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Archaeological commission accepts survey, adds discovery clause for 10,000‑sq‑ft Laytonville cannabis cultivation site
Summary
The Mendocino County Archaeological Commission accepted archaeological and biological reports and approved a discovery clause for an administrative permit allowing a 10,000‑square‑foot outdoor cannabis cultivation site in the Timberland Production Zone; the motion passed 3‑0.
Mendocino County’s Archaeological Commission voted 3‑0 on Feb. 12 to accept an archaeological survey and add a discovery clause to an administrative permit for a proposed 10,000‑square‑foot outdoor cannabis cultivation operation in the Timberland Production Zone near Laytonville.
The item, Administrative Permit 2023‑0027, was filed by owner‑applicant Pamela Whiting and covers outdoor cannabis cultivation at 8000 Simmerly Ranch Road (parcels listed as 032‑125‑26, 032‑125‑28 and 032‑125‑32), about 10.2 miles NNE of Laytonville town center. The commission record identifies the permit as a Type 2, 10,000‑square‑foot outdoor cultivation operation.
Javier Rau, appearing as the applicant representative, told the commission his team “agree with the findings of, you know, who performed with Alta, who performed the archaeological survey report” for the site. County staff said they had also received a biological resources assessment indicating no impacts and no mitigation measures proposed.
Commissioners noted prior site disturbance, including a pond reportedly installed 40 to 50 years ago and grading done roughly three to four years ago to build greenhouse pads and access roads. Commissioner Johnson and another commissioner recommended the standard discovery clause be added despite no recorded resources.
At roll call the vote was recorded as: Commissioner Johnson — yes; Commissioner (name not specified) — yes; staff (Keith) — yes. The motion carried 3‑0.
Staff indicated the reports presented an approximately 80 percent surface visibility assessment and that no biological mitigation measures were required based on the biological assessment submitted to county staff the same day. The discovery clause requires work to stop and county notification if previously unrecorded cultural resources are uncovered during site work.
