Memorandum
TO: Planning Commission
FROM: Mireya G. Turner, Director
Prepared by: Laura Hall, Senior Planner
DATE: December 12, 2024 (Continued from October 24, 2024)
SUBJECT: Consideration of proposed Major Use Permit (UP 23-05) and Initial Study (IS 23-10) to permit an AG Forest Wood Processing Bioenergy Project, located at 755 E State Highway 20 in Upper Lake (APN 004-010-04)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Using grant funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians (SVBPI) is proposing Major Use Per (UP 23-05) for development of a woody biomass facility (facility) to process and manage forest wood from in and around Lake County. The proposed woody biomass project would generate renewable energy to power the facility which may be available to downstream users in the future. The 42.6-acre parcel is owned by the Lake County Watershed Protection District (LCWPD) who has provided a long-term lease for the five acres to SVBPI.
Forest materials that are pre-processed into large wood chips at 8605 Bottle Rock Road, Kelseyville, (21.2 miles south of the site) would be hauled to the project site at 755 E State Highway 20 in Upper Lake (APN 004-010-04) for additional processing to create "biochar". The biochar would be transferred back to Red Hills Bioenergy, located at 7130 Red Hills Road, Kelseyville, for use. Please refer to Attachment 1 and the Project Description section of this Staff Report for more details.
Staff recommends approval of the Major Use Permit (UP 23-05) and Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS 23-10) (Attachment 2 with supporting documents included in Attachments 1, 4, 5, and 6) prepared for the project, based on the analysis and findings contained within this Staff Report, and subject to the Conditions of Approval for the project (Attachment 3).
Background and Summary of Continued Item
On October 24, 2024, the Planning Commission reviewed the proje...
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