No grant of an open-space easement shall be accepted by a city or county, unless the governing body, by resolution, finds:
(a) That the preservation of the land as open space is consistent with the general plan of the city and county; and
(b) That the preservation of the land as open space is in the best interest of the state, county, or city and is important to the public for the enjoyment of scenic beauty, for the use of natural resources, for recreation, or for the production of food or fiber and specifically because one or more of the following reasons exist:
(1) It is likely that at some time the public may acquire the land for a park or other public use.
(2) The land is unimproved and has scenic value to the public as viewed from a public highway or from public or private buildings.
(3) The retention of the land as open space will add to the amenities of living in adjoining or neighboring urbanized areas.
(4) The land lies in an area which in the public interest should remain rural in character and the retention of the land as open space will help preserve the rural character of the area.
(5) It is in the public interest that the land remain in its natural state, including the trees and other natural growth, as a means of preventing floods or because of its value as watershed.
(6) The land lies within an established scenic highway corridor.
(7) The land is valuable to the public as a wildlife preserve or sanctuary and the instrument contains appropriate covenants to that end.
(8) The public interest will otherwise be served in a manner recited in the resolution and consistent with the purposes of this subdivision and Article XXVIII of the Constitution of the State of California.
The resolution of the governing body shall establish a conclusive presumption that the conditions set forth in subdivisions (a) and (b) have been satisfied.
(Added by Stats. 1969, Ch. 762.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018