The Shasta County Planning Commission on July 10 approved Parcel Map 23‑004, allowing a 10.09‑acre Bella Vista parcel to be split into a 6.74‑acre Parcel 1 and a 3.35‑acre Parcel 2, subject to recommended conditions and mitigation measures.

The approval came after staff presented the proposal and recommended adoption of a mitigated negative declaration. “Staff recommends the planning commission conduct and close a public hearing and adopt the recommendations in the staff report,” said Adam Fieseler, assistant director of resource management, during the presentation.

Why it matters: The project lies within the Clough Creek watershed and staff identified potentially significant impacts to bats, rare plants, the Crotch’s bumblebee, and nesting migratory birds and raptors. The commission’s approval attaches mitigation measures intended to reduce those impacts to less‑than‑significant levels under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Key facts: The parcel is in the Bella Vista area, about 0.2 miles east of the Old Altaus and Ray Lane intersection. The site and surrounding parcels are designated rural residential A and zoned rural residential with a mobile home and 3‑acre building site district. Existing development includes a single‑family residence, a detached accessory dwelling unit, an in‑ground pool and two on‑site wastewater systems; the residence and ADU are to remain on Parcel 1.

Planned infrastructure and conditions: The project includes construction of a 20‑foot‑wide chip‑seal surface over the existing Ray Lane roadbed for approximately 1,163 feet from Old Altaus Road to the proposed Parcel 2 driveway. Two roughly 40‑foot trenches from an existing 6‑inch water line are proposed to install a new fire hydrant and water meter for Parcel 2, which will also include a proposed fire engine turnaround. The applicant must enter into a deferral agreement to construct asphalt paving at a future date.

Environmental protections required by the staff report include timing tree removal outside bat maternity and bird nesting seasons or conducting surveys and humane bat exclusion if removal occurs during sensitive periods; pre‑construction surveys for listed and rare plants or consultation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to demonstrate absence; and habitat assessments or work timing to avoid the queen flight and colony active periods for the Crotch’s bumblebee.

Drainage and riparian protection: Staff proposed a 50‑foot non‑building, non‑disturbance area around the seasonal drainage that crosses the site; that setback would be shared by the two parcels and intended to protect downstream properties as the drainage connects to Clough Creek and passes through a large pond downstream.

Service providers and utilities cited in the staff presentation include the Bella Vista Water District for potable water, on‑site wastewater systems for sewer service, Shasta County Fire for fire protection, PG&E for electricity and gas, and Waste Management for solid waste disposal.

Commission action and public engagement: Staff opened a public comment period; no members of the public spoke. A commissioner moved approval per staff recommendation and the motion was seconded. The commission voted and the motion carried; the record shows the vote as “Aye” and the motion carries, with no roll‑call vote reported.

What’s next: Conditions and mitigation measures will be part of the project approval; any future changes to roads or paving require the separate deferral agreement noted in the conditions. The planning commission’s decisions on noticed public hearing items may be appealed to the Shasta County Board of Supervisors.