Making Agriculture Work: Planning to Protect Quality of Life

For over a century Green Valley, like neighboring Suisun Valley, was well known for the abundance and variety of its orchards and row crops. The ideal growing conditions that contributed to a thriving agricultural economy – good soils, moderate climate, and plentiful water – remain in place.   During the past few decades, the rich agricultural valleys of Solano County were subject to the same forces that threatened farming regions throughout the state; the economic pressures of farming in sprawling urban areas and competing in a global marketplace for food products.  Access to flavorful, fresh local food and awareness about one’s local foodshed are once again becoming synonymous with quality of life and with community health. Local artisan grown food is currently the fastest growing segment in the food industry, but the industry needs help if is to grow beyond an exclusive boutique offering to select communities.

History – A county-led process to preserve agriculture

As part of the updated 2008 General Plan, the Solano County Board of Supervisors proposed a Specific Plan process for this part of Green Valley to try to resolve the long-standing conflicts over open space desired by neighbors and development rights desired by landowners. The landowners of Middle Green Valley had been under substantial pressure to preserve the rural culture of the region, even as the basic economics of agriculture eroded the financial viability of their lands. Many of the landowners, some whose families have cultivated the land for more than 150 years, wished to realize the development value of their land while at the same time maintain the integrity of the open space, agricultural productivity and farming legacy of Green Valley.

The 2008 General Plan, with landowner and neighbor support in Green Valley passed with a 65% voter approval in November 2008. In January of 2009, the County appointed a consultant team to work with a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) that consisted of equal numbers of landowners and nearby residents. Their joint task was to produce a community plan that met the goals and policies for Middle Green Valley set forth by the General Plan.

A short documentary of the history of the Middle Green Valley Specific Plan process can be found here:  "Something to Save"