Plumas County planning commission moves to remove TPZ exemption for new telecom facilities, expand public and tribal notice

The Plumas County Planning Commission took steps at a workshop to tighten local oversight of new telecommunications facilities by removing an exemption that previously allowed certain installations in timber production zones to proceed via ministerial building permits.

Commissioners and county planning staff said the immediate goal is to amend the telecommunication ordinance (Article 41) to make new facilities in TPZ subject to either a zoning clearance certificate or a special use permit, bringing those sites into the discretionary review process.

“Staff is recommending 1,000 feet,” Tim Evans, senior planner, said of a proposed public hearing-notice radius that would replace the state baseline of 300 feet for discretionary actions. The commission discussed tiered notice distances for taller towers (examples discussed ranged between 1,000 and 1,500 feet) and asked staff to prepare draft language for review.

Why it matters: Commissioners cited a recent case in Greenville where an operator used the TPZ exemption to secure ministerial approval and build a tower without the wider notice and review that would attend a discretionary permit. Several public commenters said the lack of timely notice prevented…