Planning commission approves certificate of correction removing 25-foot setback in Indian Creek Subdivision

The Siskiyou County Planning Commission on the record approved Resolution PC 2025-009, determining the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act and approving Certificate of Correction CC-25-01 to remove a 25-foot building setback from the recorded Indian Creek Subdivision map.

Senior planner Rachel Jarab told the commission the 25-foot setback was added to the recorded map when the subdivision was approved in 1955 and was rendered unnecessary after a countywide building setback was adopted less than a month later. "The correction will not alter any right, title or interest in the properties, and the modification conforms to Government Code," Jarab said. She recommended that the commission find the project exempt from CEQA under Guidelines section 15305, a Class 5 exemption for minor alterations of land use limitations.

The change affects the mapped setbacks for the subdivision roughly three miles north of Happy Camp. Jarab noted that two parcels shown on the map (labeled Lot 13 and Lot 17 on the map) are not technically part of the original subdivision but that the certificate of correction would remove the building setback line from the entire mapped area. Commissioners asked whether the change would affect existing exception requests for encroachments on Pine Place Road and Indian Creek Road; staff explained that separate exception approvals and recorded documents determine final setback distances on specific roads. Commissioners discussed that, if the exception requests are approved and recorded, the Pine Place Road setback would be 10 feet from the front property line for the affected lots.

Commissioner (motion maker not clearly identified) moved to adopt Resolution PC 2025-009; Commissioner Mello seconded. A roll call vote recorded "yes" from Commissioner Hart, Commissioner Mello, Commissioner Lindler, Commissioner Beal and Chair Fowle, and the motion passed unanimously. Jarab said there had been no public comments on the project and that a corrected page of the staff report had been provided before the meeting to clarify that only planning commission approval is required for the certificate of correction under Siskiyou County Code section 10-4.1101.

Next steps are administrative: the resolution and certificate will be processed and, if the applicant records the document, the recorded map will reflect the removed building setback. Separate exception approvals—where applicants have sought reduced setbacks—remain subject to their own approval and recording processes.