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Planning and Building Department, Planning Division, recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a letter to the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection appointing Karen L. Garner, Director of the Planning and Building Department, as El Dorado County's primary authorized designee, Robert Peters, Deputy Director of Planning, as El Dorado County's secondary authorized designee as approved and authorized previously, and add Aaron Mount, Planning Manager as El Dorado County's third authorized designee to review Timberland Conversion Permits (or equivalent) and Less Than 3 Acre Conversion Exemptions.
FUNDING: There is no funding associated with this action.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Prior to the conversion of timberland to a use other than growing timber requires a Timberland Conversion Permit or, if eligible, a Less than 3 Acre Conversion Exemption from California State Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). The County's authorized designee is provided notification by CAL FIRE whenever such a permit or exemption is requested, thereby giving the County the opportunity to determine if the request is in conformance with County regulatory requirements.
Traditionally, Timberland Conversion Permits and Less Than 3 Acre Conversion Exemptions have been reviewed by the Planning Division for compliance with local regulations. Beginning on August 23, 2017, the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection requested that the County formally appoint an authorized designee in order to improve the communication between the Registered Professional Foresters, local jurisdictions, CAL FIRE, and the State Board of Forestry. The Director and Deputy Director of Planning have traditionally been the authorized designees, however, to support more efficient review time frames, staff is requesting that a third designee, Aaron Mount, Planning Manager, is added.
When a change is made to the primary designee, the County submits a formal ...
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