"Purple Belt" Agricultural Preservation Plan

City of Paso Robles, as a subconsultant to Economic and Planning Systems.

Agriculture is an integral part of both the history and the present-day economy of the Paso Robles region, with thousands of acres of vineyards, cattle ranches and other agricultural crops surrounding the City.  In order to safeguard these valuable resources, the City’s 2003 General Plan established the concept of a “Purple Belt” that will allow continued growth while retaining Paso Robles’ rural character and preserving the city’s charm and sense of community.  The Agricultural Preservation Plan is the next step in creating the Purple Belt.  DC&E’s role on the project included working with farmers, ranchers, landowners and the County to develop consensus on the best approach to agricultural preservation, as well as developing acquisition guidelines and criteria for land in the proposed Purple Belt.  The final Plan included both an Implementation Toolkit presenting a broad range of landowner incentives, funding mechanisms, and conservation partnerships, as well as an Action Plan that lays out concrete tools, policies, and next steps to implement the Purple Belt.  The Agricultural Preservation Plan enables Paso Robles to preserve the economic, aesthetic and social benefits of its farming and ranching heritage.