To: Zoning Administrator
From: Planning and Building Department
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
McKinleyville Community Services District Force Main
Assessor Parcel Numbers (APN) 511-001-008
Record No.: PLN-2026-19557
McKinleyville area
A Coastal Development Permit (CDP) for the McKinleyville Community Services District (MCSD) to replace the existing 10-inch sewer force main between the Letz Avenue Lift Station and the Murray Road manhole with a new force main. The existing force main is primarily buried within the yards of residences. It will be capped on both ends and abandoned. The new force main will be installed within an open cut trench that will be dug along the Hammond Trail. No new service connections will be added, and no increase in wastewater will occur as a result of the project.
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Zoning Administrator:
1. Adopt the resolution, (Attachment 1) which does the following:
a. Finds the project exempt from further environmental review pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) of the State CEQA Guidelines, and that there is no substantial evidence that the project will have a significant effect on the environment; and
b. Finds the proposed project complies with the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance; and
c. Approves the Coastal Development Permit subject to the conditions of approval.
Body
DISCUSSION:
A Coastal Development Permit (CDP) for the McKinleyville Community Services District (MCSD) to replace the existing 10-inch sewer force main between the Letz Avenue Lift Station and the Murray Road manhole with a new force main. The existing force main is primarily buried within the yards of residences. It will be capped on both ends and abandoned. The new force main will be installed within an open cut trench that will be dug along the Hammond Trail. No new service connections will be added, and no increase in wastewater flows will occur as a result of the project.
Project Location: The project site is located in the McKinleyville area, extending from the existing Letz Avenue sewer lift station south along the Hammond Trail to an existing gravity sewer manhole on Murray Road.
Present General Plan Land Use Designation: PF Public Facilities (Urban), MCAP, Relative Slope Stability - 0
Present Zoning: Public Facility (Urban) (PF1) with adjacent Combining Zones including Airport Safety Review (AP), Alquist-Priolo Fault Hazard (G), Archaeological Resource Area Outside Shelter Cove (A), Flood Hazard Areas (F), Noise Impact (N), and Streams and Riparian Corridor Protection (R).
Environmental Review: The project is Categorically Exempt from environmental review pursuant to Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
State Appeal: Project is appealable to the California Coastal Commission.
Major Concerns: None
Monitoring Required: None.
Executive Summary: A Coastal Development Permit (CDP) for the McKinleyville Community Services District (MCSD) to replace the existing 10-inch sewer force main between the Letz Avenue Lift Station and the Murray Road manhole with a new force main. The existing force main is primarily buried within the yards of residences. It will be capped on both ends and abandoned. The new force main will be installed within an open cut trench that will be dug along the Hammond Trail except it will cross at a 90-degree angle to the Letz Ave lift station. Where it leaves the trail is an approximately 50-foot section. No new service connections will be added, and no increase in wastewater flows will occur as a result of the project.
Note: The project area takes place within parcels zoned Public Facilities (Urban) and utilizes the Hammond Trail Right of Way. All Combined Zoning areas described are adjacent to the project are, to the west of Highway 101 and the Hamond Trail.
Biological Resources: The new sewer force main will cross over Norton Creek, a perennial watercourse that is a fish-bearing stream. At the location of the proposed crossing the Hammond Trail crosses Norton Creek over an existing culvert. The sewer main will cross the creek above the existing culvert and will not impact any riparian habitat. The Hammond Trail, a public access trail, is permitted use within the riparian corridor under Section 3.41F(4) of the McKinleyville Area Plan. Trails and road crossings typically include utility improvements. As the sewer main will be installed above the existing culvert, no development is occurring within the stream channel itself.
A biological site visit was conducted on July 25, 2025, to survey special status plant species within the Project Study Boundary (PSB). Based on the survey, invasive and non-native species were dominant throughout the PSB. Non-native vegetation dominated the understory riparian habitat of Norton Creek including a dense growth of Himalayan blackberry which made the available riparian habitat for special status species low-quality. The managed grassland habitat was dominated by invasive grasses such as Italian rye grass (Festuca perennis) and sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum), as well as other invasive species such as ribwort (Plantago lanceolata) and red seeded dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). Similarly to the riparian habitat, these invasives also made the available habitat for special status species occurring in grassland low-quality. This biological study was done prior to final design decisions and included a review of areas adjacent to the existing Hammond Trail. As described above, the sewer main will be installed within the existing Hammond Trail except for the last 50 feet to the lift station and will therefore have very minimal impacts on any habitat areas. In this last section where it leaves the trail, no trees are proposed to be removed. The applicant has submitted an arborist report that looked at the entirety of the proposed alignment and found that some trees could have roots impacted by the trenching. The arborist identified that a total of 17 trees could have roots impacted due to the trenching. Of those 17 trees the arborist identified that two red alders and one spruce tree would likely need to be removed but that with specific measures utilized during trenching activities. Compliance with these measures is proposed as a condition of approval.
Access: The new sewer main will be approximately 1,700 feet long, extending from the existing Letz Avenue Lift Station south along the Hammond Trail to an existing gravity sewer manhole on Murray Road. Access is gained along the Hammond Trail adjacent to Highway 101, McKinleyville, CA between Murray Road and Letz Road. All access is along a public right-of-way.
Geologic Suitability: Portions of the project area are within 1000-2000 feet of a known earthquake fault line (Alquist-Priolo Fault Hazard). Slope instability is considered low throughout this project area. This fault will have no direct impact on the project.
Tribal Consultation: The project was referred to Blue Lake Rancheria, Wiyot Tribe, Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria, and the Northwest Information Center. The NWIC responded recommended inadvertent discovery protocol. The inadvertent discovery protocol has been included as a condition of approval.
Environmental Review: The project is Categorically Exempt from environmental review pursuant to Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
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 5)
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. The Zoning Administrator could elect to add, modify, or delete conditions of approval. Staff have concluded that the required findings in support of the proposal can be made.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Draft Resolution
A. Conditions of Approval
B. Site Plan
2. Project Desperation and Location Maps
3. Applicant’s Evidence in Support of the Required Findings
A. Biological Technical Memo and Addendum
B. Arborist Report
C. Design Drawings
4. Referral Agency Comments and Recommendations
Applicant:
McKinleyville Community Services District,
1656 Sutter Road
McKinleyville, CA 95519
Owner:
Laurel Tree Charter School,
4555 Valley West Blvd.
McKinleyville, CA. 95521
Agent:
Adam Wagschal,
718 3rd Street
Eureka, CA 95501
Please contact Michael Kein, Associate Planner, at MKein2@co.humboldt.ca.us or 707-268-3739 if you have questions about this item.