Conditional Use Permit#25-0007 / Initial Study #25-0017 Don Whitacre

The proposed project involves the construction and operation of a residential water well on a vacant R-1 zoned parcel located at 915 Mesquite Road, Ocotillo, California, 92259, to supply a future 50ft x 50ft barndominium with an annual water extraction limit of one acre-foot. The applicant, Don Whitacre, seeks a Conditional Use Permit and Initial Study under the California Environmental Quality Act to support the development, which is situated within a residential neighborhood with government-special public zoning on the southern boundary. The project requires compliance with Imperial County regulations including Division 21 Water Well Standards, the California Building Code, and standards from the Department of Public Works and Environmental Health Services, with strict requirements for well placement, including a minimum 100-foot separation from septic systems and adherence to FEMA Flood Zone X designations. All infrastructure, including rights-of-way, easements, and utility relocations, must be secured and funded by the applicant, with electrical system impact studies and AutoCAD submissions mandatory for approval. Environmental compliance is central to the project, with the County serving as the lead agency under CEQA to evaluate potential impacts across 23 factors including groundwater recharge, air quality, hazardous materials, wildfire risk, and tribal cultural resources. The Environmental Evaluation Committee determined the project would have no significant environmental impact, leading to the preparation of a Negative Declaration supported by an Initial Study, which must be made publicly available. The applicant must indemnify the County against all claims arising from the project and provide certified legal descriptions of all required easements. Approval conditions include obtaining an encroachment permit for any work within Imperial Irrigation District easements, compliance with fire protection standards, and submitting all documentation including site plans, electrical load calculations, and fee payments in a complete application package. The project’s performance is limited to the designated parcel, with inspection occurring on-site and final acceptance processed through the Imperial County Planning & Development Services Department in El Centro. There is no federal contract structure, pricing, or procurement terminology; instead, the process is an administrative land-use permitting action with no federal solicitation, award, or contract administration components such as COR, PCO, FAR clauses, or federal accounting identifiers.