Homestead Forest, Inc. Minor Subdivision of TPZ Lands MS2701

This project proposes subdivision of a 623.69-acre parcel into five separate parcels. The subdivision would create four new 40-acre parcels, and a fifth parcel of 463.69 acres. The entire project area is zoned Timber Production Zone (TPZ) and the General Plan land use designation is Timberland. The minimum lot size for parcels zoned TPZ is 20 acres. The site is accessed via a U.S. Forest Service road from French Hill Road, which connects to Highway 199 in Gasquet, California. The subdivision would occur on resource lands, where the principal permitted use is for timber harvest. As there is no proposal to develop the parcels for further residential or commercial uses, the applicant was not required to demonstrate potential development areas or sewage disposal sites. Any future development on any of the resultant parcels would require separate review and approval. As noted above, access to the parcel is via a small section of U.S. Forest Service road that connects to French Hill Road. An existing private road network would provide access to all newly created parcels. The applicant has submitted a Joint Timber Management Plan, demonstrating the feasibility of future timber harvesting following the subdivision, and establishing a framework for ongoing timber management by any future property owners. The applicant also submitted a preliminary biological assessment. Because there is no proposed physical development at this time, a more detailed biological assessment would be required for future, specific development proposals.