Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Executive
Subject: Acceptance of Conservation Easement, 1551 Crystal Springs Road, within the unincorporated area of San Mateo County
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing:
A) The Board of Supervisors to accept a Grant of Conservation Easement pertaining to the property located at 1551 Crystal Springs Road, Hillsborough, within the unincorporated area of San Mateo County; and
B) The President of the Board to execute the certificate of acceptance thereof, for and on behalf of the County.
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BACKGROUND:
The project site, originally an approximate 60-acre parcel, is located at 1551 Crystal Springs Road within the unincorporated area of San Mateo County, (Assessor’s Parcel Number 038-131-110), adjacent to the Town of Hillsborough, and is bounded to the west by Crystal Springs Road, to the southwest by Polhemus Road and to the northeast by Parrott Drive.
The property owner, Z Enterprises LP, (“Owner”) submitted a proposal to the County of San Mateo Planning Commission (Commission) to subdivide the project site to create three new parcels, retaining one existing parcel with a single-family dwelling and a 48,234 square foot protected conservation easement area.
The Subdivision was reviewed by Planning staff with respect to the 1992 County Subdivision Regulations, and was originally deemed complete under these regulations. The County’s Building Inspection Section, Environmental Health Services, Geotechnical Engineer, Department of Public Works, Crystal Springs Sanitary District, and Cal-Fire reviewed and provided approval of the project.
Section 8.134.100 of the San Mateo County Ordinance, (“County Ordinance”) requires, after any land division of lands zoned Resource Management, that the owner of the divided land grant to the County, and that the County accept, a conservation easement, containing a covenant running with the land in perpetuity, which limits the use of the land covered by the easement to uses consistent with open space as defined in the California Open Space Lands Act of 1972.
In 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved the subdivision subject to conditions of approval including the proposed establishment of a conservation easement and compliance with development criteria that encourage clustering of development to retain the natural characteristics of the land.
DISCUSSION:
In fulfillment of the requirements of the County Ordinance, Owner wishes to grant to County a conservation easement area.
The Grant Deed of Conservation Easement will be recorded upon Board approval. By its terms, acceptance of the Grant Deed by the County will ensure that this conservation easement is protected in perpetuity.
San Mateo County Planning Department staff is requesting that the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors agree to accept the conservation easement.
The County Attorney’s Office has approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Acceptance of the conservation easement is not expected to have a fiscal impact on the County.