Planning commission approves renovation of Cisco Grove Campground, limits new amenities to registered guests

The Placer County Planning Commission voted unanimously to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration and approve a conditional use permit modification to renovate Cisco Grove Campground, preserving the existing 144 campsites on the Placer County portion of the property and adding resort-style amenities limited to registered guests.

Staff said the county—s environmental review found that, with mitigation measures, impacts would be less than significant under CEQA. Planning Director Chris Pahule told commissioners staff recommended adoption of the MND and approval of the CUP subject to recommended conditions and an erratum that clarifies resort amenities are for registered campers only.

Senior planner David Orlygrove outlined the project as a rehabilitation and modernization of long-standing campground uses on roughly 32 acres in Placer County; the property extends into Nevada County, where related approvals were processed separately. Staff said annual visitation historically averaged about 47,000 guests and that the proposal does not increase campsite capacity but adds amenities such as a pool, snow-tubing hill, miniature golf and pickleball courts. Orlygrove also described required measures including a fuel-reduction and fire-safe plan prepared by Dudek, will-serve letters from fire service providers, and condition language that makes resort amenities limited to registered guests.

Neighbor comment focused on wildfire risk and operational enforcement. Wes Hotchkiss, a longtime neighbor and frequent user, said he welcomed the renovation but asked how unattended campfires and long-term stays would be controlled and how the project might affect residents— fire insurance rates. Orlygrove and applicant representative Ezekiel "Zeke" Bossenbrook said staff and the operator will require nightly staff rounds and other ignition-control measures. "We are mitigating all possibilities of a fire," Bossenbrook said, adding the operator will staff 24-hour checks and participate in neighborhood Firewise efforts.

Condition 25, read into the record by staff, limits campfires to designated sites at least 30 feet from unmanaged vegetation, requires extinguishing tools at sites, allows gas or propane campfires year-round, and prohibits wood or charcoal fires during Truckee-area bans (June–November) and during red-flag weather. Other conditions require compliance with state forestry and fire protection regulations and a will-serve letter from the local fire district.

Commission action: The commission took two separate motions as read into the record: (1) to adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration and associated erratum and (2) to approve the conditional use permit modification subject to the recommended conditions (as modified by the errata). Both motions were seconded and carried by roll call, with all commissioners present voting yes. The decision may be appealed by anyone who participated or submitted written comment; the appeal period and a $752 filing fee were stated on the record.

The approval does not authorize opening resort amenities to non-registered day use; staff said any future change to allow public access would require a formal use-permit modification. The project is scheduled to proceed under the conditions adopted by the commission.

Sources: Planning staff presentation and recommended conditions, the erratum read into the record, applicant statements, and public comments recorded during the Nov. 2025 Planning Commission hearing.