Khai Bui Use Permit for Restoration UP2602C

Use Permit UP2602C, approved on December 3, 2025, by the Del Norte County Planning Commission, authorizes restoration work on a 0.81-acre parcel (APN 102-080-037) located at 161 Salmon Harbor Road in Smith River, California. The project was initiated by Frank Galea on behalf of property owner Khai Bui to remediate the unpermitted removal of five Sitka spruce trees. The subject property is situated within the Coastal Zone under the jurisdiction of the Coastal Commission and is zoned as General Resource Conservation Area District (RCA-1) and Rural Residential (RR-1). The scope of work requires the implementation of a mitigation and monitoring plan to restore the impacted environmentally sensitive habitat areas, which includes planting 20 Sitka spruce seedlings and 10 red alder. Key environmental protections include maintaining a 100-foot buffer from the Class II watercourse to protect wetlands and ensuring that restoration activities do not alter the watercourse or increase erosion. A qualified biologist or botanist must inspect the site at the end of each summer for five years to ensure planting success. Additionally, the project must adhere to strict archaeological protocols, requiring the immediate cessation of work if cultural resources or human remains are discovered, in compliance with California State Health and Safety and Public Resources Codes. The project was processed under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and concluded with a Notice of Determination filed on January 15, 2026.