A landowner or group of landowners may petition the board to rescind a contract or contracts entered into pursuant to this chapter in order to simultaneously place the land subject to that contract or those contracts under a new contract designating the property as a farmland security zone. A landowner or group of landowners may also petition the board to create a farmland security zone for the purpose of entering into farmland security zone contracts pursuant to this section.
(a) Before approving the rescission of a contract or contracts entered into pursuant to this chapter in order to simultaneously place the land under a new farmland security zone contract, the board shall create a farmland security zone, pursuant to the requirements of Section 51230, within an existing agricultural preserve.
(b) No land shall be included in a farmland security zone unless expressly requested by the landowner. Any land located within a city’s sphere of influence shall not be included within a farmland security zone, unless the creation of the farmland security zone within the sphere of influence has been expressly approved by resolution by the city with jurisdiction within the sphere of influence.
(c) If more than one landowner requests the creation of a farmland security zone and the parcels are contiguous, the county shall place those parcels in the same farmland security zone.
(d) A contract entered into pursuant to this section shall be for an initial term of no less than 20 years. Each contract shall provide that on the anniversary date of the contract or on another annual date as specified by the contract, a year shall be added automatically to the initial term unless a notice of nonrenewal is given pursuant to Section 51245.
(e) Upon termination of a farmland security zone contract, the farmland security zone designation for that parcel shall simultaneously be terminated.
(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 506, Sec. 23. Effective January 1, 2001.)