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Clearlake commission reviews native tree protection ordinance, questions mitigation fee and enforcement
Summary
The commission reviewed Section 18-40, covering protected species lists, removal rules, replacement ratios and a $600 mitigation fee; commissioners and Sierra Club advocates said $600 is insufficient and staff reported about $100,000 in the mitigation fund and past planting work at Anderson Marsh State Park.
The Clearlake Planning Commission on Oct. 22 reviewed the city’s native tree protection ordinance (Section 18-40), discussing which species are protected, removal exemptions, mitigation requirements and enforcement.
Planning staff summarized the ordinance sections: a zoning permit is required to remove qualifying native trees (most oaks and other specified species over a six‑inch DBH threshold), the city may require on‑site replacement (commonly at a 2:1 ratio) or payment of an off‑site mitigation fee set by the city council, and penalties for unauthorized removal can be an infraction or misdemeanor with fines (staff cited fines up to $1,000 per…
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