Subdivision committee recommends conditions for Lorenzo minor subdivision after road-access debate

The Mendocino County Subdivision Committee on March 13 recommended approval of conditions for Minor Subdivision MS2024-003, a proposal by Ken and Don Lorenzo to split a 33.72-acre parcel into two lots and a remainder. Lot 1 would be about 10.1 acres, Lot 2 about 5.03 acres, and the remainder about 17.99 acres; no new development was proposed at this stage.

Staff and agency representatives reviewed standard conditions that would apply if the Planning Commission approves the subdivision. Planner Dirk Larson outlined multiple standard conditions, including requirements related to lighting, grading, drainage, and a notation that the property is in a naturally occurring asbestos area; staff said the parcel map must include verification from the local air quality management district for asbestos-related conditions. Environmental Health representative Marlena Doodley said a California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) fee of $3,018.75 will apply and must be paid within five days of the appeal period, and detailed septic-system conditions were discussed.

Much of the committee’s discussion centered on access for Lot 1. Applicant representatives, including Kevin Doble of Lake O'Associates, said the map was revised to create a flag lot and that an existing 60-foot-wide access easement would be split down the middle so each parcel would have about 30 feet of width to Lorenzi Road. Doble said the existing all-weather road currently serves back parcels and that, with the lot line down the middle of the easement, Lot 1 would not be landlocked. Department of Transportation (DOT) representative Jason Wise said DOT’s standard conditions on internal subdivision roads, drainage and other improvements could be waived if each parcel touches a public road, but he flagged a county code provision (section 17-52(l)) that requires access strips to be no less than 20 feet in width and no greater than 300 feet in depth; the proposed easement run appeared to be about 440 feet, which could require special consideration or an exception.

Jason Wise also outlined DOT conditions that would apply if internal subdivision roads or easements are required, including showing all easements and watercourses on the parcel map, standards for internal roads and drainage, a 60-foot easement for internal roads if those are proposed, and the need for design and inspection approvals by DOT prior to map filing. He also asked that a private-road approach at the entrance be improved to meet county standards given site constraints at a curve.

Applicant representatives said they would work with staff on final conditions and amendments. After discussion, the committee voted to forward recommended conditions for Minor Sub 2024-003 to the Mendocino County Planning Commission. Marlena Doodley moved the recommendation; the motion passed unanimously.