Statistics

Losing Farmland

● 2.1 million acres of CA farmland converted to urban residential uses between 1982-2007. NRCS 2007 National Resource Inventory http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/NRI/2007/2007_NRI_Summary.pdf

● An additional 2.5 million acres will be lost by 2040. UC Agricultural Issues Center – “Farmland Conversion:
Perception and Realities” http://aic.ucdavis.edu/oa/brief16.pdf

● Losing small farms (50-179 acres) the fastest. US Census Data

Jobs

● Agriculture supports 35% of Merced County’s jobs (that’s 14,000). Merced County Profile, California Dept. of Finance http://www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/FS_DATA/profiles/pf_home.php

● Constriction supported only 3,800 jobs (4%) at the height of the boom in 2006. Merced County Profile, California Dept. of Finance http://www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/FS_DATA/profiles/pf_home.php

○ Constriction declined back to 1,600 jobs after the housing downturn

● Houses are a “one-time harvest”.

○ Ag jobs 2009-2010: +8.5% (+1,100 jobs) Economic Development Dept. – Industry Employment Official
Estimates – Merced County http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/?pageid=1014

○ Construction 2009-2010: -23.5% (-400 jobs) Economic Development Dept. – Industry Employment Official
Estimates – Merced County http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/?pageid=1014

Water

● Merced County generally does not have adequate water available to accommodate
planned residential growth during the timeframe of this Housing Element (to June
30, 2013). Merced County Draft Housing Element, Figure 5-2: Housing Unit Growth, Table 5-44: Inventoried Capacity for Vacant,
Unincorporated Sites

Citizen Input ignored:

● Results of Citizen Workshops for the General Plan. Merced County General Plan: Issues & Opportunies Report http://www.co.merced.ca.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=782

○ #1 Community Asset: Agriculture
○ #1 Community Problem: Too much growth, agricultural land conversion, poor
infrastructure

● Alternative D was chosen by County Supervisors instead of Alternative E. This plan
features a “New Town Emphasis”, against citizen input given in General Plan process.
(15% in cities, 72% in new towns) “No Decision Yet on Merced County’s General Plan” – Danielle E. Gaines – Jan. 11, 2010 http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2009/11/11/1164457/no-decision-yet-on-merced-countys.html

● Alternative E was clearly favored by citizen input during the General Plan process.
This plan features “Resource Protection/ Infrastructure Availability/Increased
Residential Densities.” (60% in cities, 23% in new towns) “No Decision Yet on Merced County’s General Plan” -
Danielle E. Gaines – Jan. 11, 2010 http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2009/11/11/1164457/no-decision-yet-on-merced-countys.html

Surplus of homes and vacant land

● 24,000 foreclosures in Merced County between June 2007 and May 2009. Merced County Draft Housing Element, Page 5-12,
http://www.co.merced.ca.us/documents/Planning_and_Community_Development/General_Plan/Documents_Maps/mcheu_completedrafthousingelement_2010_05_13_2.PDF

● 22,000 units of excess residential capacity in unincorporated areas and communities of Merced County before the foreclosure crisis. (Merced County Housing Element) Merced County Draft Housing Element, Table 5-50
http://www.co.merced.ca.us/documents/Planning_and_Community_Development/General_Plan/Documents_Maps/mcheu_completedrafthousingelement_2010_05_13_2.PDF

Available: MCAG – RHNA – Regional Housing Needs Assessment http://www.mcagov.org/publications/trans/2008/RHNA2008.pdf

○ 19,885 units available for low-density housing on 5,778 acres of residential
zoned land.

○ 8,042 units available in new communities: Villages of San Luis, UCM, Fox
Hills.

○ 1,991 units available on “vacant” lots in unincorporated communities.

○ 1,008 units of “farmworker” housing projected based on historical data.

Need found:

○ MCAG’s RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Assessment) found that 8,675 housing units needed for Unincorporated Merced County area by June 30, 2014. MCAG -RHNA – Regional Housing Needs Assessment http://www.mcagov.org/publications/trans/2008/RHNA2008.pdf

■ HCD determined regional housing need (Aug. 31, 2007)
■ MCAG accepted HCD’s determination (Nov. 29, 2007)

● 11,000 acres of assessor-coded “vacant” land in Merced County.
○ 6,000 acres is located within SUDPs of cities and unincorporated
communities.

Farmland and commercial land provide economic benefits. Unincorporated
residential, on the other hand, is taxpayer-subsidized to provide services.