Sacramento County Planning Commission Meeting - June 12, 2024
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Sacramento County Planning Commission Meeting - June 12, 2024
The Sacramento County Planning Commission met on June 12, 2024, beginning at approximately 7:40 PM and adjourning at 8:58 PM. The meeting included off-agenda public comments, two non-contested consent items, and two contested items that were both continued to an indefinite date after extensive public testimony and commission deliberation. Key topics included workforce development, a 33-unit affordable housing project, and a related development proposal.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 (PLNP 2023-0009): A conditional use permit, special development permit, and design review for a project at 4707 Arburn Boulevard. Approved unanimously by the commission with the staff recommendation.
- Item 2 (PLNP 2024-00080): A development agreement for a project at 7361 Bradshaw Road, aimed at expediting housing. Approved unanimously with staff recommendation.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Off-Agenda Public Comments: Two carpenters from Local 46, Marco Alfaro and Alexander Hampton, spoke about the struggles of the working middle class and advocated for project labor agreements including apprenticeship, healthcare, local hire, and prevailing wage to support construction workers and the community.
- Public Comments on Contested Items (Items 3 & 4): Over 20 residents and neighborhood representatives spoke in opposition to the proposed projects. Kathy Cook, president of Mission Oaks North Neighborhood Association, stated the projects violate the Neighborhood Preservation Area (NPA) ordinance, citing aesthetic incompatibility, privacy loss, traffic dangers, and inadequate parking. Many residents expressed concerns about three-story buildings in a single-story neighborhood, increased traffic at Mission and Whitney intersection, school safety, lack of parking, noise, and potential property value declines. One speaker, Steve Maurer, supported the project, emphasizing the need for housing and the elimination of a vacant lot. Several speakers questioned the CEQA exemption and called for a full environmental review.
Discussion Items
- Item 3 (PLNP 2023-0087): A request for a development plan review, density bonus, incentives, and design review for a 33-unit, three-story multifamily project at 3532 Mission Avenue. The applicant sought a 50% density bonus (11 additional units), two incentives, and six waivers. Staff presented that the project is a qualified housing development with four very low-income units. The Carmichael CPAC recommended approval 4-1 (with a recommendation for a masonry wall instead of wood fence), and DRAC found substantial compliance with design guidelines. The commission questioned staff on traffic analysis, parking, noise, and the legal distinction between incentives and waivers. County counsel advised the commission has discretion on aesthetics but must base denial on quantifiable impacts. After deliberation, Commissioner Raithel moved to continue the item to an indefinite date to allow for further analysis on traffic, parking, and the physical feasibility of waivers. The motion passed 5-0.
- Item 4 (PLNP 2023-00089): A similar project at 3537 Mission Avenue (the western parcel) with essentially the same entitlements. Given the nexus with Item 3 and cumulative impacts, the commission immediately moved to continue this item to an indefinite date without staff presentation. The motion passed 5-0.
Key Outcomes
- Consent items 1 and 2 approved unanimously.
- Items 3 and 4 continued to an indefinite date to allow for additional staff analysis on:
- Cumulative traffic impacts and safety at Mission Avenue and Whitney intersection.
- On-street parking availability and safety after planned roadway improvements.
- Clarification on which requested development standards are physically preclusive (waivers) vs. financial incentives/concessions.
- The continuance avoids a potential violation of permit streamlining acts, as no more than five public hearings are required. The commission expects to set a date certain for a future meeting after further review.
- No other decisions were made; the meeting adjourned at 8:58 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everybody. We're gonna go ahead and call to order the county planning commission for June 10th, 2024. Uh if you'll please call the role. Yes, Commissioner Sporha. Here. Conklin. Here. Corona Savignano. Devlin and Raethel. Here. And we do have our quorum. If you'll 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. And if you'll please make the announcements for this evening. Certainly. So 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 served basis. To make an in-person public comment, please complete and submit a speaker request form to the clerk. 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 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 a comment to Bird Clerk at SatCounty.gov or mail a comment to 700H Street Suite 2450, Sacramento, California, 95814. All right. That moves us to our non-contested portion of the agenda. If you'll please call item number one. Okay. And then Sir, just in confirmation, when would we want to have the off agenda items? Oh, thank you so much. Yeah, thanks for the reminder. We do have two off agenda items. So we're going to rearrange the agenda a bit. We're going to take uh public comment of off-agenda items first. Uh so if Marco Alfaro wants to come down to the floor. And sir, how many minutes would you like to give the public commenters? Two minutes. Thank you. Good evening, uh City Planning Commission and staff. My name is Mark Alfaro, a carpenter out of local 46 here in Sacramento. I'm here tonight to speak about the working middle class and where it's going. I can confidently say I'm still part of this working class that's fighting to still be even considered a class. Middle class used to be an American dream for the majority of the U.S. Now the majority of the population seemingly has to pick extra groceries for kids, lunches, enough gas money to get to work, making all of your monthly payments on time, and trying to save for the future. That's not what we should be aiming for as a working class. We should be aiming for a sense of financial security that doesn't have us stressed out to go see a doctor or worry about when we take days off and how it'll affect our ability to pay bills. I can personally attest that to be able to attend an apprenticeship program helped me elevate my skills and be able to become a valuable person on a job, which in turn helped me stay busy my whole ten years in the construction industry. Along with working for employers that covered my health insurance, not just for myself but for my family as well. When I was able to work close to home, it benefited my whole family with more time together and more memories.
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