Board approves modified road standards to allow subdivision; neighbors express opposition

The Del Norte County Board of Supervisors voted to approve modified road‑improvement standards recommended by the Planning Commission that will allow narrower private rural roads (20‑foot travel way with 2‑foot shoulders inside 30‑foot rights‑of‑way) for two subdivision applications, after staff described environmental constraints and the developer’s need to avoid impacts to existing barns, leach fields and creek buffers.

The board first discussed recusals for potential conflicts on one Bailey Road matter and then considered the Gaski/Valley View parcel. Assistant County Engineer provided maps and explained that the modification would permit a subdivision in locations where property lines, steep slopes and environmental buffers make the county’s 50‑foot standard impractical. He said the reduced standard would preserve setbacks from a creek and avoid encroaching on steep slopes while still allowing future widening if necessary.

Ward Stover, the applicant’s agent, said the proposal retains utility easements and that property owners had agreed in part to provide a 50‑foot easement in another segment, adding that future widening remained possible. Multiple residents and property owners opposed the change, arguing it could invite commercial or mobile‑home parks, reduce privacy and place construction costs on taxpayers; one owner, Ron McMaster, countered that the road would be private and funded by the landowner and that the improvement would reduce dust.

Staff clarified that Caltrans had restricted access to the State Highway System for one parcel and that Department of Fish and Wildlife had commented on a creek buffer, which was one reason for the modified standard. After deliberation the board approved the Planning Commission recommendation by recorded roll call votes.

The approvals change the application of county road standards only for the specified parcels and do not automatically change county maintenance status; staff said the roads would be private rural roads constructed by the applicant and not county‑maintained unless later accepted.