DATE:
May 24, 2023
05
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
MULTIPLE SPECIES CONSERVATION PROGRAM (MSCP) CONSISTENCY REVIEW AGREEMENT FOR MAR VISTA ISLAND ANNEXATION AND ASSOCIATED EXEMPTION TO THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) (DISTRICTS: 5)
Body
OVERVIEW
This is a request for the Board of Supervisors (Board) to consider approving the Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) Consistency Review Agreement (CRA) between the County of San Diego (County), City of Vista (City), United States Fish & Wildlife Service (Service), and California Department of Fish & Wildlife (Department). The MSCP is a program that provides a large, connected preserve within the unincorporated area to help better protect rare, threatened and endangered species as development occurs. This program allows for important conservation land to be set aside for future management as new recreation, agriculture, and development occurs, achieving both environmental and economic benefits for the region. The CRA ensures the Mar Vista Island Annexation (Annexation) will not jeopardize the buildout of the Draft North County MSCP Priority Conservation Area (PCA) or compromise viable habitat linkages within the PCA. The PCA is the area in which mitigation and conservation are anticipated to occur and has been identified as having the highest biological value and best areas to assemble a habitat preserve.
The Annexation consists of two non-contiguous islands within the City's sphere of influence that will be annexed from the unincorporated area into the City. The area to be annexed is fully developed with primarily single-family homes and does not include any undisturbed areas that could qualify as conservation lands. The Annexation application submitted by the City was conditionally approved on November 7, 2022 by the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). LAFCO is a commission made up of appointed elected officials and public members that are responsible f...
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