Humboldt planning commission'backed lot-line fix for Standard parcel; board approves rezone

Humboldt County planning staff on Tuesday won the Board of Supervisors'approval for a small lot-line adjustment and companion change to the county's general plan and zoning map that moves 0.2 acre from a large Green Diamond parcel to an adjacent small Standard parcel.

Alice Westerling, the project planner, told the board the lot-line change corrects historic encroachments that placed a garage and driveway across a property line. Westerling said the adjustment would transfer roughly 0.2 acre and requires a general-plan amendment and rezoning so the transferred land remains consistent with Humboldt County's General Plan and zoning ordinance.

Westerling said the area to be reclassified would change from a Timber Production Zone designation to an Agriculture General/residential estates designation to match the built condition. Planning Director John Ford said the lot-line adjustment itself would be administrative if the land-use and zoning didn't need to change, but because the planned transfer crosses a zoning boundary the board needed to act.

Supervisor Bob expressed frustration at the paperwork and costs for a very small transfer, noting similar small adjustments have come before the county. Several supervisors asked staff to look at a streamlined administrative process for minor transfers that affect few or no neighbors. John Ford said staff would return with options for simplifying ministerial adjustments when public impacts are minimal.

The board approved the General Plan amendment, the rezoning ordinance and recording of the lot-line adjustment (motion carried 5-0). Staff said the lot-line adjustment will be recorded once the ordinance is adopted.