COUNTY OF SAN MATEO Inter-Departmental Correspondence
PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT
DATE:			April 30, 2007
BOARD MEETING DATE:			May 15, 2007
SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:			None
VOTE REQUIRED:			Minimum 4/5 vote of full Board
TO:		Honorable Board of Supervisors
FROM:		Lisa Grote, Director of Community Development
SUBJECT:		EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Consideration of a Regulatory Agreement between the County and George C. Houck and Lou AK Trust, to manage and harvest timber jointly according to the provisions of the Joint Timber Management Plan (JTMP) for 30 years, located on two undeveloped parcels in the unincorporated Pescadero area of San Mateo County.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution authorizing:
A.	A Regulatory Agreement and Declaration of Restrictive Covenants between George C. Houck and Lou AK Trust and the County to ensure management and operation of the subject timberland according to the Joint Timber Management Plan (JTMP).
B.	The County Manager or his designee to record the agreement and any other documents that may be required to implement the agreement.
VISION ALIGNMENT
Commitment: Preserve and provide people access to our natural environment.
Goal: “Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship.” The project contributes to this goal through the execution of the Joint Timber Management Plan (JTMP), which ensures the viability of timberland resources on resulting parcels of an approved Lot Line Adjustment (PLN 2006-00513) over the term of the Regulatory Agreement.
BACKGROUND
Currently, the two adjacent, subject parcels (APNs 089-120-080 and 089-120-030) are both owned by George C. Houck and Lou AK Trust (Houck Trust), with timber harvesting performed under a 1995 Forest Management Plan. The properties are characterized as vacant forestland, bisected by the Butano Fire Road. Currently, APN 089-120-080 is a 6-acre parcel located in the Planned Agricultural District (PAD/CD) zoning district. The adjacent parcel to the east, APN 089-120-030, is a 158-acre parcel located in the Timberland Preserve Zone- Coastal Zone (TPZ-CZ/CD) zoning district.
DISCUSSION
On December 12, 2006, Peter Colby of Save-the-Redwoods League (League) requested a lot line adjustment for the purpose of acquiring a 99-acre portion of the subject property to be transferred to the California Department of Parks and Recreation and, in the future, incorporated into the State Parks system. For land divisions resulting in parcels that are less than 160 acres in size, Section 6957 of the County Zoning Regulations requires submittal of a Joint Timber Management Plan (JTMP) and requires the owner(s) to enter into a contract with the County requiring the property owners to jointly manage and harvest on-site timberlands for a minimum of 30 years. On April 26, 2007, the Community Development Director approved two (2) Certificates of Compliance (Type A) to legalize both parcels, and a Lot Line Adjustment, Timberland Preserve Zone (Minor Development Permit), and a Coastal Development Permit Exemption (CDX) for the project, with a condition of approval requiring the applicant to meet the requirements of Section 6957, prior to the recordation of the final parcel map.
The League has submitted a JTMP, prepared by Gene Forsburg (registered professional forester #1873) of Buena Vista Services, LLC. The proposed JTMP has been reviewed and approved by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Planning staff has found that the application and submitted materials have met the requirements of Section 6957 of the County Zoning Regulations. All of the current owners of the subject parcels have agreed to the subject Regulatory Agreement and Declaration of Restrictive Covenants. If approved by the Board of Supervisors, the JTMP, including proposed recommendations, is to be implemented through the Regulatory Agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
Nominal cost to the Planning and Building Department to monitor and respond to potential complaints of non-compliance with the approved JTMP at the subject properties.