Maynard Minor Use Permit/ Coastal Development Permit C-DRC2025-00028
Summary
SCH Number
2026080191
Public Agency
San Luis Obispo County
Document Title
Maynard Minor Use Permit/ Coastal Development Permit C-DRC2025-00028
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/7/2026
Document Description
A request by Lizabeth Maynard for a Minor Use Permit / Coastal Development Permit (C-DRC2025-00028) to allow construction of a new two-story addition consisting of an approximately 490 square foot ground-floor two-car garage, a 460 square foot second-floor guesthouse, and a 123 square foot addition to the existing approximately 2,220 square foot two-story single-family residence, consisting of a 35 square-foot second-floor entry addition and an 88 square-foot first-floor laundry room addition. The project also includes a 260 square foot second-floor sundeck/patio and 320 square-foot first-floor breezeway between structures, as well as driveway improvements and associated support appurtenances on the developed parcel located at 1665 Berwick Drive (APN: 023-143-042) in the community of Cambria. Required tree replanting associated with the project would occur on-site and on the adjacent vacant parcel to the west (APN: 023-143-020), which is under the same ownership as the project site. Use of the adjacent parcel for replanting is reinforced by an existing covenant with the Cambria Community Services District related to a prior water meter transfer and voluntary merger action, and no development is proposed on the adjacent vacant parcel. The project would result in disturbance of approximately 2,650 square feet of the 9,400 square foot parcel. The site is within the Residential Single Family land use category and the North Coast Planning Area of the Coastal Zone.
Contact Information
Name
Monserath Casillas-Rios
Agency Name
County Of San Luis Obispo
Job Title
Planner I
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Lizabeth Maynard
Agency Name
Property Owners
Job Title
Applicant
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Cities
Cambria
Counties
San Luis Obispo
Regions
Southern California, Unincorporated
Total Acres
0.34
Parcel #
023-143-042 & 023-143-020
Other Location Info
1665 Berwick Drive, in the community of Cambria, CA
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
The project includes oak and pine tree removals for the construction of a new two-story addition consisting of an approximately 490 square foot ground-floor two-car garage, a 460 square foot second-floor guesthouse, and a 123 square foot addition to the existing approximately 2,220 square foot two-story single-family residence, consisting of a 35 square-foot second-floor entry addition and an 88 square-foot first-floor laundry room addition. The project also includes a 260 square foot second-floor sundeck/patio and 320 square-foot first-floor breezeway between structures, as well as driveway improvements and associated support appurtenances. The parcel is located within the Residential Single-Family land use category with access to an existing road and roadway network (Berwick Drive) that is adequate to serve the project. The proposed project is to be located on an area of the parcel that does not contain prime farmland. Additionally, the project meets all applicable community standards for development.
The project area does not fall within San Joaquin Kit Fox habitat, and, therefore, does not require related mitigation measures. The proposed project is not located within a Highway Design Corridor and will not be visible from any state-designated scenic highways.
The project is in a mapped ‘Terrestrial Habitat’, a designated Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area for Monterey Pine Trees; therefore, a Biological Resources Assessment (BRA) was prepared for the project (EAM, December 21, 2025) which details measures necessary to avoid impacts to Monterey Pines. Five oak trees will be removed and replaced at a 6:1 ratio, and one pine tree will be removed and replaced at a 4:1 ratio, consistent with North Coast Area Plan replacement requirements. The biologist conducted a field survey and observed mainly non-native annual plant species. Additionally, the BRA mentioned that the project site “does not contain riparian vegetation or habitat, or other specific features or habitats suitable for most of the identified special-status animal species.”
The project is located within a mapped “Archaeologically Sensitive Area”, and the project involves new ground-disturbing activities; therefore, a Phase 1 Archaeological Resources Assessment was completed for the project (Albion Environmental Inc., December 2025) and concluded that no significant archaeological resources are located in the project area and that no further archaeological investigation is needed for this project. Therefore, no impacts to significant cultural resources are anticipated, and the project is conditioned to stop work in the event of an inadvertent discovery.
The site is located within a mapped “Geologic Study Area.” The project was evaluated for compliance with the GSA requirements. The applicant provided a full geologic report dated July 22, 2025 (GeoSolutions, Inc.), and it was peer-reviewed by the County’s geologist, Cotton, Shires and Associates, Inc., on February 17, 2026. The reports indicated no geologic objections to the proposed development, and recommended approval of the MUP/CDP.
The construction of a new two-story addition consisting of an approximately 490 square foot ground-floor two-car garage, a 460 square foot second-floor guesthouse, and a 123 square foot addition to the existing approximately 2,220 square foot two-story single-family residence, consisting of a 35 square-foot second-floor entry addition and an 88 square-foot first-floor laundry room addition. The project also includes a 260 square foot second-floor sundeck/patio and 320 square-foot first-floor breezeway between structures, as well as driveway improvements and associated support appurtenances is covered by a Class 3 Categorical Exemption (Section 15303) under CEQA. The project will not create visual impacts or significantly change the residential suburban character of the vicinity. The residential component of the project is consistent with a Class 3 exemption, which consists of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure. The project is consistent with the following example: (e): Accessory (appurtenant) structures including garages, carports, patios, swimming pools, and fences. Additionally, none of the exceptions listed in Section 15300.2. to the exemptions apply to this property, in that there are no unusual circumstances surrounding the project, the project is in a residential area with similarly developed lots, the project does not impact any scenic resources for any officially designated scenic highways, the location of the proposed project is not within any hazardous waste site compiled pursuant to Gov. Code § 65962.5., and the proposed project does not involve a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource.
County Clerk
San Luis Obispo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.