San Juan Capsitrano : Council Will Study Plan for Developing Farmland

Postponing a vote on whether to allow development on Kinoshita Farms, the City Council this week instead named a committee to study the idea.

Shig Kinoshita had requested an amendment to the city’s general plan that would allow him to build up to five residential units per acre on his property. But, Kinoshita told the council, he is unsure what he wants to do with the land.

“Mr. Kinoshita doesn’t know what he wants to use the land for, (but) he doesn’t want a farm,” said Thomas G. Merrell, community planning and developing director. “He wants to have the city change the existing designation. Before a change is made, we have to know what we’re changing it to.”

Merrell said that members of the committee, which include Councilman Anthony Bland, Planning Commissioner Ed Moore and City Manager Stephen B. Julian, will meet with Kinoshita and report to the council in May.

Kinoshita, who owns 58 acres on the northwest corner of Camino del Avion and Alipaz Street, is one of several farmers on 220 acres of land zoned only for agriculture.

“The land selected for permanent agriculture is considered a rare and precious coastal resource,” Merrell said. “The combination of climate and class-one soil makes it a valuable environmental resource,” he said.

But Kinoshita said Wednesday, “Economically, it is not feasible to keep farming. Four families (all related) living on 58 acres is hard. We have to plan for the future and for retirement.”