Auburn Planning Commission Study Session – October 7, 2026 (Agenda Date: October 6, 2026)

The Auburn Planning Commission met on the recorded date of October 7, 2026; the agenda and transcript identify this as the October 6, 2026 regular evening session at 6:00 p.m. Vice Chair Kramer presided with Commissioner Hobbs; Chair Hiatt, Commissioner Johnson, and Commissioner Lehmberg were absent. Because no quorum was present, the Commission did not conduct formal business or approve the August 18, 2026 minutes, and instead held the three scheduled study sessions as an informal informational session. All presentations and public comments will be part of the official record. The Commission is next scheduled to consider formal recommendations on all three items on October 20, 2026, with City Council consideration currently set for November 9, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Auburn Station Infill Plan: Judy Alberts (226 Live Oak Street, Prospect Hill) voiced concerns about increased traffic, noise, parking, and impacts on narrow streets, noting that Old Auburn Cemetery prevents street widening. Craig Buxton (Hidden Creek) questioned the density and scale of the proposal, and expressed skepticism that bicycle lanes would improve safety on narrow, geologically constrained roads, suggesting a greater need for service buildings.
• Cannabis Ordinance: One community member opposed recreational cannabis, describing it as a gateway drug and objecting to city's motivation for tax revenue. Robert Ingall, a lifelong Placer County resident and former licensed indoor cannabis cultivator in Nevada County, supported the ordinance and urged the city to prioritize local applicants and consider multiple licenses for competitive pricing; he noted delivery services and a North Auburn smoke shop already supply cannabis.
• Auburn 2045 General Plan: Multiple speakers supported the proposed Medium Density Residential designation for the Blocker Drive site and opposed the industrial alternatives (EIR Alternatives 2 and 3). Kyle Santuccio cited a petition with over 120 signatures; Caroline Meinhold argued residential use would boost local economic multipliers and property tax revenue; Jackie House, Sherry Perkins, and David Agar voiced agreement. Joe Madeuris, president of Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steelhead (SARS), urged stronger restoration and enhancement language for riparian habitat, stream setbacks, and groundwater recharge. Robert Hain (SARS) also emphasized groundwater recharge. Harry White (Placer Group Sierra Club / CNPS) supported infill development, native plant use, and residential designation at Blocker Drive. Linda Newhauser asked how decision-makers would balance General Plan principles against conflicting EIR alternatives.

Discussion Items

Study Session on the Auburn Station Infill Plan ("The Domes")

• Matthew Gerken (AECOM), consulting project manager, presented the Draft Auburn Station Infill Plan, prepared under a SACOG Green Means Go grant in collaboration with Placer County.
• The 10.5-acre Plan Area is part of a 17-acre County-owned property adjacent to the Auburn Transit Station, including the Placer County Administrative Center ("The Domes"), a World War I Veteran's Memorial (preserved under both options), former County library offices, parking, and landscaping.
• Option 1 preserves The Domes and would allow 238 multi-family units (245,410 sq ft of residential space) in four 4-story and two 3-story buildings, 3,375 sq ft of retail/commercial space, and 295 residential parking spaces.
• Option 2 would demolish The Domes and would allow 315 multi-family units (361,318 sq ft of residential space) in six 3-story and four 4-story buildings, 3,375 sq ft of retail/commercial space, and 390 residential parking spaces. Both options achieve 30.1 dwelling units per acre.
• The Domes was added to the National Register of Historic Places in July 2025. The Final EIR identified five significant and unavoidable impacts: visual character degradation and loss of a historical resource under Option 2; short-term construction noise and vibration exposure under both options; and long-term stationary-source operational noise under both options. Thirteen comment letters were received on the Draft EIR; responses did not identify new significant impacts.
• No formal action was taken. The Plan and Final EIR are scheduled for Planning Commission hearing on October 20, 2026, and City Council consideration on November 9, 2026.

Study Session on the Draft Cannabis Ordinance

• Economic Development Director Jonathan Wright presented a draft ordinance that would authorize cannabis retail sales and delivery and prohibit cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, testing laboratories, and cannabis events.
• The draft identifies four potential areas, generally portions of Downtown and the Highway 49 corridor. It would require a discretionary Use Permit, objective standards, separation from sensitive uses, exterior design and signage criteria, a Community Benefit Agreement, and an annual review mechanism similar to business license renewal.
• Licensing would be population-triggered: the first license is available now (city population about 13,000; trigger 8,500 residents), and a second license would only become available if the city reaches 17,000 residents. A competitive applicant selection process is still to be determined.
• Public outreach included two town halls and a survey: 188 survey responses and 221 participants; 81% of respondents identified as residents, 86% supported retail cannabis, 59% supported two licenses, and 22% supported two or more. Potential state Measure 64 grants were described, with awards reaching up to $6 million.
• No formal action was taken. The Planning Commission public hearing on the ordinance is October 20, 2026; City Council first and second readings are anticipated November 9 and November 23, 2026, with application fees/criteria in January 2027 and a possible application solicitation around February/March 2027.

Study Session on the Auburn 2045 General Plan

• Barry Miller, General Plan Consulting Project Manager, presented the Draft Auburn 2045 General Plan and the environmental review process. The current General Plan was adopted in 1993; the update began in September 2023 and the Draft Plan, covering a 7.2-square-mile city and a 29-square-mile planning area, has a horizon year of 2045.
• The Draft General Plan and Draft EIR were published July 31, 2026. The EIR comment period closed September 21, 2026 after an extension; the General Plan comment period remains open.
• As of September 30, 2026, the city received 36 transmittals opposing industrial development on the Blocker Drive site; 3 transmittals supporting industrial development plus 10 copies of a support letter; 10 transmittals on broader Draft EIR issues; and 10 transmittals on broader Draft General Plan issues. About 12 individuals provided oral testimony at the August 18, 2026 study session, mostly opposing an industrial designation.
• The Draft General Plan designates the approximately 14-acre Blocker Drive property as Medium Density Residential, with Resource Conservation (Open Space) along Spanish Ravine. EIR Alternatives 2 and 3 include Industrial designation in lieu of the residential designation; most public comments relate to those alternatives.
• Proposed General Plan Revisions (Attachment 1) include line-by-line edits in response to comments from the public, Placer County, Friends of Auburn Ravine, Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steelhead, Placer Sierra Club, individual commissioners, the Sustainability Committee, and city staff. Examples include a corrected Blocker Drive land use map boundary away from Spanish Ravine, retention of Urban Reserve in the Baltimore Ravine Specific Plan area, a new Policy CD-3.11 on industrial design, updated stream protection actions, and tree preservation ordinance revisions.
• Appendix A, the Draft Implementation Matrix, lists more than 200 actions; about two-thirds are described as ongoing. The Matrix is a non-adopted reference intended to support the city's Annual General Plan Progress Report.
• No formal action was taken. The Final EIR is expected late next week, and the Commission will consider two resolutions (EIR certification and General Plan adoption) on October 20, 2026; City Council is scheduled for November 9, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• No official actions were taken because the Planning Commission lacked a quorum; the August 18, 2026 minutes were not approved.
• All three items were informational study sessions, with presentations and public comments entered into the record.
• The Planning Commission will hold public hearings and consider recommendations on the Auburn Station Infill Plan/Final EIR, the Draft Cannabis Ordinance, and the Auburn 2045 General Plan/Final EIR on October 20, 2026.
• The City Council is currently scheduled to consider the Commission's recommendations on November 9, 2026, with a potential second reading of the cannabis ordinance on November 23, 2026.
• Written comments on the General Plan will continue to be accepted, and additional revisions to the Plan may be considered before October 20, 2026.