PL23-0117: Lockwood Animal Rescue Center, Minor Modification of Conditional Use Permit PL12-0141

PL23-0117: Lockwood Animal Rescue Center, Minor Modification of Conditional Use Permit PL12-0141

The applicant requests a Minor Modification of CUP PL12-0141, as adjusted by PL14-0149, PL14-0171, and PL18-0133, for the modification and continued operation of the Lockwood Animal Rescue Center (LARC) for a 20-year period. The proposed CUP boundary is 471,886 sf, a 6% reduction (30,950 sf) to the CUP boundary authorized under Permit Adjustment (PAJ) Case No. PL18-0133, and includes the following components (see Table 1: Project Components in the attached NOD): Animal pens for inherently dangerous animals are constructed, or proposed to be constructed, in accordance with the safety standards set forth in Section 671, Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations which includes standards for fence type, size, and security (Condition No. 29). Additionally, an 8-foot-tall perimeter fence is installed around the entirety of the project site that is equipped with code-access secure entry points that provides additional safeguards against an animal escape or unauthorized access to the LARC (Exhibit 3 of the Planning Director Hearing Staff Report on August 22, 2024). Finally, the LARC maintains a permit with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and all existing enclosures for inherently dangerous animals were approved in the latest CDFW inspections conducted on November 11, 2023 (Exhibit 10 of the Planning Director Hearing Staff Report on August 22, 2024). The LARC is permitted to hold a maximum of 115 animals (a reduction of 17 animals authorized under CUP PL12-0141) as detailed below: • 40 Canidae. Canidae include wild domestic, non-domestic, cross breed (wolf-dog crosses), wolves, and coyotes. No big cats, genus Panthera, are authorized onsite (a reduction of 10 Canidae authorized under CUP PL12-0141). • 10 horses (same as CUP PL12-0141) • 12 domestic dogs (same as CUP PL12-0141) • 45 parrots (a reduction of 5 parrots authorized under CUP PL12-0141) • 20 miscellaneous animals, including, but not limited to, pigs, skunks, raccoons, foxes, and other birds (added for modified CUP PL23-0117). Since the LARC receives and rehabilitates animals from local, state, and national facilities, this revised animal keeping limit allows the LARC flexibility to provide rehabilitation services to a broader range of animals. Furthermore, the LARC will continue to be subject to County, State, and Federal permitting requirements (Condition No. 16). Finally, no breeding is allowed at the LARC. The facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, employs five staff/volunteers, and is not open to the public. The site is accessible via an unpaved dirt driveway from Curtis Trail. Eight parking spaces are provided within the CUP boundary for staff/volunteers. Five parking spaces are provided outside of the CUP boundary for inspectors, veterinarians, and other authorized personnel who are prohibited from entering the project site due to contamination concerns. An onsite well provides water and a septic system provides sewage disposal. Portable restrooms are also available to staff/volunteers and serviced regularly in accordance with standards set forth by the Ventura County Environmental Health Division (Condition No. 31). Animal waste is processed in accordance with a Manure Management Plan (Condition No. 34).

Lockwood Valley, unincorporated Ventura County

Ventura

Unincorporated

Ventura