "a", above, for the express purpose
of further protecting and preserving resources identified in the General Plan,
provided that said amendment(s) are consistent with the Findings and Purpose of
the initiative adopting these provisions of the General Plan.

i1 In t eeognition ofthe 111 ban nature of the Pit 11 conununity and to pt o vide
essential flexibility to the Board ofSuper~isor:s to address the special needs ofthat
cornrnnnity, the Board of Snper visors, withont a vote of the people, may amend the
land nse designations on the General Land Use Map, as set forth in subsection "b",
above, fur land located within the Piru Redevelopment Area or land desciibed by the
following Assessor Parcel Numbers.

056•0=180·01 056-0-180-08
056·0·180-02 056=0= 190-05
056=0-180=06 056=0=190=06
056=0-180-07 056-0-190=09

The total land represented by this subsection "i" is set forth on Exhibit "A"

k) This initiative is not intended to impede The Board of Supervisors,

without a vote of the people, from being able to rezone land consistent with
the Existing Community Land Use designations on the General Plan Land Use
Map(s), and related text, as set forth herein. Consistent with this subsection
k), Thomas Aquinas College, 10000 Ojai Rd., Santa Paula, CA 93060 shall be
deemed an Existing Community, and may be rezoned appropriately and
developed according to its needs as a college subject to standard rules and
regulations and permit requirements of the Board of Supervisors. The
boundaries of the college are set forth herein as Exhibit "C. "

k} l) Following December 31, 2f)z.& 2050, redesignations of then existing

General Plan designations may be occasioned by the Board of Supervisors
without a vote ofthe people. Until then, approval by a vote of the people is

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 accomplished when a General Plan amendment is placed on the ballot through
any procedure provided for in the Election Code, and a majority of the voters
vote in favor of it. Whenever the Board of Supervisors adopts an amendment
requiring approval by a vote of the people pursuant to the provisions of this
snbseetion initiative measure the Board's action shall have no effect until after
such a vote is held and a majority ofthe voters vote in favor of it.

m) To preserve the maximum amount of land in agricultural production as

possible, the processing offood beyond the limits currently allowed by
Ventura County's general plan and policies should take place in existing
urban areas that have appropriate supporting infrastructure.

Notwithstanding the foregoing limitations on the Board ofSupervisors, in

order to support the processing of locally grown food, before January 1 of
2030 the Board ofSupervisors may, without a vote ofthe people, re-designate
up to a total of 12 acres of land, dispersed throughout the County, provided
they comply with the following conditions:
i) The Board has amended the appropriate provisions of the
County's General Plan and other planning policies, and the
amendment(s) conform with state laws governing such land use
designations;
ii) The Board finds there-designation will allow for the processing
of locally grown food that would otherwise likely be transported out of
county for processing;
iii) The re-designated land is no greater than 3 acres in size and
does not require the expansion or extension of new sewer lines to the
facility; and,
iv) The Board ofSupervisors approved the action with at least four
ofthefive Supervisors voting in the affirmative .

.i1 n) The Board of Supervisors, without a vote of the people, may amend the
land use designations on the General Land Use Maps, as set forth in
subsection "b", above, to any Existing Community designation for land which,
prior to the effective date of the ordinance setting forth these provisions, is
found to contain lawfully established urban building intensities or urban land
uses, to the minimum extent necessary to validate such pre-existing uses
consistent with the Findings and Purpose ofthe ordinance adopting these
provisions ofthe General Plan.

2. In addition, this initiative* General Plan An1endrnent hereby reaffirms

This initiative restates and readopts the following referenced Goals and Policies
(omissions do not indicate deletion, just irrelevance to the purposes of this
initiative) ofthe Ventura County General Plan until December 31, 2050.
Deletions continue to be indicated by st1 ike out; additions by italics:

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 1.6 Farmland Resources
***
1.6.1 Goals
1. Preserve and protect iu igated agricultural lands as a nonrenewable resource to
assure the continued availability of such lands for the production of food, fiber
and ornamentals.
2. Encourage the continuation and development of facilities and programs that
support agricultural production and enhance the marketing of County grown
agricultural products.
3. Improve the economic viability of agriculture through policies that support
agriculture as an integral business to the County.
4. Encourage opportunities for Ventura County residents to buy local
agricultural products.
1.6.2 Policies
1. Discretionary development located on land designated as Agricultural (see
Land Use Chapter) and identified as Prime Farmland or Farmland of Statewide
Importance on the State's Important Farmland Inventory, shall be planned and
designed to remove as little land as possible from potential agricultural
production and to minimize impacts on topsoil.
2. Hillside agricultural grading shall be regulated by the Public Works Agency
through the Hillside Erosion Control Ordinance.
3. Land Conservation Act (LCA) Contracts shall be encouraged on irtigated
farmlands and Open Space lands.
4. The Public Works Agency shall plan transportation capital improvements so
as to mitigate impacts to important farmlands to the extent feasible.
5. The County shall preserve agricultural land by retaining and expanding the
existing Greenbelt Agreements and encouraging the formation of additional
Greenbelt Agreements.
6. Discretionary development adjacent to Agricultural-designated lands shall not
conflict with agricultural use ofthose lands.

3.2 Land Use Designations

Six basic land use designations are utilized on the General Land Use Map:
Urban, Existing Community, Rural, Agricultural, Open Space, and State and
Federal Facilities. In addition, the General Land Use Map includes an overlay
designation of Urban Reserve. These designations are defined as follows:

• The Urban land use designation is utilized to depict existing and planned
urban centers which include commercial and industrial uses as well as residential
uses where the building intensity is greater than one principal dwelling unit per
two acres.
This designation has been applied to all incorporated lands within a city's

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Sphere oflnfluence as established by the Local Agency Formation Commission
(LAFCO), and unincorporated urban centers within their own Areas of Interest
which may be candidates for future incorporation.
***
• The Existing Community designation identifies existing urban
residential, commercial or industrial enclaves located outside Urban designated
areas. An Existing Community may include uses, densities, building intensities,
and zoning designations which are normally limited to Urban designated areas
but do not qualify as urban centers. This designation has been established to
recognize existing land uses in unincorporated areas which have been developed
with urban building intensities and urban land uses; to contain these enclaves
within specific areas so as to prevent further expansion; and to limit the building
intensity and land use to previously established levels. Thomas Aquinas College
is newly designated in this initiative as Existing Community, with the intention
that it be confined to its current boundaries with the understanding that it may
continue to intensify its building for its educationally related purposes.
• The Rural designation identifies areas suitable for low-density and
low-intensity land uses such as residential estates of two acres or greater parcel
size and other rural uses which are maintained in conjunction with agricultural
and horticultural uses or in conjunction with the keeping of farm animals for
recreational purposes.
The Rural designation also identifies institutional uses such as boarding
and non-boarding elementary and secondary schools. Additionally, the
designation is utilized for recreational uses such as retreats, camps, recreational
vehicle parks and campgrounds.
The designation of areas for Rural land uses is intended to accommodate
the need for low density rural residential development, which, in conjunction
with the higher density development of the Urban designated land uses, will
provide a full range of residential environments.
The areas considered for inclusion in the Rural designation are existing
clusters of rural development and areas deemed appropriate for future rural
residential development.
• The Agricultural designation is applied to iu igated lands which are
suitable for the cultivation of crops and the raising of livestock.
Because of the inherent importance of agriculture as a land use in and of
itself, agriculture is not subsumed under the Open Space land use designation,
but has been assigned a separate land use designation.
• The Open Space designation encompasses land as defined under Section
65560 of the State Government Code as any parcel or area of land or water
which is essentially unimproved and devoted to an open-space use as defined in
this section, and which is designated on a local, regional or State open-space
plan as any of the following:
o Open space for the preservation of natural resources including, but
not limited to, areas required for the preservation of plant and animal life,

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 including habitat for fish and wildlife species; areas required for ecologic
and other scientific study purposes; rivers, streams, wetlands, bays and
estuaries; and coastal beaches, lakeshores, banks of rivers and streams,
and watershed lands.
o Open space used for the managed production of resources,
including but not limited to, forest lands, rangeland, agricultural lands not
designated agricultural; areas required for recharge of groundwater
basins; bays, wetlands, estuaries, marshes, rivers and streams which are
important for the management of commercial fisheries; and areas
containing major mineral deposits, including those in short supply.
o Open space for outdoor recreation, including but not limited to,
areas of outstanding scenic, historic and cultural value; areas particularly
suited for park and recreation purposes, including access to lakeshores,
beaches, and rivers and streams; and areas which serve as links between
major recreation and open-space reservations, including utility easements,
banks of rivers and streams, trails, and scenic highway corridors.
o Open space for public health and safety, including, but not limited
to, areas which require special management or regulation because of
hazardous or special conditions such as earthquake fault zones, unstable
soil areas, flood plains, watersheds, areas presenting high fire risks, areas
required for the protection of water quality and water reservoirs and areas
required for the protection and enhancement of air quality.
• For purposes of the County General Plan, "open space" also includes the
following:
o Open space to promote the formation and continuation of cohesive
communities by defining the boundaries and by helping to prevent urban
sprawl.
o Open space to promote efficient municipal services and facilities
by confining urban development to defined development areas.

• The State or Federal Facility

***
• The Urban Reserve overlay
***
The following goals and policies apply to land use designations:

3.2.1 Goals
1. Urban:
(1) Recognize areas within the County planned for urban development which are
currently incorporated or which are candidates for future incorporation.
(2) Direct urban development to existing cities and unincorporated urban centers
within their own Area of Interest, and maintain open space between urban areas.
(3) Discourage outward expansion of urban development when suitable
developable areas exist within cities and unincorporated urban centers.

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2. Existing Community:
Recognize and confine existing urban enclaves which are outside Urban
designated areas, even though the enclaves may include uses, densities, and
zoning designations normally limited to Urban designated areas.
3. Rural:
Recognize and plan for low density rural residential and recreational
development, while preserving resources, avoiding hazards, and providing
adequate public facilities and services.
4. Agricultural:
( 1) Identify Recognize the farmlands within the County that are critical to the
maintenance of the local agricultural economy and which are important to the
State and Nation for the production of food, fiber and ornamentals.
(2) Preserve and protect agricultural lands as a nonrenewable resource to assure
their continued availability for the production of food, fiber and ornamentals.
(3) Promote the economic viability of agricultural lands by assisting
agricultural producers and establishing zoning policies that support long term
investments in agriculture.
(3-) (4)Maintain agricultural lands in parcel sizes which will assure that viable
farming units are retained.
(4:-)(5) Establish policies and regulations which resttiet encourage agricultural
land to remain in farming and related uses. rather than other development
ptuposes.
(5-)(6) Restrict the introduction of conflicting uses into farming areas.
(7) Subject to state law, the Guidelines for Orderly Development, and applicable
zoning requirements, actively promote infrastructure, sized not larger than
necessary for the specific project, for farm worker housing to support the
continuing viability of agriculture.

5. Open Space:
(1) Preserve for the benefit of all the County's residents the continued wise use
of the County's renewable and nonrenewable resources by limiting the
encroachment into such areas of uses which would unduly and prematurely
hamper or preclude the use or appreciation of such resources.
(2) Acknowledge the presence of certain hazardous features which urban
development should avoid for public health and safety reasons, as well as for the
possible loss of public improvements in these areas and the attendant financial
costs to the public.
(3) Retain open space lands in a relatively tmdeveloped non-urbanized state so
as to preserve the maximum number of future land use options.
( 4) Retain open space lands for outdoor recreational activities, parks, trails and
for scenic lands.
(5) Define urban areas by providing contrasting but complementary areas which
should be left generally ttnde~eloped non-urbanized.
(6) Recognize the intrinsic value of open space lands and not regard such lands

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as "areas waiting for urbanization."
(7) Land Conservation Act (LCA) Contracts shall be encouraged on farming and
grazing and open space lands.
(8) Support the productive agricultural activities of Open Space designated
lands that are commonly used for agriculture, grazing, and ranching and that
are important to the overall economy of Ventura County.
***
3.2.2 Policies
***
2. Existing Community:
(1) The Existing Community designation shall include existing unincorporated
urban enclaves located outside cities and unincorporated urban centers.
(2) The Existing Community designation may recognize the range of zones
present in the area, be they residential, commercial, or industrial, or otherwise as
well as the range of existing population densities and building intensities.
***
3. Rural:
(1) Lands designated Rural are those located outside areas designated Urban or
Existing Community which are deemed suitable and appropriate for low-density
rural residential or recreational development.
(2) The smallest minimum parcel size consistent with the Rural land use
designation is two acres. Subzones may require larger minimum parcel sizes.

4. Agricultural:
(1) The Agricultural land use designation shall primarily include lands which are
designated as Prime Farmlands, Farmlands of Statewide Importance or Unique
Farmlands in the State's Important Farmland Inventory (IFI), although land may
not be designated Agricultural if small areas of agricultural land are isolated
from larger blocks of farming land (in such cases, the agricultural land is
assigned to the Open Space or Rural designation of the surrounding properties).
(2) The smallest minimum parcel size consistent with the Agricultural land use
designation is 40 acres. Subzones may require larger minimum parcel sizes.
(3) Agricultural land shall be utilized for the production of food, fiber and
ornamentals; animal husbandry and care; uses accessory to agriculture and
limited temporary or public uses.

5. Open Space:
( 1) Open Space should include areas of land or water which are set aside for the
preservation of natural resources, including, but not limited to, areas required for
the preservation of plant and animal life, including habitat for fish and wildlife
species; areas required for ecologic and other scientific study purposes; rivers,
streams, bays, wetlands, and estuaries; and coastal beaches, lakeshores, banks of
rivers and streams, and important watershed lands.

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(2) Open Space should also include areas set aside for managed production of
resources, including, but not limited to, forest lands, rangeland, agricultural
lands not otherwise designated Agricultural; areas required for the recharge of
groundwater basins; bays, estuaries, marshes, rivers, and streams which are
important for the management of commercial fisheries; and areas containing
major mineral deposits, including those in short supply.

(3) Open Space should also include areas within which recreational activities
can be pursued, including, but not limited to, use and enjoyment of recreational
trails and areas for hunting and fishing. Preservation of open space also serves
to protect areas of outstanding scenic, historic, and cultural value; areas
particularly suited for park and recreation purposes, including access to
lakeshores, beaches, and rivers and streams; and areas which serve as links
between major recreation and open space reservations, including utility
easements, banks of rivers and streams, trails, and scenic highway corridors.

( 4) Open Space should also include areas of land or water which are set aside for
public health and safety, thereby safeguarding humans and property from certain
natural hazards, including, but not limited to, areas which require special
management or regulation because of hazardous or special conditions such as
earthquake fault zones, unstable soil areas, flood plains, watersheds, areas
presenting high fire risks, areas required for the protection of water quality and
water reservoirs, and areas required for the protection and enhancement of air
quality.

(5) Open Space should also include undeveloped natural areas surrounding urban
designated areas which have been set aside to define the boundaries of the
urban-designated areas, to prevent urban sprawl, and to promote efficient
municipal services and facilities by confining the areas of urban development.

(6) The smallest minimum parcel size consistent with the Open Space land use
category is 10 acres. Subzones may require larger minimum parcel sizes.

(7) The minimum parcel size for Open Space properties contiguous with the
Agricultural land use designation shall be 20 acres.

Section 3. Implementation.

A. Upon the effective date of this initiative, the General Plan Amendment
shall be deemed inserted in the Ventura County General Plan, Goals, Policies
and Programs document as an amendment thereof; except, that if the four
amendments of the mandatory elements of the general plan permitted by state
law for any given calendar year have already been utilized in 2016, prior to the
effective date of this initiative, this General Plan amendment shall be deemed

Page 14 of 17
inserted in the County General Plan on the first day of January of the following
calendar year.

B. The provisions of this General Plan Amendment shall prevail over any
conflicting revisions to the County of Ventura's General Plan as amended
through the date of this initiative, or to the County of Ventura's "General Land
Use Maps" as amended through the date of this initiative which conflict with the
initiative. The County of Ventura is hereby authorized and directed to amend the
Ventura County General Plan, all specific plans, the Ventura County Zoning
Ordinance, the Ventura County Land Use and related zoning maps and other
ordinances and policies affected by this initiative as soon as possible and in the
manner and time required by any applicable state law, to ensure consistency
between the policies adopted in this initiative and other elements of the Ventura
County General Plan, all specific plans, the Ventura County Zoning Ordinance,
the Ventura County Land Use and related zoning maps and other ordinances and
policies. Upon the adoption date all General Plan amendments, rezonings,
specific plans, tentative or final subdivision maps, parcel maps, conditional use
permits, building permits or other ministerial or discretionary entitlements for
use not yet approved or issued shall not be approved or issued unless consistent
with the policies and provisions of this initiative. Other than for the exceptions
provided herein, upon the effective date of this General Plan Amendment, the
County and its departments, boards, commissions, officers and employees shall
not grant, or by inaction allow to be approved by operation of law, any general
plan amendment, rezoning, specific plan, subdivision map, conditional use
permit, building permit or any other ministerial or discretionary entitlement,
which is inconsistent with the purposes of this General Plan Amendment unless
in accordance with the provisions of this General Plan Amendment.

C. The date that the notice of intention to circulate this initiative

measure was submitted to the elections official ofthe County of Ventura is
deemed the "submittal date." The County General Plan in effect on the
submittal date and the General Plan as amended by this initiative comprise an
integrated, internally consistent and compatible statement ofpolicies for the
County of Ventura. In order to ensure that nothing in this initiative measure
would prevent the County of Ventura General Plan from being an integrated,
internally consistent and compatible statement of the policies of the County, as
required by state law, and to ensure that the actions of the voters in enacting
this initiative are given effect, any amendment to the General Plan that is
adopted between the submittal date and the date that the General Plan is
amended by this initiative measure shall, to the extent that such interim-enacted
provision is inconsistent with the General Plan provisions adopted by Section 2
of this initiative measure, be amended as soon as possible and in the manner and
time required by state law to ensure consistency between the provisions adopted
by this initiative and other elements of the Ventura County General Plan.

Page 15 of 17
Section 4. Exemptions for Certain Projects.
This General Plan Amendment initiative shall not apply to or affect the
following:
A. Any project which has acquired any of the following:
i. A vested right pursuant to state or local law;
ii. A validly approved and fully executed development agreement
with County; or,
iii. Approval of a vesting tentative map.
B. This initiative shall not be interpreted to apply to any land or use that,
under state or federal law, is beyond the power of the local voters to affect by
the initiative power reserved to the people via the California Constitution.
Nothing in this Initiative shall be applied to preclude the County's compliance
with state laws governing second units or the use of density bonuses where
authorized by state law.

Section 5. Severability.
This measure shall be interpreted so as to be consistent with all federal and state
laws, rules, and regulations. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase,
part, or portion of this measure is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a final
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the
validity of the remaining portions of this measure. The voters hereby declare that
this measure, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, part, or
portion thereof would have been adopted or passed even if one or more sections,
sub-sections, sentences, clauses, phrases, parts, or portions are declared invalid
or unconstitutional. If any provision of this initiative is declared invalid as
applied to any person or circumstance, such invalidity shall not affect any
application of this measure that can be given effect without the invalid
application. This initiative shall be broadly construed in order to achieve the
purposes stated in this initiative. It is the intent of the voters that the provisions
of this measure shall be interpreted by the County and others in a manner that
facilitates the confinement of urban uses thereby protecting and promoting
agricultural, open space and rural lands, and preventing urban sprawl for the
duration of the Ordinance.

Section 6. Amendment or Repeal.

Until December 31, Zf)Zf}-2050, this General Plan Amendment initiative may be
amended or repealed only by the voters at a general a County-wide election.

Page 16 of 17
I:\R-S-T-U\SOAR\2016A\2016\County\FINAL.wpd

Page 17 of 17
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