Planning commission approves 5-year renewal for Lamonica billboard on State Highway 20, 4-1

The Lake County Planning Commission voted Feb. 27, 2025, to renew major use permit UPX24-02, allowing continued operation of an off-site advertising billboard at 2560 East State Highway 20 in Nice, after adopting a categorical exemption under CEQA. The motions to adopt the exemption and to grant the permit renewal both passed by 4-1 votes.

Planner Pablo Guerrero of the Community Development Department told the commission the renewal request is for an existing billboard originally authorized under major use permit UP9705 and would extend the permit for another five years with no changes proposed to the structure or site. Guerrero said the parcel is approximately 24.53 acres, split-zoned commercial and rural residential, and that the sign has two faces, each about 240 square feet, and stands about 22 feet tall. He said existing downcast lighting would continue and the sign must comply with the Caltrans Outdoor Advertising Act; the applicant must also renew with Caltrans by 2028 if they continue to use the permit.

The commission first voted to find that the project is exempt from further environmental review under CEQA section 15301 (Class 1, existing facilities) and the categorical exemption listed in the staff report; that motion passed 4-1. The commission then voted to find the renewal meets Lake County zoning requirements and granted the major use permit renewal subject to conditions; that motion also passed 4-1. The commission noted the county’s seven-calendar-day appeal period for decisions to the Board of Supervisors.

Commissioners and staff discussed how the county treats possible abandonment of a billboard permit. One commissioner asked whether a billboard displaying only a phone number would count as “in use” or as abandoned; staff said that if the sign remains in active use — including a phone number listing used to solicit advertising — the county typically treats it as active, and that staff would follow up if a permit appeared abandoned. The commission also discussed the possibility that trees on or near the property could grow to obstruct the sign; staff said trimming vegetation affecting the sign could require permission from Caltrans.

The applicant, identified in the record only as Trudy, offered no substantive comments beyond thanking the commission. After public input closed, several commissioners expressed support for placing discussion of a potential moratorium on new billboards on a future agenda; staff said the item could be placed on the next Planning Commission agenda for formal discussion.

The motions and vote tallies recorded during the meeting matched the staff report and the findings read into the record. The commission’s action carries the usual seven-calendar-day appeal window to the Board of Supervisors; required appeal forms and fees must be filed by 5 p.m. on or before the seventh calendar day following the commission’s final determination.

Ending: The permit renewal maintains prior conditions of approval and continues the existing use at the site for a five-year term; any interested party may file an appeal within the stated seven-day period.