Mendocino archaeological commission requires survey for Manchester lot, continues Albion coastal permit

The Mendocino County Archaeological Commission voted July 9 to require an archaeological survey for a proposed single‑family residence in Manchester and to continue a separate coastal development permit application in Albion until the applicant completes an archaeological study.

The commission approved the survey requirement for CDP 2025-0008, a proposed 1,068-square-foot single‑family residence with garage and septic at 44081 Noyo Way in Manchester (parcel 132-030-15). The Northwest Information Center had recommended a survey; county staff and commissioners agreed to make it a condition before the project proceeds.

Shelby Miller, Mendocino County planning staff, told the commission that the property lies near a coastal exclusion area but cautioned that “that doesn’t… mean there’s no archaeological resources on the property.” She also said county records do not show the culvert work the applicant described and that the feature the applicant called a drainage ditch is considered a wetland and riparian area in county files.

The applicant and owner representative, identified in the record as Jess, said prior subdivision work created a deep, man‑made drainage ditch and that two earlier excavations on the lot had not turned up archaeological materials. “It was a man made wetland area. It was a ditch that was dug in for drainage when the subdivision was made that has become riparian,” Jess said, adding that the subdivision work occurred in the early 1970s.

Commissioners voted in favor of requiring a survey; the roll call recorded Commissioner Bill Cole and Commissioner Nancy Johnson voting yes and staff indicating agreement. The commission provided an online resource (chrisinfo.org) for applicants seeking qualified archaeologists.

Separately, the commission continued CDP 2025-0007, a standard coastal development permit to construct a 2,375-square-foot, three‑bedroom single‑family dwelling with a 368-square-foot guest cottage and associated accessory structures at 90 North Highway 1 in Albion (parcel 126-040-08). Staff planner Rob Fitzsimmons was not present and informed the commission the applicant has retained an archaeologist and the study is being prepared; the commission’s motion continued the item to a date uncertain.

In other business, staff announced that Sandy Arellano will take over archaeological commission staffing in September and that the current staff member present on the call plans to retire August 15. During matters from the public, Valerie Reese reported a planning consultation with the Mendocino Land Trust on trail‑related planning in Sherwood Valley.

Next steps: applicants for CDP 2025-0008 must commission and submit an archaeological survey consistent with Northwest Information Center recommendations; the CDP 2025-0007 item will return once the applicant’s archaeology report is available and staff places the matter back on a future agenda.