Sacramento County Planning Commission Meeting - April 2, 2024
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Sacramento County Planning Commission Meeting - April 2, 2024
Note: The transcript indicates the meeting was held on March 25, 2024, but the provided date is April 2, 2024. This summary uses the provided date as instructed.
The meeting was called to order with a quorum present. Roll call was taken, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and announcements regarding public participation. The agenda included a major discussion item (the 2030 General Plan Annual Report for 2023) and the Planning Director's Report on wireless communication facility regulations.
Consent Calendar
- No consent calendar items were identified.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made during the meeting.
Discussion Items
Item 1: PLNP 2024-00007 – 2030 General Plan Annual Report for Calendar Year 2023
- Presentation: Nathan Sedafine presented the annual report, covering implementation of the Environmental Justice element (adopted 2019), the community-wide Climate Action Plan (CAP) revision following September 2022 board direction, and the Conservation Element. He noted that staff published a Notice of Preparation for the subsequent EIR for the CAP in December 2023, with the goal of board consideration in 2024.
- Housing Element Implementation: For Cycle 6 (2021-2029), the county issued permits for 855 housing units in 2023, contributing to progress toward the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) goal. Four affordable housing projects were in process: Terracina at Wildhawk (145 affordable units, 45 very low-income, 99 low-income), Mission Avenue Apartments East (4 very low-income), Mission Avenue Apartments West (5 very low-income), and Beach Hill Apartments (16 very low-income, 13 low-income). The Power Inn Road project (194 units, 2 for management) was highlighted. Staff emphasized the county does not build housing directly and depends on partnerships.
- Implementation Measures: Of the 686 total implementation measures across seven general plan elements covered to date, 38% are complete and 62% incomplete. The Energy Element was covered this year, with challenges noted due to age (some policies from 1970s/1993), staff turnover, and the sheer number of measures. Staff is working on scoping for a general plan update to improve implementability.
- Growth Strategies: Infill potential of 19,000-37,000 units; the RHNA rezone project and INFIL program (adoption anticipated fall 2024) were discussed. Pending master plans (e.g., Antelope Acres) project about 48,495 residential units. The North Vineyard Station traffic mitigation strategy update (board-adopted February 2023) was noted as a model for other plan areas.
- Work Programs: Upcoming efforts include continuing environmental justice implementation, pursuing a Certified Local Government program, completing ADU construction plans, advancing a supportive housing ordinance, and beginning a draft work plan for the general plan update late 2024/early 2025.
- Commissioner Questions & Staff Responses:
- Commissioner Borja asked about coordination with multifamily builders and tenant protection studies. Staff (Todd Smith, Jacob Dawman) responded that they meet with groups like the Building Industry Association and infill builders, and are studying just-cause eviction ordinances in consultation with Sacramento Housing Alliance and property owner groups. Commissioner Devlin inquired about the affordable housing ordinance update, which is expected to begin in the next fiscal year, including an inclusionary housing feasibility study.
- Commissioner Conklin questioned the RHNA tally, noting only about 200 permits per year for low-income units versus a need of ~7,000. Staff explained competition for tax credits, infrastructure challenges, and ongoing efforts to reduce barriers. The April 10th board workshop will address regulatory and financial obstacles. Commissioner Conklin also asked about extending the North Vineyard traffic mitigation model to other plan areas; staff indicated that the Alverta Specific Plan is next.
- Commissioner Corona Savignano asked about the inclusionary housing component; staff said it was optional under the current ordinance and will be revisited in the holistic update.
- Commissioner Raittl(e) sought clarification on deed-restricted vs. non-deed-restricted units; staff explained that density-based income assumptions (e.g., 30 units/acre considered low-income potential) are used for RHNA, with deed restrictions typically tied to funded projects.
- Outcome: The item was receive and file (no formal vote recorded; staff recommended the Board of Supervisors receive and file the report and direct staff to proceed with implementation).
Item 2: Planning Director’s Report – Wireless Communication Facility Regulations
- Presentation: Jessica Brandt provided a memo summarizing applicable regulations and a proposed supplemental application to streamline review. Key points included:
- A supplemental application is now required to capture additional information for entitlements (e.g., building permit applications concurrently). T-Mobile corporate counsel raised concerns about the concurrent building permit requirement, citing FCC regulations. Staff is reviewing the issue.
- The 150-day shot clock for eligible facilities requests creates pressure; a concurrent application could help, but staff acknowledged challenges (e.g., conditions of approval must be met before building permit).
- Additional height (up to 20 feet) for co-location is ministerial under FCC rules.
- Commissioner Questions:
- Commissioner Conklin asked about conditioning co-location height to require same stealth design. Staff noted regulations allow the addition as long as it does not defeat stealthing; conditions can mirror that requirement.
- Commissioner Raittl(e) inquired about the number of co-location height applications; staff will check with building inspection. He appreciated the supplemental application for streamlining information gathering.
- Commissioner Devlin raised concerns about deterioration of stealth materials (e.g., pine needles on monopines). Staff condition upkeep and maintenance but rely on complaint-based enforcement. Bonding was discussed as a potential tool, though not currently required for wireless facilities.
- Commissioner Borja supported developing more specific aesthetic standards and noted the success of public-art-style designs. Staff indicated feedback will be included in future work plan discussions with the board.
- Outcome: The report was informational; no action taken.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1 (Annual Report): Receive and filed; recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to receive and file the report and direct staff to proceed with implementation.
- Item 2 (Wireless Regulations): Informational; staff will continue to refine the supplemental application and consider feedback on aesthetics and bonds.
- Scheduling: Next meetings are April 8 (time extension and rescission of minor use permit for restaurants with alcohol) and April 22 (zoning code updates and Hazel Ridge subdivision).
Meeting adjourned at 6:33 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everybody. We'll go ahead and call to order the county planning commission for March 25th, 2024. If you'll please call the role. Yes, Directors Borja. Conklin. Here. Corona Savignano. Here. Devlin. Here. And Raitle. Here. And we do have our quorum. If you all please stand with me for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. If you'll please make the announcements for this evening. I certainly will. So the county fosters public engagement during the meeting and encourages public participation, civility, and use of courteous language. To make an in-person public comment, please complete a speaker request form and hand it to the clerk. The chairperson will call your name when it's your turn to make a comment to make a public comment by telephone on the day of the meeting, dial 916 8752500 to make a verbal public comment, follow the prompts for instructions. Refer to the agenda and listen to the live meeting to determine when the best time is to call to be placed in queue for specific agenda item or off agenda matter. Callers may be on hold for up to an extended period of time and should plan accordingly. When the chairperson opens public comment for a specific agenda item rough agenda matter, callers will be transferred from the queue into the meeting to make a verbal comment. Each agenda item Q will remain open until the public comment period is closed for that specific item. You may also send a written comment to board clerk at SACCounty.gov and your comment will be routed to the board and filed in the record. Thank you. That moves us to our non-contested portion of our agenda tonight. Please call item number one. So your item number one this evening is PLNP 2024-00007. It's the 2030 general plan annual report for calendar year 2023. And uh the there's no environmental document, it's not applicable. Sarah, oh there we go. Thank you. All right, good evening, everyone. My name is Nathan Sedafine. I will be presenting on the general plan annual report update. Metro, can you please start the re start the PowerPoint for this item? Thank you. All right. So uh as part of this report, we go through this every uh every year uh and primarily go over the implementation of major projects and programs uh every year. Uh the first of which is the environmental justice element. Uh this was adopted in 2019, and we have continued implementation work on this effort uh in 2023. This is part of attachment four, uh, which is the EJ report card and lists how the EJ measures are being implemented. Uh our role as planning as a planning department is to track EJ implementation and raise interdepartmental awareness of its programs. And this past year, we continued our implementation tracking and stakeholder outreach, which you can view in the report card uh between pages three and seven. Next is the community-wide climate action plan, which is uh mentioned in attachment one on page two. This is also part of the larger environmental justice initiative.
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