2 weeks Ago By Todd R. Hansen
FAIRFIELD — The Solano County supervisors on Tuesday could not come to an agreement on what percentage of "local agriculture products" should be required at area farm stands. In fact, it could not agree on what constitutes "local agricultural products." The county staff had recommended 25% for the Suisun Valley special zoning district, 50% for all others, expect those stands that exceed 2,500-square-feet.
They would be exempt from any percentage requirement as they require a minor use permit. The discussion was part of proposed text changes to the county zoning ordinance. The board did agree to expand the role of the county surveyor on reviewing land-use projects; removed part of the code to defer to state law on private road maintenance agreements; and removed a section on ag accessory buildings from the area of the code on residential structures.
But the farm stand language continues to be an issue, and will come back to the board with what will be a fifth rendition. If substantial changes are made, that section may have to go back to the Planning Commission for review. The Planning Commission and the Airport Land Use Commission both signed off on the staff proposal.
Supervisor Wanda Williams wants to see a minimum of 25% of local products at all farm stands across the county, taking the lead from the Solano County Farm Bureau and the Suisun Valley Vintners and Growers Association. Cliff Howard, president of the Farm Bureau and owner of Tolenas Winery in Suisun Valley, said the organization could not support language that does not promote local ag products, referring to the exemption for larger farm stands. Lisa Howard, representing the vintners and Larry's Produce Stand – the largest stand in the county – said the 25% requirement works for them.
She is Cliff Howard's wife and co-owner of Tolenas. However, even the definition of what is local proved to be a stumbling block. Some of the language refers to products grown on the land where the stand is located, or other Solano County land owned or leased by the stand owner.
Wine and other products are not grown, so where do they fit in? Still others think any ag product produced in Solano County, regardless of stand ownership, fits the definition. Still others prefer a more regional description, such as neighboring or nearby counties. Supervisor Monica Brown was OK with that as long as those counties are not too far away.
She also wondered if a local grower has land in Mendocino County and produces wine there, is that considered local because that person is in Solano County? Board Chairman Mitch Mashburn has the broadest definition. He thinks any product from someone who has a partnership with a Solano County farmer or rancher should be part of that local definition, too, as well as the locally grown and regional ties. A facility like Pedrick Produce in Dixon creates its own kind of issue.
Generally speaking, the board members do not view Pedrick as a farm stand, but rather a produce market and requires its own zoning designation and regulations. Supervisor John Vasquez noted that Pedrick is located in a commercial-highway zone and not in an ag zone, and therefore should not be subject to the same farm stand rules since a Walmart could be built on that Sievers Road site and sell whatever it wants..
