Use Permit PLN180013: OWNER/APPLICANT:  Tanimura & Antle / Avila Construction.   APN:  016-090-018.  LOCATION: 1298 Orchard Road.  REQUEST:  To construct a mechanized vegetable transplant nursery on 96.47 acres, in six separate phases over six years, consisting of greenhouses and related facilities with about 100,000sf of office, storage & maintenance areas, 700,000sf of greenhouses, and 500,000sf of outdoor growing and work areas.  GENERAL PLAN: Agriculture.  ZONING: Agricultural Productive (AP).  ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION: Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration.  PLANNER: Richard Felsing (rfelsing@cosb.us)

The proposed facility would speed the transplant process from germination to seedling to transplantation to regional farm fields through a mechanized 'planttape' technology that reduces labor and time costs. The 96.47-acre site lies west of Orchard Road, and hosted greenhouses for several decades in the 1970s and 1980s, and has been intensively cultivated as early as the 1930s. A 50; riparian corridor buffers Pacheco Creek, and site design incorporates natural flow and vegetated bioswales to treat nonpoint runoff and direct effluent flows into detention basins. 

Staff recommends the Planning Commission approve Use Permit PLN 180013 and adopt the draft Resolution findings, standard and special conditions of approval, and mitigation measures, consistent with the County of San Benito General Plan and Zoning Ordinances.