Logs, signs, interim housing on the table
Limited public attendance allowed Tuesday at meeting
PARADISE >> The general public can attend Tuesday night’s Paradise Town Council meeting although in a limited basis.
It’s good timing, because the council is set to hold a public hearing on the Paradise sign ordinance related to those that were damaged by the 2018 Camp Fire and are still standing. It will also take up the ordinance regulating log decks in the town limits.
The council will also discuss and potentially take action on the Interim Housing Urgency Ordinance which has been subject to some controversy since the end of last year.
Log decks
The council may take action on emergency ordinance that relates to the potential of allowing wood processing yards, like log decks, as a temporary land use in certain zones, to assist private fire- damaged tree removal, subject to a temporary use permit when associated with Camp Fire recovery efforts for the duration of the urgency ordinance.
In 2020, the town allowed three temporary use permits for temporary log storage/processing yards to accommodate the private
hazard tree removal program — one across from the post office on Clark Road, one on the upper Skyway near the Skyway/Clark intersection, and one on lower Clark Road below the PG&E staging yard.
Town staff notes that the only Clark Road site across from the post office was ever developed and opened to the public. However, staff said that it was forced to close because it couldn’t find a place to take the wood chips to, and it couldn’t make the yard financially feasible.
Town staff said that the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has told them wood processing yards in town would not be
used by the governmentsponsored hazard tree removal program because the state had already signed contracts with sites outside of town.
Despite that, the council requested an amendment to the definition of “temporary log storage yard” be made that includes both government and private contractors.
If the council accepts, the three previously approved three sites would have to reapply for new permits and new notices would need to be sent to neighboring properties within 1,200-feet. That’s because staff says the original notices stated that the wood storing/processing activities would not include the government hazard tree removal program and that all activities and noise would cease by Dec. 31, 2020.
The new ordinance would allow log storage/ processing yards, subject to a temporary use permit, when associated with Camp Fire recovery efforts by both government and private contractors. It would also set Dec. 31, 2021 as the new expiration date.
Interim housing
Since Oct. 13 the town’s Interim Housing Urgency Ordinance has allowed residents who were displaced by the Camp Fire to secure a temporary use permit and live in an RV until the end of June 2021 without evidence of a rebuild permit. However they still have to comply with health and safety requirements regarding connection to utilities and garbage service.
But starting in June, in order to stay in that RV beyond then residents have to secure a temporary use permit, show evidence of a permit application, permit issuance, contract with a designer/contractor/manufactured home dealer or working with the town or state regarding a housing program.
In order to stay in that RV beyond December 2021, residents would require issuance of a rebuild permit.
On Tuesday night staff will put four options in front of the council.
• Option 1: No changes to the current interim housing ordinance.
• Option 2: Remove the alternative threshold requirement, revising all temporary use permits issued under the authority of the urgency ordinance to expire on Dec. 31, 2021 unless accompanied by the issuance of a building permit.
• Option 3: Adopt option 1 or 2, and add the cessation of temporary use permits issued under the urgency ordinance and revert to the temporary use regulations found within Paradise Municipal Code in the zoning ordinance which requires a building permit to be issued in order to secure a temporary use permit to reside in an RV on the site.
• Option 4: Direct staff to explore other alternatives.
Staff are recommending option 3.
Sign ordinance
According to the agenda, to staff is recommending that the code that regulates signs within the town warrant amendments that accurately reflect the fact that the Paradise Redevelopment Area and its related agency no longer exist.
They say amendments would establish internal consistency with all other town statutes, become consistent with and further implement the Paradise General Plan and create statutes that are reality consistent with state of current and future freestanding signs, and if adopted, would further facilitate the Camp Fire recovery/rebuild efforts.