Planning commission approves Sacred Groves green‑burial cemetery in Kneeland with conditions

The Humboldt County Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit and adopted a mitigated negative declaration for Sacred Groves, a proposed green‑burial cemetery near Kneeland, with conditions that require the applicant to record excluded areas and revise operational protocols.

Staff described the project as a low‑density green‑burial cemetery on privately accessed land off Kneeland Road. The project includes a 1,500‑square‑foot ceremonial shelter, a paved ADA‑compliant parking area, a portable accessible toilet, a fire‑suppression tank and a rain‑water catchment system to irrigate tree plantings in the first year. Burials would use unembalmed bodies in biodegradable materials; staff said there would be no above‑ground monuments.

Why it matters: Supporters told the commission the county currently lacks a local green‑burial option and that the site’s soils and ridge‑top location make it suitable. Staff and the commission discussed biological and cultural‑resource issues and the need to map and record areas — including a deeded utility easement and an ephemeral stream channel — where burials will be prohibited.

Applicant and technical evidence: Michael Furness, executive director of the Sacred Groves nonprofit, described the site’s soil as deep, well‑textured and appropriate for rapid aerobic decomposition. "It has excellent deep, well textured loamy soil, good organic matter, good percolation characteristics and infiltration, good aggregate stability, rich biota, and is highly fertile," Furness said, summarizing soils and hydrology considerations. Furness and the project team submitted a biological reconnaissance, soils borings and other technical materials; staff reported that those studies did not find fresh groundwater beneath the proposed burial areas.

Public comment and conservation intent: Staff reported 20 written comments in the record — 18 in support, two raising site‑specific concerns. Landowner Eric Almquist and other supporters said the project aligns with conservation goals; Almquist said the owners are pursuing a conservation easement with the North Coast Land Trust. Furness said about 492 people had expressed interest or signed up for information.

Commission concerns and operational changes: Commissioners pressed the applicant on animal disturbance risk, burial depth, and public‑health implications. The applicant and staff agreed to revise the operations plan to specify a minimum burial cover of 18 inches measured from original ground surface and to add a written protocol for disturbance (for example, rare instances of animal digging), to be implemented and documented by the operator. Staff also agreed to revise the recorded development plan to explicitly exclude deeded utility easements, the ephemeral stream channel and culturally sensitive areas from burial operations and to require payment of the standard CEQA filing/recording fee prior to permit issuance.

Vote and conditions: Commissioners adopted the mitigated negative declaration, the mitigation and monitoring program, and approved the conditional use permit with the additional conditions listed above (payment of CEQA fee; revised operations plan with 18‑inch minimum cover and an animal‑disturbance protocol; recorded development plan mapping excluded areas). A roll‑call vote recorded five affirmative votes and the motion passed.

Implementation notes: The permit requires the applicant to file a notice of the development plan on the deed so future owners are aware of excluded areas; the operator will be required to follow the mitigation and monitoring plan. The county’s environmental‑health and public‑works requirements (driveway improvements, paved access where required) will be applied during permit implementation.

Limitations: The permit allows low‑density, hand‑dug green burials under the conditions adopted; it does not create utility‑easement rights or allow disturbance of recorded cultural sites. Any future changes to the operating practices or site boundaries will require follow‑up review.