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Lodi looking for path toward agriculture belt
The city of Lodi has hit some roadblocks in its effort to rezone an area south of the city to create an ag belt or community separator between Lodi and Stockton.
The Lodi City Council will decide at its meeting Wednesday the best way to continue with the ag belt plan.
The council voted in November to pay up to $500,000 to get an area around Armstrong Road, between Highway 99 and Interstate 5, rezoned by the county.
San Joaquin County then decided in April that Lodi must pay additional fees for the county's staff time, which is a 26.5 percent charge for the Environmental Impact Report and a 35 percent charge for the specific rezoning plan. The city had expected the county to split the administrative costs, City Manager Blair King said at the April meeting.
The county will most likely hire Augustine Planning Consultants as the consultants at $366,000 to complete the EIR and the plan. With the additional county charges, the total will be $488,108.
The county is also requiring the city to obtain written permission from all of the property owners to act as their "authorized agent." City staff is concerned that not all of the land owners will agree to allowing the city to represent them, said Jeff Hood, city spokesman.
A couple weeks ago, property owners in the area met to discuss the proposals, but they had not come to a conclusion on the best way to proceed, said Bruce Fry of Mohr-Fry Ranch.
City staff has outlined four options for the council to consider, but did not make a recommendation on which one the staff favors:
Contact reporter Maggie Creamer at maggiec@lodinews.com or read her blog at www.lodinews.com/blog/citybuzz.
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sam wrote on Jul 17, 2009 2:11 PM:
And madman... I second that. "
Madman wrote on Jul 16, 2009 5:50 PM:
Cogito wrote on Jul 15, 2009 9:37 PM:
OTH wrote on Jul 15, 2009 7:23 PM:
Lodi you have no money. None,zero,nada, jilch. Maybe Ms Hitchcock and her husband would like to dig into there personal fortune. The land is not yours. Leave the farmers alone. I'm not sure you care but you are one of the most hated people in this county. "
TiredTaxpayer wrote on Jul 15, 2009 5:06 PM:
sam wrote on Jul 15, 2009 3:57 PM:
I would not sell my land for less than $100,00 an acre. 10 acres just went for $1 million and 6 acres just went for $1.4 million.
That is $370 million. Think Lodi will pay?
Let's be ridiculous and pretend we will let them have it for $20,000 an acre... That is $74 million.
So if Lodi can find 50,000 Lodians willing to pay $1.5 million a piece by golly I think Lodi can buy their greenbelt. "
wtf wrote on Jul 15, 2009 1:19 PM:
Kind of figured that. ;) But, I did ask what you would want done and you gave me your answer. LOL! "
sam wrote on Jul 15, 2009 11:36 AM:
sam wrote on Jul 15, 2009 11:25 AM:
sam wrote on Jul 15, 2009 11:24 AM:
If Lodi has this NEED to control the farmland out here, it is simple. Raise your city taxes and start buying up the farmland and do what you want with it.
In the meantime, Lodi CC has no say.
Why do you think the county is putting it all on Lodi? They are making sure all future litigations that result from this plan go to Lodi only. "
Observer wrote on Jul 15, 2009 11:22 AM:
sam wrote on Jul 15, 2009 11:21 AM:
When the farmland is ruined by the 2 cities encroachment, then add the hotels, strip malls, B&Bs, etc. Why cut up great farmland now.
With the both Stockton and Lodi publishing a 30 general plan, I feel safe. As a farmer I actually am more worried about Lodi's growth south
than Stockton's growth north. "
sam wrote on Jul 15, 2009 11:20 AM:
A while back we, the landowners, were told to come up with a greenbelt plan "or else". After many years and dollars spent on great attorneys, we learned Lodi has no right to threaten us with an "or else."
You want this area to remain viable ag land quit paving up to our back doors.... quit growing south. "
wtf wrote on Jul 15, 2009 10:58 AM:
sam wrote on Jul 15, 2009 9:31 AM:
sam wrote on Jul 15, 2009 9:30 AM:
If Lodi would quit growing south it could remain green. Lodi CC loves to blame Stockton, but still insists on growing south.
The 5 acre plan would add more houses, B&Bs, and hotels.. etc. Lodi CC wants a divider... they do NOT want to preserve the farms.
Listen to Suzy... "more wineries, B&B's, hotels, Tourist destinations, etc." "
wtf wrote on Jul 15, 2009 9:17 AM:
"Nickolas and Dolores Spanos of Lodi received the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors' blessing on Tuesday afternoon to rezone the land at the northeast corner of Victor Road and Highway 88 from general agriculture to freeway service commercial."
However, I am concerned that this is the future of our ag land. "
wtf wrote on Jul 15, 2009 9:14 AM:
wtf wrote on Jul 15, 2009 9:14 AM:
CC the people of Lodi do NOT have that kind of money to throw around to "consultants"....especially when you're trying to act as an agent for people who do not want you. "
lodidian wrote on Jul 15, 2009 8:55 AM:
I like option four. Who knows maybe the city of Stockton would be willing to write a letter of agreement stating their intent not to build North.
PLEASE---cc do your homework---represent the people---stop the pet projects of a few members. "
Madman wrote on Jul 15, 2009 8:27 AM:
Otherwise leave us alone.
You guys cannot even manage your own affairs. What makes you think we want you to control our land and our businesses? "
sam wrote on Jul 15, 2009 8:05 AM:
This next $500,000 again buys Lodi nothing. Ever wonder why the county is making it so hard for Lodi? They know the landowners do NOT want it.
Splitting the land up and adding HUNDREDS of houses out here is going to preserve agriculture how?
Hitchcock made it very clear to us. She does NOT care about preserving our farm businesses... she just wants a divider.
Yeah, I will be first in line to sign giving Lodi the right to represent my land... NOT. "
Observer wrote on Jul 15, 2009 7:54 AM:
al da long wrote on Jul 15, 2009 7:52 AM:
The city doesn'have $500k to waste! "
jramagic wrote on Jul 15, 2009 7:37 AM:
Not to mention the Pollution, Congestion and likely social decay that will accompany it! Enoough is enough!!! "
Comments on this story are now closed.