Title
REF180021 - OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION ZONING OVERLAY WORKSHOP
Public Workshop to consider and make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors regarding options for developing zoning regulations to delineate whether and where to prohibit new oil and gas exploration in Monterey County.
Project Location: County Wide
Proposed CEQA Action: Statutorily Exempt per section 15262 of the CEQA Guidelines.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Planning Commission:
a. Find that consideration of options for zoning is a feasibility or planning study for possible future actions the commission has not approved, which qualifies for a Statutory Exemption per Section 15262 of the CEQA Guidelines;
b. Consider Board Referral No. 2018.15 regarding zoning changes to prohibit drilling for oil and gas north of King City;
c. Receive a report on possible options for zoning overlays in Monterey County that would delineate where future oil and gas exploration may be permitted/prohibited;
d. Recommend that the Board direct staff to prepare a zoning ordinance for Option 4, representing a combination of BOS referral area south of King City (Option 1) with existing permit parcel boundaries (Option 2).
PROJECT INFORMATION:
Planning File Number: REF180021
Project Location: County wide
SUMMARY:
On November 8, 2016, Monterey County voters adopted Measure Z, an initiative measure that prohibited land uses in support of well stimulation in oil and gas production or recovery, including hydraulic fracturing (fracking) (the so-called "fracking ban"), prohibited land uses in support of oil and gas wastewater injection and impoundment subject to an amortization period, and prohibited the drilling of new oil and gas wells in the County's unincorporated areas. It also authorized the Monterey County Board of Supervisors to adopt ordinances to implement Measure Z. Litigation was filed challenging Measure Z. On January 25, 2018, the Superior Court issued a Final Statement of Deci...
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