Mountain F Enterprises Development Permit and Zoning Map Amendment Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration
Summary
SCH Number
2026070787
Lead Agency
Nevada County
Document Title
Mountain F Enterprises Development Permit and Zoning Map Amendment Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration
Document Type
MND - Mitigated Negative Declaration
Received
Present Land Use
The project is proposed on three parcels that total 66-acres in size on Brunswick Road. The parcels are about 2,200 feet north of the intersection of Highway 174 and Brunswick Road. The project is about 3,200 feet south east of the City of Grass Valley but is within the long-term sphere of influence. The subject property has a General Plan designation of IND (Industrial) and a Zoning designation of M1-SP (Light Industrial with Site Performance Standards). The Site Performance Standards are associated with Ordinance Number 1853 which discusses requirements for the previously proposed Nevada County Business and Industrial Center. The subject property consists mostly of a large asphalt pad that used to be associated with mining and timber operations. Surrounding the asphalt pad are disturbed mixed conifer forests that are heavily loaded with understory vegetation and dead/downed trees. Within the forested area there are old canals, cleared paths, possible old hydraulic mining walls, and various clearings and depressions.
To the north of the site are parcels previously part of the Idaho Maryland Mine that are owned by Rise Gold. Northwest of the site is a 105-acre undeveloped parcel, west of the site is a single-family residential neighborhood, and south of the project site is a residential agricultural neighborhood. The mixed conifer forest of the project parcel creates a buffer between the asphalt pad on the project site and the surrounding land uses to the west and south. The eastern portion of the parcel is bordered by Brunswick Road and is adjacent from low density residential agricultural development.
Document Description
Mountain F Enterprises is applying for a Development Permit and zoning map amendment for a wood grinding facility at 12503, 12625, and 12791 Brunswick Road, Grass Valley, California 95945 within Nevada County’s Light Industrial zone with a Site Performance combining district (M1-SP) and Industrial (IND) General Plan land use designation.
The project will process forest-sourced wood waste, including whole logs and wood debris, sourced from various customers, including from PG&E hazard tree removal operations. The processed wood waste will be subsequently transported to biomass energy facilities for electricity generation or wood product manufacturing plants. The project anticipates processing up to 200 tons of wood products a day.
The project is proposed on three parcels with an aggregate area of 66 acres. Site activities will be concentrated on an existing graded and paved pad that is approximately seven acres in size. No further disturbance is proposed other than a small right-hand taper that is proposed to be constructed on Brunswick Road. An approximately 1.8-acre portion of the existing seven-acre asphalt pad will be dedicated to the chipping and grinding operation that will be enclosed by a fence and will include a truck scale, a 100 square foot trailer, and a horizontal grinder.
The northern portion of the project area is proposed as a maintenance and outdoor storage area for commercial vehicles such as grapple trucks, semi-trucks, front-end loaders, and excavators. Maintenance includes routine service, inspections, and minor repairs. The asphalt pad will include parking for up to 132 employee vehicles, two 200 square foot office trailers, and six shipping containers for tool and equipment storage.
The project includes a Zoning District Map Amendment (Rezone) to remove the Site Performance Combining District (-SP) overlay from the property, resulting in zoning of Light Industrial (M1) only. The SP overlay is connected to Nevada County Ordinance Number 1853 which discusses requirements that were in place when the project site was owned by Sierra Pacific Industries and proposed as the Nevada County Business and Industrial Center. The original master plan associated with the “SP” was tailored to a larger, multi-parcel industrial center that has not materialized as envisioned in 1994. The M1 zoning district and the IND General Plan Designation will remain.
The project parcels are surrounded by a mix of industrial and rural residential areas. Primary access to the site is via Brunswick Road, a paved County maintained road that connects to nearby urban centers and commercial facilities. It is estimated that the project will have 662 daily vehicle trips composed of 179 heavy vehicle trips and 483 light vehicle trips.
The Facility is proposed to operate Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (excluding major holidays), with occasional Saturday shifts for peak processing needs. Hours may be extended during emergency operations associated with weather events with approval from the Planning Director.
Contact Information
Name
David Nicholas
Agency Name
Nevada County
Job Title
Senior Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Grass Valley, unincorporated area
Counties
Nevada
Regions
Northern California, Unincorporated
Cross Streets
Brunswick Road
Zip
95945
Total Acres
66
Parcel #
006-441-003, 006-441-004, 006-441-0005
State Highways
174, 49/20
Airports
Nevada County Airport
Schools
Union Hill School
Waterways
South Fork Wolf Creek, Little Greenhorn Creek,
Township
16 N
Range
8 E
Section
31, 36
Other Location Info
12503, 12625, 12791 Brunswick Road
Grass Valley, CA 95945
Notice of Completion
State Review Period Start
State Review Period End
State Reviewing Agencies
California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, North Central Region 2 (CDFW), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), California Department of Transportation, District 3 (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Fish and Game Commission (CDFGC), California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Sacramento Region 5 (RWQCB), Central Valley Flood Protection Board, Office of Historic Preservation, Sierra Nevada Conservancy, State Water Resources Control Board, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water
Development Types
Industrial (Sq. Ft. 300, Acres 7, Employees 100)
Local Actions
Rezone, Development Permit
Project Issues
Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Drainage/Absorption, Energy, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Growth Inducement, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Mandatory Findings of Significance, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Schools/Universities, Septic System, Sewer Capacity, Solid Waste, Transportation, Tribal Cultural Resources, Utilities/Service Systems, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian, Wildfire
Public Review Period Start
Public Review Period End
Attachments
Draft Environmental Document [Draft IS, NOI_NOA_Public notices, OPR Summary Form, Appx,]
Notice of Completion [NOC] Transmittal form
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