The following procedures and requirements shall apply to an application for a clearing permit:
(a) The application shall be submitted to the County Official, accompanied by fees and deposits as specified in Section 87.301(f). The application shall be processed as an application for an Administrative Permit pursuant to the Administrative Permit Procedure, Section 7050 and following of the Zoning Ordinance, except as otherwise provided herein. The application (except for an application for agricultural clearing, which is governed by Section 87.903) shall include or be accompanied by plans which show or include the following:
(1) a vicinity sketch;
(2) property lines;
(3) contour lines showing the topography of the existing ground, with a maximum contour interval of five feet;
(4) the location, extent and square footage of the total area to be cleared;
(5) the location, nature and extent of all vegetation growing on the area to be cleared and the area within 100 feet;
(6) dust control measures sufficient to comply with Section 87.428;
(7) information and documentation sufficient to enable the County Official to make the determinations required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA);
(8) a signed statement by the owner as to the proposed use of the area to be cleared;
(9) all watercourses located on the site; and
(10) such other information as the County Official may require.
(b) The application (except for an application for agricultural clearing, which is governed by Section 87.903) may be approved if the County Official determines that:
(1) the proposed clearing is exempt from environmental review under the terms of CEQA, or the proposed clearing would not have a significant effect on the environment, or all significant effects have been mitigated; if the County Official determines that the proposed clearing would have one or more significant effects which are not mitigated, he or she shall deny the permit;
(2) the proposed clearing conforms to all requirements of this Division and other applicable County ordinances; and
(3) none of the grounds for denial of a permit specified at Section 87.211, paragraphs (a), (c), (d), (e) or (f) exists (reading said provisions as if they applied to clearing rather than grading).
(c) The provisions of the Administrative Permit Procedure regarding appeals shall apply, except that an application which has been denied on the basis that the proposed clearing would have one or more significant effects which are not mitigated, is subject to appeal only directly to the Board of Supervisors. If the Board of Supervisors determines that the proposed clearing would have one or more significant effects which are not mitigated, it shall deny the appeal unless it makes a statement of overriding considerations pursuant to CEQA. The time periods specified in the Administrative Permit Procedure shall commence to run from the date that environmental documentation prepared to comply with CEQA has been completed.
(d) All clearing authorized by an approved clearing permit shall be completed within 12 months of the date of approval. The County Official may grant one extension of said period, for up to an additional 12 months, if he or she determines that no significant changes in the work are proposed, and substantial progress has been made towards completion.
(Added by Ord. No. 9547 (N.S.), effective 5-9-03; amended by Ord. No. 10804 (N.S.), effective 9-16-22)