[Sep 12]
Wednesday at 9am at Town Hall, F.B. the California Coastal Commission will decide what will happen at the mill site.
Thank you Norman de Vall for bringing this important meeting to everyone's attention. I would like to echo what Norman determined after reading between the lines of Caltrans' permit application. This application is for a Categorical Exemption/Categorical Exclusion Permit (not a Mitigated Negative Declaration or an Environmental Impact Report). The Town Hall is located at 363 N. Main Street. If the Town Hall is full the City Hall Gymnasium has overflow seating available (not for people that are hard of hearing, comments can only be made from Town Hall. Map of locations and parking at
https://documents.coastal.ca.gov/agenda-map/Parking%20Map%20Fort%20Bragg.pdf
The CA. Coastal Commission (CCC) meeting starts at 9am, you need to be there beforehand to get a seat, fill out a form to speak (2-3 min.) or fill out a form and give someone else your time. If you want to speak about an issue not on the agenda you can do so (2-3 min.) during the Public Comment period at 9:00am for items not on the agenda.
Item #10a: The Coastal Commission will hear Caltrans' Application to conduct a geotechnical investigation to rehabilitate/replace the last timber trestle bridge on CA's highway system, the historic Albion River Bridge. It will involve drilling of up to nine 70-125 ft. deep bore holes within 6 specified sites (very noisy); removal of major vegetation (about 120 eucalyptus trees, some are holding the steep hill side together) and grading. The noisy helicopters will take off, land and refuel at the Little River Airport; will deliver steel platforms, drill rigs, equipment, supplies and personnel to 5 Drill Sites (drilling itself is a noisy activity) and at times hover over the drill sites or over the ocean. Caltrans will construct temporary access routes to boring sites, do seismic refraction surveys, and replant cleared areas (see pictures) adjacent to Highway 1 on both sides of the Albion River Bridge. In addition traffic on the Albion River Bridge will be stopped whenever a helicopter will need to access any of the sites (up to 30 min. at a time).
For more info see https://www.coastal.ca.gov/meetings/agenda/#/2018/9 You can make comments online until Sept. 5 at 5 pm. by clicking Submit Comment under # 10a Coastal Permit Applications Application No. 1-16-0899 (California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Mendocino Co.) You can access the staff report at: https://documents.coastal.ca.gov/reports/2018/9/w10a/W10a-9-2018-report.pdf. The exhibits are at: https://documents.coastal.ca.gov/reports/2018/9/w10a/W10a-9-2018-exhibits.pdf
Item #7: During the North Coast District Director’s Report the Director will give Caltrans a de minimis waiver from Coastal Development Permit requirements to spread rock over the lead containing sandblast waste that surrounds Salmon Creek Bridge (it will later be dealt with properly with the help of the Department of Toxic Substances Control) and Caltrans will place a gate next to a residence to temporarily contain the toxins.
The Salmon Creek Bridge is also slated for replacement and Caltrans just sent out an invitation for the public to attend a scoping meeting in preparation of the Environmental Impact Report on 9-11, 6-8pm at the new Albion School at 30400 Albion Ridge Road to give input for the Environmental Impact Report. For more info call Liza Walker at 707-441-5602 or e-mail <liza.walker@dot.ca.gov> Written comments are accepted until October 5.
Item #9a attendees will be briefed by CCC and the City of Fort Bragg about the Mill Site comprehensive planning efforts for redevelopment of the approx. 400 acre former Georgia Pacific mill site, along the Pacific Ocean, west of Highway One.
Item #9b City of Fort Bragg Local Coastal Plan (LCP) Amendment No. LCP-1-FTB-17-0077-1 (Mill Site Planning Process) submit comments online and click on link for more info.
Item #9f City of Fort Bragg LCP Amendment No. LCP-1-FTB-18-0031-1 (Riverview Building LLC) submit comments online and click on link for more info.
Item #11 Permit Amendment Permit No. A-1-MEN-07-28-A6 (Jackson-Grube Family, Inc.) to amend permit granted for development of inn to (1) convert ranch manager’s residence and associated guest cottage into an innkeeper’s residence with two full-time inn units, (2) convert existing Innkeeper’s residence, office and part-time inn unit into two full-time inn units with Innkeeper office and kitchen remaining, and (3) add three parking spaces adjacent to the existing ranch manager’s residence at the Inn at Newport Ranch, 31502 North Highway 1, north of Fort Bragg. Submit comments online and click on link for more info.
Show up and comment in person and online. This is democracy in action.
Annemarie Weibel
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