San Juan Capistrano : Farmer in Urban Setting Asking to Build Houses

A farmer who is prevented from using his land for anything but crops is asking the City Council for permission to build houses on it.

Shig Kinoshita, who currently grows corn, tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries and other produce on his 58 acres, is prohibited by the city’s general plan from using his land for anything but farming.

Tonight he is scheduled to ask the City Council for an amendment to the general plan that would allow up to five residential units per acre on his property, which is located on the northwest corner of Camino del Avion and Alipaz Street.

Historically, the city has taken a dim view of rezoning farmland. In all, 220 acres in the area owned by various farmers are zoned for agricultural use only, said Tom Tomlinson, senior planner.

In 1976, the council asked voters whether the city should pursue the preservation of agricultural land and whether the city should spend tax dollars toward that goal. In a mixed response, residents voted for preserving the land but voted against spending tax dollars.

After the vote, the council designated the 220 acres for farming.

In 1978, the affected property owners placed an initiative before voters that asked whether the land should be rezoned for residential uses. Voters defeated the measure by a margin of more than 2 to 1, Tomlinson said.

Although other property owners are barred from developing their land, too, Kinoshita is the first to ask the council for a formal general plan amendment, Tomlinson said.