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Atascadero staff say unauthorized grading at Oak Ridge Estates will be restored; enforcement process underway
Summary
Community development staff told the Planning Commission on April 1 that the city is enforcing a restoration order after unauthorized grading inside the Oak Ridge Estates open-space area, and that a reviewed regrading and revegetation plan will be required.
During public comment at the April 1 Atascadero Planning Commission meeting, staff described an active code-enforcement response to unauthorized grading within Oak Ridge Estates.
Community development staff said the city received a letter from a nearby resident reporting substantial grading that had been performed within an area the staff described as part of the development's open-space/greenbelt. Staff said the work included construction of a pad and earthmoving outside the approved lot; the city has required the property's owner to "regrade that and put it back to a natural state and revegetate it," and said a restoration plan will be required and reviewed before work to restore the site proceeds.
"They did unauthorized grading of a pad there, and we are requiring Oak Ridge Estates to regrade that and put it back to a natural state and revegetate it," a staff speaker said. Staff acknowledged the work is substantial, is visible from a neighbor's yard, and noted concerns about drainage, erosion and sedimentation onto adjacent property.
Staff described the original Oak Ridge Estates approvals as an older project (environmental review and approvals occurred over 25 years ago) and said the development has been proceeding slowly. City staff said they investigated after receiving the resident's complaint, confirmed grading had occurred outside the approved boundaries and that the developer hired an engineer and provided surveys as part of the follow-up. Staff said they will require a formal restoration plan and that the city will use its code-enforcement process to ensure the area is restored.
On technical and procedural points, staff said that a landslide or slope failure must be addressed through a graded plan, erosion control and drainage measures prepared by a licensed engineer and reviewed by the city; property owners are responsible for remediation on private property, but where a slide affects a public road or public safety the city coordinates emergency repairs and inspections.
Staff asked for patience from the public while the restoration and enforcement proceed and said inspections are being conducted on other nearby lots as development continues. No new environmental-review trigger (for example, a new EIR) was confirmed at the meeting; staff said they cannot say at this time whether the grading activity will trigger additional environmental review.
Ending: Staff stated they will continue to monitor the area, pursue code enforcement and require a reviewed restoration plan before permitting further work.
