Plumas planning staff says code enforcement active after neighbours accuse Genesee Valley landowner of cutting trees, erecting fences and unsafe burns

Neighbors and public commenters raised repeated concerns at the Plumas County Planning Commission’s Aug. 21 meeting about activities on a Genesee Valley property owned by Leila (Jean) Levi, saying large trees were cut, high fencing was installed, noisy generators run at night and a roadside sign advertised a planned burn without a permit. Planning Director Tracy (last name not specified in the record) told commissioners staff has opened and is pursuing a code enforcement case and has issued a correction notice to the property owner.

The most detailed public comment came from a speaker who identified herself as a large-animal veterinarian and long-time Genesee Valley resident and who said the property changes threaten wildlife habitat, watershed health and the local character of the scenic corridor. The commenter listed seven concerns, including ‘‘made roads across the valley,’’ removal of large live trees, ‘‘6-foot tall fencing that is not wildlife friendly,’’ trapping of feral animals, noisy generators, introduction of non-native species and a fire that burned a vehicle and trees.

Planning Director Tracy said staff is reviewing the complaints against the Plumas County General Plan, the Genesee Valley Special Management Area Plan (appendix 5) and applicable county code sections. She told the commission staff is coordinating with the building department, code enforcement, county counsel and CAL FIRE and will report back, and she reiterated that an active code-enforcement case is ongoing.

Tracy said the county enforces state law, including the Public Resources Code provisions cited in the record (referred to during the meeting as sections 4290 and 4291), and noted the county’s public health and safety element and existing defensible-space rules. She also told commissioners she had asked the property owner to hire a registered professional forester or qualified arborist to assess trees within the Genesee Road scenic corridor before further work proceeds.

Commissioners and the public pressed staff for specifics. Tracy said a correction notice had been issued and confirmed CAL FIRE had been contacted after a roadside sign advertised a prescribed burn; CAL FIRE’s Lassen/Modoc representative told staff the sign was removed and that a permitted burn would have required coordination and a permit. Tracy also said Public Works confirmed the road right-of-way trees are, in effect, on private property (the property owner owns the underlying land) and that public works’ authority is limited to maintaining the road surface.

Speakers asked whether the county has a mandatory wildlife-friendly fencing standard in the Genesee Valley Special Management Area; Tracy said the planning code currently recommends wildlife-friendly fencing but does not require it, and that fences above seven feet trigger building-permit requirements under state building rules. She added that commissioners could consider recommending changes to Title 9 (Planning and Zoning) if they want to pursue mandatory requirements.

Public commenters said they feared retaliation and said the property owner had boasted of a large insurance settlement from PG&E after the Dixie Fire and threatened litigation. Tracy said she would ask code enforcement about what information can be made public from an active case and would invite code enforcement to a future meeting to update the commission on what can be disclosed.

The commission did not take a formal enforcement vote at the meeting. Tracy said staff will continue investigations, coordinate with other county departments and CAL FIRE, seek professional forestry evaluation of roadside trees, and bring status updates to the planning commission at future meetings.