§ 22.94.080. Salinas River Sub-area Standards.

All development and new land uses in the Salinas River Sub-area, as shown on Figure 94-2, shall comply with the following standards, where applicable.

A.

Santa Lucia Mountains Coordination of land divisions. Proposed discretionary permits and land divisions within the area in the Santa Lucia Mountains shown in Figure 94-33 shall be referred by the County to the U.S. Forest Service for review and comment.

Figure 94-33: Santa Lucia Mountains - Rural

B.

Planning impact areas. The following standards apply within the planning impact areas of the cities of Paso Robles and Atascadero, shown in Figures 94-34 and 94-35. These areas are not intended to be considered as a basis for annexation or establishing spheres of influence.

1.

Application referral. Discretionary permit, General Plan Amendment and Ordinance Amendment applications shall be referred to the cities of El Paso de Robles or Atascadero, as applicable, for review and comment prior to approval.

2.

Development impacts. Discretionary projects with potential impacts that are associated with and that include, but are not limited to, water quantity and quality, drainage, erosion and sedimentation, traffic and circulation and cumulative impacts, shall be addressed as subjects for additional review as part of the environmental review process.

3.

Consistency with City Plans. Improvements and/or offers of dedication consistent with City plans shall be considered and may be required for projects depending on the location, scale of the proposed development and an appropriate and feasible connection between the proposed development and the improvement.

Figure 94-34: Atascadero Planning Impact Area

Figure 94-35: Paso Robles Planning Impact Area

C.

Open space preservation. The following standards apply to land where important physical, biological, visual or historic resources are identified both on-site and on adjacent properties, to offer incentives and encourage such measures as cluster land divisions that will leave such resources in permanent open space.

Guideline: New land divisions should retain land in open space that will preserve oak woodlands, riparian and other important biological habitats, physical landmarks, prime agricultural, visual and historic areas.

1.

Cluster land division incentive. Cluster divisions of land may utilize an open space parcel area that is smaller than otherwise required by Chapter 22.22 where an important biological habitat, riparian creek corridor, scenic site or historic place is identified through the application's review process. The size of the open space area may be determined by a biological, visual or other applicable analysis of the area in question. The analysis shall identify the area necessary to maintain open space or to preserve the features of the applicable resource while not impeding its natural function.

2.

Lot Line Adjustments. In cases where land that is intended for development includes more than one legal lot, the lot lines may be adjusted to concentrate development in suitable areas and leave other areas undeveloped and subject to open space or conservation easements.

D.

Salinas River resource protection. Within the Salinas River floodplain as defined by the Flood Hazard combining designation shown on the official maps in both rural and urban areas, discretionary permits and land divisions shall protect the habitats and resource integrity of the floodplain. Development shall be designed and located to protect the river as a water resource and to maintain the natural features and habitats within the floodplain.

E.

Prime agricultural areas - Prime soils retention. New development on land that is classified by the Soil Conservation Service as prime, Class I or II soil if irrigated, shall be designed to minimize the loss of prime agricultural soils for potential agricultural use by selective placement of buildings and new parcels.

F.

Other land of agricultural value - Soils retention. New development on land that has existing agricultural production or that is classified by the Soil Conservation Service as Class III and IV soils shall be designed to minimize the loss of soils for potential agricultural use by selective placement of buildings and new parcels.

[Amended 2014, Ord. 3256]