The Imperial County Planning Commission recommended approval of Lot Line Adjustment 00343, a property-line adjustment involving parcels at 590 and 596 West Wood Road in Imperial, with staff’s recommended conditions but without adding a required septic certification condition requested in a health department comment letter.

Planner Luis Valenzuela (transcript: "Venezuela") presented the application, saying the proposal would resolve an enforcement issue involving a residential structure on Parcel A (APN 064-240-013) and bring both parcels into compliance with applicable zoning. He said water would be provided by the City of Imperial and sewer service for at least one parcel would remain an on-site septic system. Valenzuela said staff recommended the commission find the lot adjustment categorically exempt from CEQA under Article 19, Section 15305 and approve the adjustment subject to attached conditions.

A neighbor and property owner, Raul (Raul Parra) appeared and confirmed he had read the project materials and agreed. The commission acknowledged two comment letters the office received from Environmental Health Services (EHS) and PolyWorks; EHS’s October 15 letter noted EHS has no septic records for APN 064-240-038 and requested a Tier 2 septic evaluation and certification prior to recordation so the county can provide final comments.

Commission discussion focused on whether to add the septic certification as a condition of approval. Staff said the letter did not specify who must perform the certification but asked that it be provided prior to recordation. Commissioners debated whether the requirement should be made a condition or simply recognized as a received comment. One commissioner noted the leach fields might cross property lines and suggested caution if future building is proposed. The commission majority chose to recognize receipt of the EHS comment and not impose the septic certification as a condition of approval.

Commissioner (name recorded in transcript as speaker who made motion) moved to recommend approval of Lot Line Adjustment 00343 as recommended by staff without adding the septic certification condition; a second was recorded, and the motion passed on roll call. The commission’s approval is subject to the standard conditions attached to the staff report, and appeals must be filed within 10 days.