To: Zoning Administrator
From: Planning and Building Department
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Humboldt County Department of Public Works Coastal Development Permit and Special Permit
Assessor Parcel Number: 517-131-013
Record Number: PLN-2024-18877
Big Lagoon area
A Coastal Development Permit for facility rehabilitation and accessibility improvements at Big Lagoon County Park. Improvements are proposed in the day-use area and campground to make restrooms, parking stalls, pathways, representative campsites, and associated amenities compliant with accessibility standards. Four existing single-post signs are also proposed to be replaced with three wooden information kiosks. In addition, an outdoor rinsing shower will be installed. The building footprint of each restroom is approximately 360 square feet and will not change as part of the project. The project will occur in areas that are currently paved, have had grading, are currently landscaped, or have had prior vegetation disturbance. Grading as well as approximately 2,800 square feet of concrete will be required under the project. Total area of disturbance is estimated at approximately 10,000 square feet. A Special Permit is required for Design Review.
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Zoning Administrator:
Adopt the resolution (Resolution 24- ), (Attachment 1) which does the following:
1. Finds the proposed project complies with the North Coast Area Plan and Zoning Ordinance; and
2. Finds the project exempt from CEQA pursuant to Sections 15301, 15302, and 15304 of the CEQA Guidelines, and that there is no substantial evidence that the project will have a significant effect on the environment; and
3. Approves the Coastal Development Permit and Special Permit subject to the recommended conditions of approval (Attachment 1A).
Body
DISCUSSION:
Project Location:
The project is in the Big Lagoon area, at the northerly terminus of Big Lagoon Park Road, along A Street, on the property known as 505 A Street.
Present Plan Land Use Designations:
Public Recreation (PR), North Coast Area Plan (NCAP). Density: N/A; Slope Stability: Moderate Instability (2).
Present Zoning:
Public Recreation with Archaeological Resource Area Outside Shelter Cove, Coastal Wetlands, Design Review, Beach and Dune Areas, Flood Hazard Areas, and Streams and Riparian Corridor Protection Combining Zones (PR/A,W,D,B,F,R).
Environmental Review:
Project is exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15301 Existing Facilities, Section 15302 Replacement or Reconstruction, and Section 15304 Minor Alterations to Land of the CEQA Guidelines.
State Appeal Status:
Project is appealable to the California Coastal Commission.
Major Issues:
None.
Executive Summary: A Coastal Development Permit (CDP) for facility rehabilitation and accessibility improvements at Big Lagoon County Park in the day-use and campground areas pursuant to Chapter 11B of the 2022 California Building Code and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A Special Permit (SP) is required for Design Review.
Specific improvements included under the project include the following:
Day-Use Area
• New concrete pathways, curbs, detectable warning surfaces, and pavement markings on the existing parking lot.
• New accessible parking stall on existing paved surface near the restroom.
• New accessible parking stall (RV-size) on existing paved surface near the grassy area adjacent to the parking lot.
• New concrete pathways leading to two (2) newly configured picnic sites and viewing bench within the grassy area adjacent to the parking lot. The picnic sites will be equipped with accessible picnic tables and pole-mounted grills.
• New concrete sidewalk around three sides of the existing restroom, along with a new stone bench and drinking fountain and bottle filler.
• New concrete sidewalk along the edge of the parking lot from the restroom to the kayak-rental station.
• New greywater system comprised of approximately 40 linear feet of 4-inch-diameter perforated pipe flowing through a layer of drain rock.
• New outdoor rinsing shower draining to the new greywater system.
• Interior restroom remodel, which will include creation of two (2) accessible stalls and installation of new floor drains within the restroom that will drain to the new greywater system.
Campground
• Interior restroom remodel to include creation of two (2) accessible stalls.
• New concrete pathways and detectable warning surfaces from the restroom to Campsite #27 and from the restroom to Campsites #20 and #21.
• New accessible parking stall adjacent to the restroom.
• New concrete sidewalk around three sides of the existing restroom, along with a new stone bench.
• New accessible picnic tables and fire pits for Campsites #20, #21, and #27 and new electrical plug-in mounting board for Campsite #27.
The proposed improvements are proposed to improve the longevity and functionality, as well as to make restrooms, parking stalls, pathways, representative campsites, and associated amenities compliant with accessibility standards. In addition, Humboldt County Public Works and California State Parks propose to replace four (4) existing single-post signs and install three (3) joint agency wooden signs and information kiosks at the County’s parking lot to help the public clearly understand park boundary locations and the regulations for each park.
The building footprint of each restroom is approximately 360 square feet (SF) and will not change as part of the project. The project will occur in areas that are currently paved, have had grading, are currently landscaped, or have had prior vegetation disturbance. Grading as well as approximately 2,800 square feet (52 cubic yards) of concrete will be required under the project. The applicant estimates the total area of disturbance for the project at approximately 10,000 square feet. No tree removal would be required. Project construction is proposed during the summer and/or fall of 2024.
The subject parcel is in an area of Moderate Instability (2). Per review of WebGIS, slopes on the parcel range from less than 15% up to 30%; however, the location where the proposed improvements would occur is less than 15%. The subject site is not located within the Alquist-Priolo Fault Hazard Zone nor within an area of potential liquefaction. The western portion of the parcel (including location of the proposed day-use area improvements) is in the tsunami hazard zone and moderate coastal vulnerability zone but is not mapped within an area susceptible to coastal inundation related to sea level rise (1 meter). The western, central, and northernmost portions of the parcel are mapped to be within a FEMA 100-year Flood Zone (VE and A); however, the proposed improvements would occur outside of the mapped flood zone. The proposed project does not create new residential habitable living space and would not exacerbate risk of individuals to known hazards, as the project entails improvements to an existing County park.
Based on review of the California Natural Diversity Database in February 2024, the site is listed as potential habitat for sphagnum bog (a moss) and the American peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum). The project parcel is bisected by an unnamed Class I stream and is mapped to contain coastal wetlands within the central portion of the site, which require protection per Section 313-125 Wetland Buffer Areas of the Humboldt County Zoning Regulations. No work would occur within these areas nor are any impacts to these resources anticipated under the project. As the project will occur in areas that are currently paved, have had grading, are currently landscaped, or have had prior vegetation disturbance, significant impacts to environmentally sensitive habitats or spaces are not anticipated under the project. Conditions of approval require compliance with the dust and erosion control measures specified on the project plans. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) was sent a referral for the proposed project, who, in February 2024, indicated they have no comment on the project. The project, therefore, conforms to the Resource Protection and Environmentally Sensitive Habitat policies of the NCAP.
The northern portions of the project parcel are located within the mapped North Coast Coastal Scenic Area and proposed improvements at the campground location and a portion of the improvements at the day-use area would occur within the mapped scenic area. The parcels south of the subject parcel are residential, many developed with single family residences and accessory structures, with Big Lagoon to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west of the site. To the east is forested land, with the Big Lagoon Rancheria further to the east. Significant visual changes would not occur under the project, nor would the project be anticipated to impact scenic and visual qualities. No tree removal would occur under the project. While heavy construction equipment would be required, construction would be temporary and would occur within one construction season (summer and/or fall 2024). Additionally, the proposed improvements are intended to improve the longevity, functionality, and accessibility for park users and would be consistent with the current use of the property for day-use and campground.
The project was referred to the Big Lagoon Rancheria, Trinidad Rancheria, Wiyot Tribe, and the Northwest Information Center (NWIC) on January 16, 2024. NWIC responded recommending further study and that the local tribes be consulted. Planning staff contacted Big Lagoon Rancheria, the Yurok Tribe and Trinidad Rancheria on March 5, 2024. The Trinidad Rancheria responded on March 27, 2024, with conditional approval requesting a monitor be on-site during groundbreaking activities. The project is conditioned to comply with the protective measures as specified on the project plans, date stamp received January 8, 2024, and included in the Project Description, dated January 2, 2024, and Project Description Supplement, dated January 26, 2026, which include the requirement for all ground-disturbing work to be performed in the presence of a cultural monitor, as well as protocol in the event for inadvertent archaeological discovery of any archaeological materials or human remains.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The project was referred to responsible agencies and all responding agencies have either responded with no comment or recommended approval or conditional approval (Attachment 3).
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Based on a review of Planning Division reference sources and comments from all involved referral agencies, Planning staff concludes that the applicant has submitted evidence in support of making all of the required findings for approval of the Coastal Development Permit and Special Permit. Staff recommends that the Zoning Administrator find the project exempt from further environmental review pursuant to Section 15301 Existing Facilities, Section 15302 Replacement or Reconstruction, and Section 15304 Minor Alterations to Land of the State CEQA Guidelines, as there is no substantial evidence that the project will have a significant effect on the environment.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Zoning Administrator could elect to add or delete conditions of approval. The Zoning Administrator could elect not to approve the project, or to require the applicant to submit further evidence, or modify the project. Modifications may cause potentially significant impacts, and additional CEQA analysis and findings may be required. These alternatives could be implemented if the Zoning Administrator is unable to make all the required findings. Planning Division staff have stated that the required findings in support of the proposal have been made. Consequently, Planning staff does not recommend further consideration of either alternative.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Draft Resolution
A. Conditions of Approval
B. Project Description
C. Project Description Supplement
D. Project Plans
2. Applicant’s Evidence in Support of the Required Findings
3. Referral Agency Comments and Recommendations
Applicant
Humboldt County Department of Public Works
1106 Second Street
Eureka, CA 95501
Owner
Same as Applicant.
Agent
Same as Applicant.
Please contact Rodney Yandell, Senior Planner, at 707-268-3732 or by email at ryandell@co.humboldt.ca.us <mailto:ryandell@co.humboldt.ca.us>, if you have any questions about the scheduled item.