Tentative Tract Map 61600 / Variance 22-02

The project involves the development of approximately 10 acres of undeveloped land in Lancaster, California, into 32 single-family residential lots, with activities including vegetation removal, grubbing, grading, installation of underground storage tanks, building construction, and underground utility work. This development will result in the incidental take of 34 western Joshua trees, which are protected under the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act and the California Endangered Species Act. The project is authorized under Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act Incidental Take Permit No. 1927-ITP-2025-048-05, issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, with an effective date of December 19, 2025, and an expiration date of December 31, 2030. Mitigation measures are mandated, including a mandatory $14,861 fee payment to the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Fund, and strict compliance with environmental conditions such as prohibiting hazardous substance storage within 50 feet of preserved trees, daily equipment inspections to prevent leaks, and implementation of wildlife-friendly fencing and integrated pest management practices. The permit requires the designation of a responsible representative to ensure ongoing compliance and immediate reporting of any unauthorized take, damage, or newly discovered western Joshua trees through photographic documentation, GPS coordinates, and size classification. All project activities must be preceded by a seven-day notice to CDFW, and a comprehensive Project Completion Report must be submitted within one month of finishing construction, detailing all impacts, mitigation actions, and photographic evidence. Monitoring records must be maintained on-site, and any spills or non-compliance must be reported immediately by phone and in writing within 24 hours. All waste materials, including packaging and debris, must be removed from the site upon completion. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife retains enforcement authority, with technical oversight handled by Sarah Rains and administrative authority vested in Erinn Wilson-Olgin. The project site is located south of Avenue K-11 and west of 57th Street West in Lancaster, and the permit includes dynamic amendment provisions for newly identified trees, allowing for automatic adjustments to mitigation obligations without requiring a full reapplication. No traditional procurement elements such as contract line items, pricing structures, or competitive evaluation criteria are applicable, as this is strictly an environmental regulatory permit governed by state conservation law rather than federal acquisition regulations.