DATE: August 23, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Amendment to Text Application No. 373 (Applicant: County of Fresno)
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Consider and approve Amendment to Text Application No. 373 and adopt ordinance amending various sections of the Fresno County Zoning Ordinance to add Temporary Mill/Chipping Facilities as a matter of right in the RC (Resource Conservation), TPZ (Timberland Preserve), and AE (Exclusive Agricultural) Districts, subject to certain standards and limited in duration to the declared local state of emergency due to tree mortality and degraded forest conditions, plus an additional 180 consecutive days thereafter.
REPORT
This item has been prepared pursuant to Board direction provided to staff on April 12, 2016, to develop expedited land use processes to address the tree mortality and received a unanimous recommendation for approval from the Planning Commission (see Exhibit 1). Staff has determined that the subject proposal is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Statutory Exemption Section 15269(c) Emergency Projects (specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency), Categorical Exemption - Section 15301(h) Existing Facilities (Maintenance of existing landscaping, native growth, etc.) and Section 15308 Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment (maintenance/protection of the environment).
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the Board determines that the proposed Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance is not consistent with the General Plan, a motion to deny Amendment to Text Application No. 373 would be appropriate.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Preparation of the Amendment to Text and related Agenda Item in the amount of approximately $7,500 is a Net County Cost, which is being absorbed within the Department of Public Works and Planning FY 2016-17 Org 43600200 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:...
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