Fortuna Planning Commission approves Ambrosini minor subdivision, splits 0.76-acre lot into two residential parcels

The Fortuna Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve a tentative parcel map that divides a 0.76-acre undeveloped property at the end of Berry Creek Avenue into two residential parcels and found the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. The commission acted on Planning Commission Resolution P-2025-3128.

The commission’s decision allows the existing parcel to be subdivided into two roughly 0.38-acre lots for single-family development after city staff found the proposal meets applicable zoning and development standards. “Both lots created by the minor subdivision do meet the R-sixteen development standards and requirements,” Community Development Director Sherry Meads told the commission during the presentation.

The subdivision matters because it converts undeveloped land in a central area of Fortuna into buildable residential lots under the city’s general plan designation of Residential Low. Meads said that while the general plan reports density on a gross-acre basis, the lots’ developable area yields densities of about 4.83 and 3.3 units per gross acre after wetlands and other unbuildable areas are accounted for.

Staff recommended approval with conditions after departmental review. Meads said the parcel was identified in the city’s general plan environmental impact report and the proposed uses do not exceed what was analyzed in that EIR, which is why staff found the project exempt from CEQA.

During public comment, adjacent property owner Susan Leroy said a spring runs along her property line and asked how year-round water on the site would affect future building. She also asked whether the lots were being subdivided to resell and expressed concern about stored equipment and debris visible from her home. Another neighbor, Abe Stevens, spoke in favor of adding housing near the city’s shopping area.

Matt Nyberg, deputy city engineer, told the commission that each lot will require a geotechnical soils report before any construction may proceed. Meads also noted that existing code-enforcement channels are available to address debris or stored equipment cited by neighbors.

The commission made the necessary findings and approved the tentative parcel map by resolution P-2025-3128. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with five affirmative votes.

The approval creates the two parcels but does not authorize construction; project-specific permits and required pre-construction reports, including the geotechnical investigation, must be completed and approved before building permits may be issued. The commission closed the item and moved on to the next agenda item after voting.