Brooks Minor Use Permit; N-DRC2023-00027 ED24-110
Summary
SCH Number
2025120786
Public Agency
San Luis Obispo County
Document Title
Brooks Minor Use Permit; N-DRC2023-00027 ED24-110
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/17/2025
Document Description
A request by Laura Brooks for a Minor Use Permit (N-DRC2023-00027) to authorize major grading for the purposes of constructing a driveway to accommodate access to a future building pad for a single-story 594 square-foot (sf) residence and associated site improvements, including a septic leach field. The proposed project will disturb approximately 1.35 acres (59,000 square-feet) including approximately 1,040 cubic yards of cut and 690 cubic yards of fill across three parcels (APNs: 039-341-009, -010, and -011) totaling approximately 50.64 acres. The proposed project is located within the Residential Rural land use category and is located at 1947 Ridge Road, approximately 0.5 miles north of the Atascadero city limits. The project is within the Salinas River Sub-Area of the North County Planning Area.
Contact Information
Name
Mason Denning
Agency Name
County Of San Luis Obispo
Job Title
Senior Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Nelson Bernal
Agency Name
Authorized Agent
Job Title
NRB Drafting Service
Contact Types
Project Applicant / Responsible Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Unincorporated Templeton
Counties
San Luis Obispo
Regions
Southern California, Unincorporated
Total Acres
50.64
Parcel #
039-341-009, 039-341-010, and 039-341-011
Other Location Info
1947 RIDGE RD TEMPLETON, CA 93465
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
The project includes grading for the construction of an access road to serve a future residential building pad. The parcels are located within the Residential Rural land use category with access to an existing road and roadway network that is adequate to serve the project. The applicant has designed the grading, site improvements, and location of the proposed building pad to minimize project impact to the most reasonable degree possible considering the driveway is proposed to be graded across three separate parcels. The proposed driveway to be graded is primarily sited on orchard and ruderal/disturbed vegetation. Additionally, the project is proposed to be placed in an area of the parcel(s) that do not contain prime farmland. The proposed project meets all applicable community standards for development.
The project area does not fall within San Joaquin Kit Fox habitat, therefore, does not require related mitigation measures. The proposed project is primarily located on traditionally disturbed areas that are sparsely vegetated, disturbed for fuel management purposes, or historically used for orchard operations, which has effectively reduced the potential for natural occurrence of special-status plant species and associated habitat within the property. The project is not located within a Highway Design Corridor and will not be visible from any state designated scenic highways. There is no current proposal for the removal of any heritage oak trees.
A biological resources assessment (BRA) was prepared for this project by Padre Associates, dated October 2023, in combination with a tree protection plan and tree inventory prepared by A&T Arborists, dated May 20, 2023. The project originally proposed removal of three oak trees, two of which would require replacement plantings, and impacts to nine oak trees, also requiring replacement plantings. A subsequent submittal included a revision to the provided BRA and arborist report, prepared by Padre and dated April 2024. The revised BRA and oak tree inventory noted that substantial winter storms earlier in the year damaged several oak trees previously identified, resulting in additional tree removals for safety reasons and unassociated with the project’s activities.
The revised BRA also noted the following:
• No aquatic resources were identified within the survey area and associated buffer.
• No USFWS-Designated Critical Habitat occurs within the survey area.
• No sensitive natural communities as defined by CDFW.
• No special-status plant species observed during the August 2023 or April 2024 field surveys nor documented to occur within the BSA during desktop review.
Out of the 39 special-status wildlife species documented within 10 miles of the project based on a desktop review, approximately 8 species had a greater potential to occur within the survey area based on proximity of documented occurrences and/or presence of generally suitable habitat. While the potential for occurrence was noted due to generally suitable habitat, no special-status species were identified to the species level and found to occur during the August 2023 field survey.
Despite no occurrence during field surveys, pre-construction surveys have been included as avoidance measures for the project due to habitat potential for nesting birds and special-status species if construction is to occur between February and August, April through August, and/or May through July and may be completed simultaneously during overlap periods. Requirements for species relocation at their own volition have been included in the conditioned avoidance measure(s).
The project is not located in an area with known archaeological resources; therefore, impacts to cultural resources are not anticipated. In the unlikely event resources are uncovered during grading activities, implementation of County Code Section 22.10.040 (Archaeological Resources) would be required, which states:
A. Construction activities shall cease, and the Department shall be notified so that the extent and location of discovered materials may be recorded by a qualified archaeologist, and disposition of artifacts may be accomplished in accordance with state and federal law.
B. In the event archeological resources are found to include human remains, or in any other case when human remains are discovered during construction, the County Coroner shall be notified in addition to the Department so proper disposition may be accomplished.
Existing grading and drainage regulations will adequately address surface water quality impacts during construction and permanent use of the driveway and proposed residence. In conclusion, the project will conform to the applicable General Plan and Area Plan standards, and no measures beyond those required by the County Code are necessary to address the environmental impacts associated with the proposed project.
County Clerk
San Luis Obispo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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