Solano County approve 2 mile dairy buffers

Article Launched: 05/26/2005 07:40:44 AM

Supes approve dairy buffers

By Jason Massad/Staff Writer


With little fanfare, a long-standing debate over the future of the county's megadairies concluded quietly Tuesday when Solano County supervisors passed a final reading on new regulations.
In contrast to the years of debate over the issue, supervisors passed the ordinances as part of the consent calender, meaning there was no discussion, officials said.

The far-reaching restrictions run the gamut from how much manure can be used on dairy farmland to a system of buffers that would keep large-scale facilities involving animals away from cities.

The restrictions would also create a two-mile buffer around a soon-to-be built Veterans Affairs cemetery between Dixon and Vacaville.

While supervisors did not debate the issue Tuesday, a representative of Borges and Machado, which hopes to establish a large dairy operation near Pitt School and

Weber roads was present to complain about the county's regulations.
The three-mile buffer zones established around Dixon and Vacaville, as well as the buffer around the cemetery, could thwart the Borges and Machado plans.
Supervisor Mike Reagan said the 11th-hour complaint involving the Borges and Machado proposal could presage a future lawsuit.
Jason Massad can be reached at county@thereporter.com.