It is hereby found and determined as follows:
(A) Permanent loss of productive agricultural land. The county possesses significant prime agricultural lands. Such agricultural lands are a local, state and national resource, which should be preserved for future generations. Historically, agriculture has been, and remains today, the leading industry in the county. Agricultural land is being lost to development, and the continued viability of commercial agriculture in San Benito County is threatened by inappropriately placed development.
(B) Cost of growth in rural areas. When new development takes place in rural rather than urbanized areas, the cost to tax payers to provide services and infrastructure is magnified. Resources such as law enforcement and fire protection are spread over a larger geographic area. The cost of extending and maintaining roads and utilities increases. Development in rural areas affects ground water quality and increases the need to construct and manage new and separate wastewater disposal facilities.
(C) Continued growth. Population growth and development must address the issues of loss of agricultural resources, ability to maintain and improve roads, lack of timely response to police and fire emergencies, and groundwater quality.
(D) Steps must be taken to preserve San Benito County's rural character, open space, historic and scenic areas, to ensure growth in an orderly and deliberate pace, and to allow the county to delineate areas where new development should and should not occur. Otherwise, current five acre zoning of prime agricultural land will likely result in its conversion to large lot residential uses.
(Ord. 865, § 1 (part), 2010)