Willows Planning Commission approves conditional use permit for manufactured home at 337 North Lassen Street

The Willows City Planning Commission voted unanimously May 5 to approve a conditional use permit for a manufactured home at 337 North Lassen Street, clearing the way for the stalled project to move forward.

City Community Development Services Director Joe Betancourt told the commission the project was first approved in November 2022 but stalled after plan review missed a sewer-connection requirement and the owner could not secure access to a private sewer lateral. "The easement's been approved. The plans have now been approved," Betancourt said, adding that staff and the applicant recently met and agreed on a plan to finish the work. Staff included stronger timelines in the conditions of approval, including a six-month completion window subject to extension for extenuating circumstances.

Stacy Stevenson, a general contractor representing applicant Larry Ritchie, said the remaining step is an encroachment permit and bond; she told the commission she expects to submit the encroachment application within days and estimated construction would take about 90–120 days once permits and fees are in place. "As soon as the plans are submitted, as soon as we get through this process, we have all the fees paid, all the paperwork's in place. We're ready to go," Stevenson said.

Commissioners asked about driveway placement, sidewalk replacement and foundation methods. Betancourt said Wood Street is under Caltrans jurisdiction and that the city requires driveway and sidewalk work to meet city standards; condition 19 of the staff recommendation requires repair of any public facilities damaged during construction and calls for improvement plans prepared by a registered civil engineer. Stevenson said the unit will use a state-approved engineered tie-down system rather than a traditional concrete foundation and that skirting and roof pitch will help the finished home resemble a site-built house.

Betancourt laid out the project's recent timeline: plans and an easement route enabling connection to the city sewer were approved in August 2024; a code-enforcement complaint followed in September 2025 after progress stalled. He told the commission staff have been in contact with the neighbor granting the right-of-way and that sewer access has been secured through a recorded easement.

A commissioner moved to approve item 6a and the motion was seconded; the commission approved the conditional use permit by unanimous voice vote. The approval requires the applicant to complete the work within the set timeline, meet all standard improvement and sidewalk requirements, and finalize the encroachment permit and associated bond before connecting to the city sewer.

The chair closed the meeting after brief reports. Staff announced a follow-up joint meeting with the City Council about Title 18 zoning updates is scheduled for May 19 at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers.