Memorandum
Date: February 13, 2025
To: Planning Commission
From: Mireya G. Turner, Director
Prepared by: Laura Hall, Senior Planner
Subject: Consideration of Major Use Permit (UP 24-14) Morgan Valley Temporary MET Towers to amend Major Use Permit (UP 22-06) Morgan Valley Temporary MET Towers to allow for a 6-year extension beginning August 25, 2024, and ending August 25, 2030; Applicant is Morgan Valley Wind Farm, LLC; sites located at 25650 Morgan Valley Road and 10888 Rocky Creek Road, Lower Lake (APNs: 012-014-02 & 08).
Executive Summary:
The applicant, Morgan Valley Wind Farm, LLC, is proposing Major Use Permit (UP 24-14) to amend Major Use Permit (UP 22-06), to allow for a 6-year extension to continue collecting wind data from four 197' tall 'temporary' Meteorological (MET) on two parcels (APNs 012-014-02 and 012-014-08). With exception of two of the MET towers, all construction proposed in Major Use Permit UP 22-06 was completed in 2023. Confirmation was received from the Applicant on November 21, 2024, that the other two MET towers will not be constructed. The original use permit was approved by the Planning Commission on August 25, 2022, and a Notice of Exemption was filed on June 23, 2022 (Categorical Exemption [CE 22-12]). Construction of the MET towers was completed in 2023. Per the conditions of approval for Major Use Permit UP 22-06, the permit expired on August 25, 2024. The applicant timely filed an application in accordance with Section 60.33 of the Lake County Zoning Code, requesting an amendment Major Use Permit to extend the total life of the permit by six years (2024-2030). No modification to the approved plans or permit are otherwise requested.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission approve the project with the following findings:
A. Approve of Major Use Permit UP 24-14 with the following findings:
1. That the establishment, maintenance, or operation of the use applied for will not under the circum...
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