Sacramento County Planning Commission Meeting - August 26, 2026

The meeting began with the swearing-in of new Commissioner Alma Munoz. The commission heard three items: a routine consent item, a contested fence appeal, and a contested kill floor use permit appeal. Key outcomes included unanimous approval of the pick and pull permit, denial of the fence appeal (upholding the fence), and denial of the kill floor appeal (upholding the use permit) after a 2-2 tie vote triggered a zoning code provision.

Consent Calendar

• PLMP 2025-00203 (Pick and Pull) – Approved unanimously without discussion. The item involved a use permit and variance amendment for a property at 8640 Antelope North Road. No public comments were received.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 2 (Fence Appeal): Appellant Marie Barkovsky, the adjacent neighbor, argued that the seven-foot solid fence impedes visibility when backing out of her driveway and violates the Carmichael Colony neighborhood preservation area’s open character. She noted the fence was built before the permit was approved. Three public commenters supported the appeal, emphasizing the neighborhood’s semi-rural character and the importance of enforcing zoning rules. The applicant, Lauren and John Morgan, stated they relied on their contractor and the county permitting process, and that they intend to soften the fence with greenery.
• Item 3 (Kill Floor Appeal): Appellant Tanya Silva, chair of the Rio Linda CPAC, requested denial of the use permit, citing concerns about compatibility, traffic, odor, groundwater, and the lack of a per-day slaughter limit. She noted that the CPAC and Agricultural Advisory Committee both unanimously recommended denial. Fourteen public commenters spoke, all opposed to the project. They raised issues including water contamination, airborne diseases, reduced property values, noise, and the scale of operations (30 slaughters per week). The applicant, Bahadur Amiri, defended his project, stating it complies with AR-5 zoning and CDFA regulations, and that the slaughter will occur inside an insulated building with sealed waste tanks.

Discussion Items

• Item 2 (3031 Wilkins Way Fence Appeal): The commission reviewed the administrative hearing officer’s approval of a minor use permit for a seven-foot solid fence in the front yard setback. The fence is set back 13 feet 8 inches from Wilkins Way. Staff recommended denying the appeal. The appellant argued the fence reduces visibility and safety, and that the county’s process was flawed. The applicant stated they obtained a building permit for the pool and fence, but later learned a minor use permit was needed. After discussion, the commission voted to deny the appeal, adopting the findings in the staff report, thereby upholding the fence permit.
• Item 3 (Green Farm Kill Floor Appeal): The project involves converting a 365-square-foot barn into a kill floor on a 20-acre parcel in the AR-5 zone. The zoning administrator approved a use permit with conditions including a maximum of 30 slaughters per week, Monday–Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and requirements for waste containment and CDFA licensing. The CPAC appealed, seeking restrictions or denial. Staff recommended denying the appeal. Commissioners debated the project’s compatibility with the growing residential area, the adequacy of the 30-per-week cap, and the applicant’s preparedness. The vote resulted in a 2-2 tie (Commissioners Verga and Rockenstein in favor of denying the appeal, Chair and Commissioner Munoz in favor of granting the appeal). A motion to continue the item failed 2-2, and a motion to deny the appeal (i.e., approve the project) also failed 2-2. Under Zoning Code Section 613 D.3, a tie vote means the matter is denied, which was interpreted as the appeal being denied. Therefore, the use permit remains in effect.

Key Outcomes

• Item 1 (Pick and Pull): Motion to approve staff recommendation passed unanimously.
• Item 2 (Fence Appeal): Motion to deny the appeal and adopt staff findings passed unanimously (4-0). The fence permit remains in effect.
• Item 3 (Kill Floor Appeal): After a 2-2 tie vote, the zoning code provision resulted in the appeal being denied. The use permit for the kill floor stands, subject to the original conditions.

Note: The transcript references the meeting date as August 24, 2026, but the provided date is August 26, 2026. This summary uses the provided date.