Memorandum
Date: October 28, 2025
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Mireya G. Turner, Community Development Director
Michelle Irace, Senior Planner
Subject: 9:15 A.M. - PUBLIC HEARING - Consideration of Appeal (PL-25-22; AB 24-06) of the Planning Commission's Approval of Major Use Permit (UP 23-05), and Initial Study (IS 23-10); for the AG Forest Wood Processing Bioenergy Project; locate at 755 East State Highway 20, Upper Lake (APN 004-010-04); Appellant: Larry Kahn (Continued from May 20, June 17, and August 26, 2025)
Executive Summary:
Larry Kahn has appealed the decision made by the Lake County Planning Commission on December 12, 2024, to approve Major Use Permit (UP 23-05) for the AG Forest Wood Processing Bioenergy Project which would allow the development of a wood processing and bioenergy facility, located at 755 E State Highway 20 in Upper Lake (APN 004-010-04) (Exhibit A). This appeal was continued at the June 17, and August 26, 2025, Board meeting to allow for additional time for Staff to confer with state agencies regarding terms of the lease, and to respond to the Appellant's request for public records. Since the last continuance, Staff has made attempts to contact the state. If Staff does not gain clarification from the state by the date of this agenda posting, Staff intends to request an additional continuance.
Background
Scotts Valley Energy Corporation (Applicant) has received grant funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration to develop a facility to process forest wood, removed from local forests to lower wildfire risk, into bioenergy. Biomass material will come from the contractors that are removing biomass such as tree branches from powerline rights-of-way and operations from forest clearing for reduction of fuel resources to help protect communities. The facility will operate as a central forest wood management and processing system for forest thinning biomass collected ...
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