The El Sobrante Municipal Advisory Council (MAC)

LAND USE/PLANNING COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday April 25, 2006 6:00pm El Sobrante Library

Committee Members present: Wendi Gosliner, Barbara Pendergrass, Erica Peng

Guest: Catherine Kutsuris, Deputy Director, Community Development

Catherine’s Presentation

Overview

19 unincorporated areas in County that Community Development Department Planners oversee. Approx. 500 projects from unincorporated areas per year go to public hearing
25 Planners in the department (part-time and full-time); each Planner assigned approx. 25 applications at a time which includes projects under construction

Application Review Process

Application is received
Project is assigned to a Planner based on match between project scope and Planner’s experience, local knowledge, skill level.
Agency Comment Request Form is sent out to Fire District, Public Works, Health Dept, etc. to solicit specific comments about the project proposal. Community Development will then generate a list for the applicant stating specific items necessary to complete the application. MACs receive a copy of this Form, but are not expected to provide comments at this time. However, if a MAC determines there are certain projects of particular interest/concern at this time, the MAC can contact the assigned planner to express interest in receiving new information about project.
The Planners have 30 days to deem the application incomplete. No time period requirement within which applicant completes application. As long as they are making good effort, it is okay.
Once the application is complete, project undergoes Environmental Review. Determinations include: “Exempt” from review due to small size of project, “Negative Declaration” of no impacts, “Negative declaration with mitigations” all impacts can be mitigated, “Environmental Impact Report” to determine impacts.

Public Hearing Process

The Planner assigned to the project must write a staff report and state their position on the project (in reference to General Plan policies).
When project goes to Public Hearing, the Planner MUST include any comments from the MAC.

Variances

Ch 26. A variance application must be for a situation in which a property owner is put at an disadvantage compared to other properties in the same zoning district.

Substandard Lots

Lots that are smaller than the minimum requirement by the zoning district based on calculations.
Any exterior alterations on substandard lots must go through small lot review process.
The County reviews 500+ /year.

Bay Point MAC

Ask for presentations by developers
Identify which project applications they would like information on.
One Council member tracks the project’s process.

Next Steps

Catherine invites the MAC to develop and articulate general issues of concern and interest in regards to development. “What do we like?” “What don’t we like?” We can send this list to Catherine for review and guidance about whether it can be achieved through current zoning codes.