Archaeological commission declines survey for Mendocino emergency foundation repairs, adds discovery clause

The Mendocino County Archaeological Commission voted 4-0 on April 10 to not require an archaeological survey for Coastal Development Permit 2024-0032, an after-the-fact review of emergency foundation repairs to a single-family residence in Mendocino, but commissioners added the commission's standard discovery clause to the file.

Staff planner Shelby Miller told the commission the structural repairs were completed under an emergency permit and involved drilled piers and other foundation work. "This permit is a result of an emergency permit, for the repair of the foundation of the single family residence. So that work has already been done," Miller said.

The applicant-owner, Daniel Balgerson, told commissioners the work area along the driveway had been previously disturbed in the 1940s when Highway 1 and other features were in different locations. "We don't think that there would be any, anything that hasn't been disturbed already many years ago," Balgerson said, noting the house dated to 1941 and that earlier highway realignment and fills affected soils.

A Northwest Information Center (NIC) comment recommended a survey because of proximity to recorded sites, but commissioners who inspected the record said the most significant ground disturbance'the drilled piers over 12 feet deep'had already occurred and that no cultural materials were noticed during that work. Commissioner remarks included accepting the NIC recommendation in principle while relying on the discovery clause for any unanticipated finds.

The project description submitted to staff listed installing a generator and propane tank, a rolling gate and screening fence, and relocating a meter main with "minor trenching" from the meter to an existing power pole. Shelby Miller told the commission there would be "little bit of ground disturbance" limited to trenching for utility work and equipment placement.

Action: The commission recorded a motion "to not require a survey but add the discovery clause." The motion passed 4-0 in roll call. The commission did not record a named mover or seconder in the transcript.

The commission noted that if artifacts are discovered during any remaining work, the discovery clause procedures in Mendocino County Code Chapter 22 will apply.