OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Sacramento County Planning Commission Meeting - April 25, 2024

Boards and Commissions — Thursday, April 25, 2024
BodySacramento County, California
SessionBoards and Commissions
DateThursday, April 25, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Good evening, everybody.

0:03

We're gonna go ahead and call to order the county planning commission for April 22nd.

0:07

If you'll uh please call the role.

0:09

Yes, members uh Borha.

0:11

Here.

0:12

Corona Sabignano.

0:14

Devlin.

0:15

Here.

0:15

Raph.

0:16

Here.

0:16

And Conklin.

0:17

Here.

0:18

We do have our quorum.

0:19

If you'll please stand with me for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:22

I pledge allegiance.

0:25

Of the United States of America.

0:30

One is all liberty and justice for all.

0:37

And if you'll please make the announcements for this evening.

0:40

Yes, and I apologize if you'll give me just one moment, please.

0:43

I'm so sorry.

0:45

Announcement to the table here.

0:48

Give me just one sec.

1:21

And thank you for your patience.

1:28

The county fosters public engagement during the meeting and encourages public participation.

1:32

Civility and use of courteous language.

1:35

The commission does not condone the use of profanity, vulgar language, gestures, or other inappropriate behavior, including personal attacks or threats directed towards any meeting participant.

1:43

Seating may be limited and available on a first come, first serve basis.

1:47

To make an in-person public comment, please complete and submit a speaker request form to the clerk, and each individual will be invited to the podium to make a comment.

1:55

Members of the public may send a written comment, which is distributed to the commission members and filed in the record.

2:00

Contact information is optional and should include the meeting date and agenda or off agenda item number to be sent as follows.

2:07

Email that email a comment to board clerk at SatCounty.gov, and please feel free to mail your comment to 700H Street, suite 2450, Sacramento, California, 95814.

2:22

Thank you.

2:22

If you please call item number one.

2:25

So your item number one this evening is uh for a zoning ordinance amendment and administrative amendments.

2:32

Um the supervisorial district obviously is all, and the applicant is the county of Sacramento Sacramento Division of Planning and Environmental Review.

2:42

And um the environmental document is a notice of exemption.

2:50

We do.

2:51

Metro, can you pull up the first presentation, please?

2:58

Thank you.

2:59

Perfect.

3:00

All right.

3:01

Good evening.

3:02

My name is Jacob Daw, and I'm an associate planner with planning and environmental review.

3:06

Uh the item for you today is a zoning code amendment package to implement changes uh in state law that went into effect um on or before January 1st uh 2023 into our zoning code.

3:17

Um so over really since um probably around COVID, due to staff shortages and kind of changing priorities.

3:22

We haven't been able to do one of these um kind of legislative updates.

3:25

So we're trying to capture everything that's kind of impacted our code, um, even a couple of bills that uh were passed back in 2018.

3:32

Um so all of the bills and the um amendments that we're proposing here today are kind of the minimum needed to ensure we're compliant with state law.

3:39

There's nothing else in here that was kind of county or staff initiated.

3:42

Um, everything in here is just to make sure that we're consistent and in full compliance.

3:49

So I said we are um going back um a couple of years here, so we have kind of a big amendment package.

3:54

Um so we're gonna be amending chapters three, five, we're proposing to amend chapters three, five, six, and seven of the zoning code.

4:02

Uh this slide here is a table showing um a summary of the amendments organized by topic.

4:07

So we have all the state legislation or the state code that is um kind of spurring these changes, the zoning code sections we're proposing to amend um again, organized by topic.

4:16

So I'm gonna be going through in this presentation topic by topic, kind of giving a brief overview of the legislative action and the zoning code and how it kind of impacts us here at the county and our zoning code.

4:26

Um I got a lot to get through, so at any time feel free to jump in, uh, interrupt, ask questions, clarification, anything like that.

4:35

So with that, I'll go ahead and dive in to the first topic, and that is multifamily housing in commercial zones.

4:41

So two bills here that are structured very similarly and are trying to get at the same goal of allowing multifamily development by right in any zone district that allows for office retail or parking as permitted uses.

4:52

Um both of these bills have a lot of additional criteria, including um locational requirements, and in addition to that zoning, um, can't be located near like industrial uses or being used for you know adjacent or on the property.

5:05

Um many cases they have to have income restricted units, so deed restricted uh affordable units, and some pretty intensive labor requirements, so paying a prevailing and skilled wage and um having a or having a skilled workforce and paying a prevailed wage, excuse me.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████59%
Procedural███████9%
Affordable Housing███████9%
Technology and Innovation████5%
Transportation Safety████5%
Public Engagement██3%
Environmental Mitigation██3%
Public Health██2%
Economic Development██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Sacramento County Planning Commission Meeting - April 25, 2024

Note on date discrepancy: The meeting transcript indicates the meeting was called to order on April 22, 2024, but the provided metadata states the meeting took place on April 25, 2024. This summary uses the metadata date per the instruction, but the discrepancy is noted.

The Sacramento County Planning Commission held a regular meeting on April 25, 2024, to consider two major items: a zoning code amendment package to comply with state law and a residential development project (Hazel Ridge) in the Orangevale community. The commission also received a report from the Planning Director on recent board direction regarding infill housing. Both items were recommended for approval to the Board of Supervisors.

Consent Calendar

  • No consent calendar items were considered.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 1 (Zoning Code Amendments): No public comments were received.
  • Item 2 (Hazel Ridge): No public comments were made in chambers. The meeting format no longer allows remote public comments.

Discussion Items

  • Item 1: Zoning Code Amendment Package (County Initiated)

    • Staff presented a comprehensive set of amendments to Chapters 3, 5, 6, and 7 of the Zoning Code to bring the county into compliance with state law changes effective January 1, 2023. The amendments covered:
      • Multifamily housing in commercial zones (AB 2011, SB 6): Allowing multifamily by right in certain commercial zones with additional requirements (affordable units, prevailing wage, etc.). Staff noted minimal expected impact as most commercial zones already permit multifamily.
      • ADU standards: Changes to allow taller ADUs, deviations to front and side yard setbacks for ADUs up to 800 sq. ft. (administrative process), and restrictions on short-term rentals for ADUs (permitted only for ADUs built before 2020) and junior ADUs (never permitted).
      • Off-street parking: AB 2097 eliminates parking minimums within half-mile of major transit stops; another bill limits parking replacement requirements for religious institution-affiliated housing.
      • State density bonus law: Updates to the county's affordable housing incentive program, including removal of CEQA review for density bonus projects (moving from discretionary development plan review to non-discretionary design review). A public comment letter from a law firm argued that CEQA review should still apply. County Counsel acknowledged the letter but stated the county's legal interpretation differed, citing HCD guidance. The commission decided to forward the recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, with County Counsel to provide a formal response before the board hearing.
      • EV chargers: Exempt from local codes except health and safety; count as one parking space.
      • Hydrogen fueling stations: Exempt from local codes except health and safety, with location and equipment restrictions.
      • Family daycare homes: No distinction between small and large; treated as residential use.
      • Sidewalk vendors: Exempt from county temporary use permit requirements (still need health permit).
    • Staff recommended approval. The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval to the Board of Supervisors.

  • Item 2: Hazel Ridge – Community Plan Amendment, Rezone, Tentative Subdivision Map, Conditional Use Permit, Special Development Permit, and Design Review

    • Location: 6416, 6420, 6422 Hazel Avenue, Orangevale (approx. 1,400 ft north of Greenback Lane).
    • Proposal: Rezone 4.63 gross acres from RD5 to RD10 (actual density 7.6 du/ac). Subdivide into 23 single-family lots, 12 half-plex lots, and a drainage basin (total 36 lots). A conditional use permit is required for >10 half-plex units. A special development permit allows deviations from minimum lot sizes (corner and interior half-plex lots) and driveway widths.
    • Environmental review: Mitigated Negative Declaration (public review period ends April 29, 2024). Mitigation measures address tree loss, nesting birds, cultural resources, noise (construction and interior sound levels from Hazel Avenue traffic) via an 8-foot masonry wall and mechanical cooling.
    • Traffic: DOT reviewed and found no warrant for a traffic signal at the project driveway.
    • Community input: Orangevale CPAC (Sept 5, 2023) heard 16 speakers in opposition, expressing concerns about noise, traffic, pedestrian safety, and inconsistency with rural character. CPAC members opined the project did not fit the rural lifestyle. Design Review Advisory Committee (DRAC) found the project in compliance with design guidelines.
    • Applicant team (Ryan Hooper, Jim Luce, Jim McVay, Kent Baker) presented, emphasizing the project as infill at a density lower than the county's previous RD30 proposal (up to 130 units). The development includes private streets and an HOA for maintenance.
    • Commission discussion: Several commissioners noted they had visited the site and met with the applicant. Concerns about deviations were addressed by staff explanation that such deviations are common for missing middle infill projects. The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval to the Board of Supervisors.

Planning Director's Report

  • Todd Smith reported on the April 10, 2024 Board of Supervisors workshop on housing and infill. The board gave direction to:
    • Amend zoning code development standards to streamline infill housing.
    • Eliminate the minor use permit requirement for apartments over 150 units.
    • Establish a $5–10 million impact fee offset program.
    • Create an infill coordinator position (principal planner) to focus on infill along commercial corridors.
    • Staff will bring a resolution of intention to the board and then work on code amendments, which will come to the Planning Commission for review.
  • Commissioner questions noted that drainage is often a critical path for infill; staff responded that the Department of Water Resources is reviewing its processes.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 1 (Zoning Code Amendments): Motion to recommend approval to the Board of Supervisors carried unanimously (5-0).
  • Item 2 (Hazel Ridge): Motion to recommend approval to the Board of Supervisors (including all entitlements: community plan amendment, rezone, tentative map, conditional use permit, special development permit, and design review compliance) carried unanimously (5-0).
  • Scheduling: Upcoming meetings: May 6 and May 20, 2024. Items include the countywide RHNA rezone program and the five-year capital improvement plan review.

Next Steps: Both items will proceed to the Board of Supervisors for final action. The zoning code amendment package will be accompanied by County Counsel's review of the CEQA comment letter. The Hazel Ridge project will be subject to final board approval and compliance with all conditions.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everybody. We're gonna go ahead and call to order the county planning commission for April 22nd. If you'll uh please call the role. Yes, members uh Borha. Here. Corona Sabignano. Devlin. Here. Raph. Here. And Conklin. Here. We do have our quorum. If you'll please stand with me for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance. Of the United States of America. One is all liberty and justice for all. And if you'll please make the announcements for this evening. Yes, and I apologize if you'll give me just one moment, please. I'm so sorry. Announcement to the table here. Give me just one sec. And thank you for your patience. The county fosters public engagement during the meeting and encourages public participation. Civility and use of courteous language. The commission does not condone the use of profanity, vulgar language, gestures, or other inappropriate behavior, including personal attacks or threats directed towards any meeting participant. Seating may be limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. To make an in-person public comment, please complete and submit a speaker request form to the clerk, and each individual will be invited to the podium to make a comment. Members of the public may send a written comment, which is distributed to the commission members and filed in the record. Contact information is optional and should include the meeting date and agenda or off agenda item number to be sent as follows. Email that email a comment to board clerk at SatCounty.gov, and please feel free to mail your comment to 700H Street, suite 2450, Sacramento, California, 95814. Thank you. If you please call item number one. So your item number one this evening is uh for a zoning ordinance amendment and administrative amendments. Um the supervisorial district obviously is all, and the applicant is the county of Sacramento Sacramento Division of Planning and Environmental Review. And um the environmental document is a notice of exemption. We do. Metro, can you pull up the first presentation, please? Thank you. Perfect. All right. Good evening. My name is Jacob Daw, and I'm an associate planner with planning and environmental review. Uh the item for you today is a zoning code amendment package to implement changes uh in state law that went into effect um on or before January 1st uh 2023 into our zoning code. Um so over really since um probably around COVID, due to staff shortages and kind of changing priorities. We haven't been able to do one of these um kind of legislative updates. So we're trying to capture everything that's kind of impacted our code, um, even a couple of bills that uh were passed back in 2018. Um so all of the bills and the um amendments that we're proposing here today are kind of the minimum needed to ensure we're compliant with state law. There's nothing else in here that was kind of county or staff initiated. Um, everything in here is just to make sure that we're consistent and in full compliance.

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