Mendocino Coastal Permit Administrator approves four coastal permits, adopts negative declaration for Caltrans project

The Mendocino County Coastal Permit Administrator approved four coastal permits at a July 10, 2025 hearing, including a California Department of Transportation streetscape project for Guadalupe that was adopted with a negative declaration and subject to staff‑recommended modifications and appeal periods.

The administrator opened the meeting by noting a continued hearing on CDP 2024-0040 for the Guadalupe Downtown Streetscape Enhancement Project and said he had reviewed conflict‑of‑interest concerns and public comments before approving the project. “I am going to approve the project subject to the findings and conditions as modified, recommended by staff in their memo, 06/26/2025,” the Coastal Permit Administrator said, and added he would also “adopt the negative declaration that has been prepared for this project.”

Why it matters: the Caltrans permit clears design and local coastal compliance steps before any appeals, and the decision includes standard local and Coastal Commission appeal windows that could alter the project timetable.

Details and outcomes

Caltrans — CDP 2024-0040, Guadalupe Downtown Streetscape Enhancement Project: The administrator continued a matter from June 26, 2025, reviewed staff reports and public comments, and approved the project as modified in the staff memorandum dated June 26, 2025. The administrator also adopted the prepared negative declaration. He told attendees that the project carries a 10‑day appeal period to the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors, followed by a 10 working‑day appeal period to the California Coastal Commission, and estimated the project would be finalized roughly 30 days from the July 10 decision if no appeals were filed.

Boundary line adjustment — B2024-0031, Roger and Janice Moore: Planning staff presented a coastal boundary line adjustment to reconfigure two lots (Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 017-140-46 and 017-140-47). Marco Rodriguez, project planner, said Lot 1 would increase from about 5.52 acres to about 7.13 acres and Lot 2 would decrease from about 11.51 acres to about 10.04 acres, and that the project is exempt from CEQA under Section 15305(a) for minor lot line adjustments that do not create new parcels. Rodriguez noted a revised condition of approval clarifying appeal timing and an expiration provision: “The boundary line adjustment shall expire and become null and void at the expiration of 2 years after the effective date. No extensions shall be granted.” The administrator approved the adjustment subject to the revised findings and conditions in the staff report and memorandum.

Accessory dwelling unit legalization — CDP 2024-0017, Marilyn Russell: Planning staff Russ Ford presented an after‑the‑fact permit request to legalize conversion of a garage/studio into a 1,200‑square‑foot accessory dwelling unit (ADU), and to permit installation of a new 1,200‑gallon pump tank and a new two‑line leach field to serve the ADU. The conversion reportedly occurred between 1984 and 1986 without permits and was the subject of a code‑enforcement complaint. Staff said the site has a permitted well tested at over 1 gallon per minute (meeting proof‑of‑water requirements for a second unit) and that environmental agencies offered limited conditions: the Northwest Information Center recommended a survey (the Mendocino Arts Commission required a cultural monitor during excavation), and California Department of Fish and Wildlife recommended targeted invasive species removal and use of native landscaping. The administrator added an evidentiary finding under Mendocino County Code section 20.532095(b)(1) finding that the project conforms with public access and recreation policies of Chapter 3 of the California Coastal Act and the county’s coastal element, and approved the permit with the staff report conditions and the added finding.

Deck enclosure and minor revision — CBP 2025-0004, Marco and Natasha Innocenti: Staff planner Liam Crowley described a permit to enclose an existing deck and do interior remodeling at a residence near Point Cabrillo Drive in the Caspar area (near the Caspar/Point Cabrillo coastal headlands). Crowley said prior permits exist for the property and that referrals returned no substantive environmental objections; the Air Pollution Control District required an asbestos renovation notification prior to construction. The applicant requested a small modification — a cantilevered overhang shown in an attached sketch — and staff recommended approval with amended findings to include that modification. The property owners and agent commented in support; the administrator approved the project subject to the memo’s amended findings and the staff report conditions.

Appeals, timing and next steps

- Caltrans CDP 2024-0040: 10‑day appeal to the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors, followed by a 10 working‑day Coastal Commission appeal period; staff estimated finalization and ability to proceed in roughly 30 days if no appeal is filed. - Moore BLA B2024-0031: approval is final on the 11th day after decision unless appealed per Mendocino County Code; the adjustment expires two years after the effective date if not exercised and staff stated “no extensions shall be granted.”

Public comment and participation

No members of the public spoke on any of the four items during the hearing; the administrator noted that the public hearing for the Caltrans item had been closed at the previous meeting and would not be reopened.

What the record shows

All approvals were recorded on the administrative record and conditioned as described in the staff reports and the July 10, 2025 memoranda. Each approval included the applicable appeal instructions and the environmental determinations referenced by staff.

The Coastal Permit Administrator adjourned the hearing at 11:22 a.m.