Willet Variance (N-DRC2025-00047/ ED26-0110)

2026090632

San Luis Obispo County

NOE - Notice of Exemption

9/16/2026

9/16/2026

Sam Kinney

County of San Luis Obispo

Planner I

Lead/Public Agency

976 Osos Street RM 200
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408

(805) 781-1417

skinney@co.slo.ca.us

Deborah Willet and Richard Puckett

Property Owners

Applicant

Project Applicant

125 Vista Mar Court
Aptos, CA 95003

(831) 325-1389

debbiewillet@comcast.net

93426

0.24

012-265-034

Between 8135 Smith Point Rd and 8143 Smith Point Rd Bradley CA, 93426

Other

15061(b)(3)

The project includes grading for the construction of a single-family residence with an attached garage within the Residential single family land use category with access to an existing roadway network that is adequate to serve the project. The applicant has designed the grading and site improvements to minimize site disturbance, and the project is located entirely on slopes greater than 30%. Without a variance the lot would not have a viable building envelope. The proposed residence will be designed by licensed professionals in compliance with applicable building codes. The design will incorporate appropriate measures to address erosion control, slope stability, and long-term safety. Several neighboring parcels have residences constructed mostly or entirely on slopes over 30%. The proposed use and grading would not constitute a special privilege and is consistent with the surrounding neighborhood characteristics. The project has a relatively small area of disturbance of approximately 6000 square feet on a 10,291 square foot parcel. The project area is located within the Nacimiento Sub-area of the North County Planning area in the Village of Oak shores and is subject to the applicable sub-area standards outlined in County Code Section 22.94.070 and Community standards outlined in 22.104.040. This project, as proposed, meets all applicable community standards for development. Additionally, the project is proposed to be placed in an area that is not categorized as prime farmland and will not convert prime farmland to a non-agricultural use. The project area does not fall within San Joaquin Kit Fox habitat and, therefore, does not require related mitigation measures. A biological resource assessment and Oak tree report were prepared as part of the project. The report found no special status plants or species were currently on the project site (Althouse and Meade 2026). The applicant has agreed to tree protection measures to avoid harming the remaining oak trees. The applicant has proposed on-site replanting at a ratio of 4:1 for removed oak trees and 2:1 for impacted oak trees. With three oak trees proposed for removal and three additional trees identified as impacted, a total of 18 replacement oak trees will be planted. The applicant has agreed to tree protection measures to avoid harming the remaining oak tree. The project will not result in the removal of any heritage oak trees, and there are no special status plants currently within the project area the project has been conditioned to include preconstruction surveys for nesting birds. Therefore, the project will maintain compliance with local policies and ordinances protecting biological resources. The applicant submitted a Cultural Resource Survey prepared by Albion. No identified cultural resources were found within the proposed project area (Albion 2026). The project is not located near a stream or 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. The proposed project is located within a Geologic Survey Area and requires a geologic survey to be peer reviewed by the County Geologist. The geologic study showed no mapped landslides within proximity to the proposed site. The County Geologist recommended approval of the land use permit with the understanding that the pier and grade beam foundation system be incorporated into the foundation design. The geologist provided recommended conditions of approval that have been incorporated into the projects conditions of approval (Cotton, Shires and Associates, Inc 2026). Existing grading and drainage regulations will adequately address surface water quality impacts during construction and permanent use of the residence. The project will conform to the applicable General Plan and Area Plan standards, and no measures beyond those required by County Code are necessary to address the environmental impacts associated with the proposed project.