Sutter County planning panel approves development agreement to convert four parcels to wildlife habitat

The Sutter County Planning Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve a development agreement (Project U25-0006) with the Colusa Shooting Club to convert parcels 1 through 4 of U-18-056 — approximately 166 acres — into permanent wildlife habitat within the county’s agricultural district.

County staff told the commission the agreement is intended to satisfy conditions from a prior tentative parcel map that require either a development-rights and open-space easement or a development agreement before the final map can be recorded. "Staff recommends the planning commission recommend the Board of Supervisors approve the proposal," a county staff member said during the presentation.

The project site lies north of the rural community of Meridian and west of the Sutter Buttes. Staff summarized the project's history, noting the original tenant parcel map approved in 2019 and a five-year extension granted in 2022 that extends approvals to September 2027.

Commissioners asked about access to the four parcels. Commissioner Campbell asked which parcels were involved and whether there was "an easement to those from a public roadway," citing past concerns where lot splits proceeded without proper access and could violate the Subdivision Map Act. County staff said they would review the record and documents, and indicated one purpose of the development agreement is "to prevent that type of development from happening without the access to the county roadway." The record shows Laux (spelled "Lauch" in parts of the record) Road provides county road access and easements into the property.

Project counsel, identified as Mr. Tientsen, said he represented the project and offered to answer questions. An owner, Ed Holbert, who identified himself as one of the owners of the shooting-club property, described access in more detail: "Lauch Road is the county road that comes into the property and there's actually easements all the way into [the] Colusa Shooting Club," Holbert said, adding there is public access through a gate to Butte Creek and that adjacent federal refuge lands lie to the north.

Commissioner Manuel and the project owner discussed the parcels' role in a mitigation-bank effort. The owner said he is developing a mitigation bank on about 325 acres on adjacent Butte Creek Farms and that the shooting-club parcels "fit potentially because it's the same hydrology," noting the mitigation-bank effort has involved coordination with multiple agencies over nearly a decade.

After discussion, the vice chair moved to approve the project "as presented by staff," a motion seconded by Commissioner Campbell. The planning commission voted by roll call with Commissioners Schmittel, Manuel, Dasher, Marler, Stewart, Noor and Campbell voting aye.

Votes at a glance: the commission approved the January 2025 meeting minutes (voice vote with one abstention recorded), approved the consent calendar (unanimous roll-call ayes), and approved Project U25-0006 (unanimous roll-call ayes).

The hearing record for the item notes a mitigated negative declaration and exemption are on file. County staff and project counsel told commissioners they had worked together on the development agreement and were available for follow-up questions. The commission closed the public hearing after no members of the public spoke in opposition and proceeded to other miscellaneous items before adjourning.

The planning commission will transmit its recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for final action, per the commission's usual process.