The Plumas County Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend adoption of a zoning ordinance for the Stanniger zone-change request, forwarding the measure to the Plumas County Board of Supervisors for hearing and possible final action.

The recommendation, approved by motion and roll call vote, follows a continued public hearing from the commission’s June 5 meeting. Planning staff presented a revised Exhibit A map that reduced the portion of the parcel available for hooved livestock to roughly 5.2 acres and adjusted buffers. Staff said the applicant’s objective remains to allow no fewer than 10 hooved animals on the property and that the exhibit was revised to include a 100-foot buffer required for distance from a wellhead and a 650-foot buffer along the southerly property line.

The staff report explained that the acreage reduction does not increase environmental impact analysis under CEQA and that prior CEQA findings stand because the project footprint was reduced from an earlier, larger area analyzed. Staff also reported that mapped slope within the now-identified area ranges about 7.5% to 20% and that the revised acreage and animal calculations followed county rules for animal density (two animals for the first acre, one additional animal per half acre thereafter).

Neighbors who participated during the continued hearing said the revised map and buffers represented a workable compromise. One resident (unnamed in the record) thanked commissioners and staff for the extra time that allowed neighbors to work with the applicant. Public commenter Bill Wickman said, “I do, thank the commission for allowing the neighbors to work with Nicole to come to, you know, a a good compromise and really appreciate it.”

During deliberations Commissioner Jack Montgomery made the motion to find the ordinance exempt from CEQA and to adopt the zoning ordinance for recommendation to the Board of Supervisors; Commissioner Chris Spencer seconded. The roll-call vote was recorded as Montgomery: “Aye”; Spencer: “Aye”; (identified in the record) Bobby Lewis: “Aye”; West: “Aye.” The commission chair declared the vote unanimous.

Staff said it will post the required 20-day notice to the Board of Supervisors; the commission was given a likely schedule that would put the ordinance on the board’s agenda for a first reading on July 15, a possible continuation or second hearing on Aug. 5, and codification roughly 30 days after adoption (staff referenced codification on or about Sept. 5). Staff noted those dates were subject to formal noticing and Board scheduling.

The commission closed public comment after brief discussion and moved to other agenda items, noting the zone-change record will carry forward to the Board along with the revised Exhibit A and findings.

The Board of Supervisors will receive the planning commission’s recommendation and the updated staff report, maps and CEQA determinations for its public hearings. The planning commission record shows the commission’s action is a recommendation, not the final adoption of the zoning ordinance.