Oakley planning commission approves Maple Ridge Ranches plat amendments after neighbors raise ridgeline and easement concerns

The Oakley Planning Commission on May 6 approved adjustments to building limits in the Maple Ridge Ranches subdivision, concluding two separate public hearings after staff and surveyors said the revisions align limits of disturbance (LOD) with existing infrastructure and man-made driveway cuts.

Commissioners closed a public hearing on a three-lot amendment (Lots A1, A2 and B2) after staff described the change as “bringing noncompliance into compliance” with the subdivision’s built conditions. Staff said the HOA had already approved that plat amendment. Later in the meeting the commission approved a separate, single-parcel amendment for Lot 18.

“We’re not moving the LOD any closer to where that red area is,” Martina Nelson, the surveyor who prepared the boundary and topo map for the applications, told commissioners while explaining a slope map showing steeper terrain in red and flatter areas in green. Nelson said the red areas mostly represent natural downhill slopes toward Weaver Canyon Road or steep sections created when driveways were cut in during earlier construction.

Susie Vittrizio, president of the subdivision’s architectural committee, told the commission she and the HOA president had reviewed plans and supported the Lot 18 amendment. “They’re following all of our guidelines. They’ll follow the dark-sky ruling, which means all lighting will shoot down,” Vittrizio said, offering to share plans with a concerned neighbor.

Several neighbors raised questions about whether the Lot 18 proposal would place a new building on a visible ridgeline and whether accessory structures would overlook adjacent properties. One resident said a community covenant (CC&Rs) requires building pads be sited to “maximize privacy, view corridors” and asked for written confirmation from the HOA. The applicant’s representatives and the surveyor offered to provide distance exhibits, stake the new LOD on the lot for visualization in the coming weeks, and deliver plans to neighbors.

A resident who identified himself as Nick Clogola said he holds an easement that runs from Oakley/Canyon Road into the subdivision and asked whether the planned work would affect that feature. Nelson said she did not find a recorded easement for Lot 18 in her title/topo work and that, if a recorded easement exists, it would appear on the plat title report required for final plat processing.

Commissioners moved to approve the Lot 18 amendment “as written,” and the motion passed on a voice vote. Earlier in the meeting the commission similarly moved and approved the three-lot amendment after closing the related public hearing.

Staff also announced that the River Haven application had been pulled from the agenda at the applicant’s request and will return to a future meeting after additional discussions among the applicant, legal counsel and other parties. Staff said they will circulate an updated land-use table and a second review of the city’s short-term rental ordinance for the commission’s June agenda.

The planning commission took the approvals as formal motions and adopted them by voice vote; staff said recorded easements and title issues would be addressed through the required title report and plat-review checklist before final recordation. The commission adjourned at the close of the meeting.