Board overturns Planning Commission approval after applicant withdraws Highland Farms use permit

The Lake County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 14 accepted the applicant's request to withdraw a major use permit for the Highland Farms project (UP 20-96) and, at the appellants' request, overturned the Planning Commission's earlier approval.

The applicant, Autumn Carsey of Highland Farms LP, submitted a written request to withdraw the major use permit and asked the board to accept that withdrawal. Appellants Tom Lasik and Margo Kambara had appealed the Planning Commission's approval and told the board they would not withdraw their appeal even if the application were withdrawn.

Why it matters: Appellants said the project's environmental review was flawed and warned a defective mitigated negative declaration (MND) could be used again. They pressed the board to overturn the Planning Commission's action so the record would show the approval had been rescinded rather than simply letting the application disappear. The board voted to overturn the commission's approval after accepting the applicant's withdrawal.

What the board heard: Maria…