Memorandum
Date: December 11, 2025
To: The Honorable Lake County Planning Commission
From: Mireya G. Turner, Community Development Director
Lars Ewing, Public Services Department Director
Michelle Irace, Senior Planner
Subject: Consideration of General Plan Conformity and Initial Study for the Cobb Community Park Project (PL-25-96), located at 16540 State Hwy 175, Cobb (APN 013-056-04).
Executive Summary: To address the increasing need for parks, trails, and open space within Cobb and beyond, the County has identified the Cobb Community Park Project (Project) site, located at 16540 State Hwy 175, Cobb, for potential development of a park that would serve the local community. The Project is proposed as a phased project, as funding becomes available. Phase 1 would occur in the western portion of the site (primary recreation area) and includes a main parking lot, restroom, picnic and gathering areas, dog run, concrete paths and curbs, and reinforcement of the existing turnout. Phase 2 would include construction of a pedestrian bridge over Kelsey Creek and a retaining wall along the trail segment paralleling Golf Road in the northeastern portion of the site. It would also include natural surface trails north/east of Kelsey Creek, the northern trailhead furnishings, and signage installation. Phase 3 includes the pedestrian creek overlooks and removal of invasive species and restoration of native species along Kelsey Creek. Phase 4 would provide a secondary parking lot and adjacent concrete walk at the north corner of the site along Golf Road. Site Plans are included in Attachment 1. A Vicinity Map is included in Figure 1; a Map of the Primary Recreation Area is included in Figure 2, and a Phasing Plan is included in Figure 3 below.
Construction activities are planned to begin in 2026. Project construction would be implemented in logical phases depending on the available grant funding. The Project has been designed to preserve the natural canopy and minimize tree removal. Any necessary tree removal for access, fire safety, or site features would comply with applicable protection and mitigation standards, Lake County’s Resolution No. 95-211 (Oak Woodland Management Policy), and Chapter 30, Grading Ordinance, of the Municipal Code.
Staff requests the Lake County Planning Commission assess the Project's conformity with the General Plan, required under Government Code Section 65402, and consider approval of the Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared for the Project.
Recommended Action: Staff recommends the Planning Commission find that the proposed Cobb Community Park Project (PL-25-96) is in conformance with the County of Lake General Plan pursuant to California Government Code Section 65402, and adopt the Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration with the Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Program prepared for the Project, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
SAMPLE MOTIONS
Environmental Review
A. I move that the Planning Commission adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Program prepared for the Cobb Community Park Project (PL-25-96), proposed by the County of Lake, Public Services Department, located at 16540 State Hwy 175, Cobb (APN 013-056-04), based on the findings in the staff report dated December 11, 2025.
General Plan Conformity Report
B. I move that the Planning Commission finds that the Cobb Community Park Project, proposed by the County of Lake, Public Services Department, located at 16540 State Hwy 175, Cobb (APN 013-056-04), is in conformity with the Lake County General Plan as required under the California Code of Regulations Section 65402 with the findings in the staff report dated December 11, 2025.