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El Dorado County is in the process of updating its General Plan and Zoning Ordinance.
According to the county, the purpose of the update is to promote the development of moderate income housing, implement policies that result in job creation and improved sales tax revenues, and ensure the protection of the agriculture and natural resource industries in the County.
Circulating for comment are a series of proposed policy and zoning changes that have been discussed at eight different public meetings held throughout the county. The last one was on June 28 before the Planning Commission.
Workshops on the proposed zoning changes will also be held with the Board of Supervisors on July 16, 18, 19, and 20.
Following the workshops, a draft environmental impact report will be prepared analyzing the proposed changes, their significant environmental impacts, along with alternatives and potential mitigation measures. The EIR must be prepared before the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance updates can be reviewed by the Planning Commission and then approved by the Board of Supervisors.
County planners expect the project to be completed by June of next year and to cost between $750,000 and $1 million, including the cost of outside contractors.
Development projects that are currently under consideration aren’t affected by the update.
Residential density to be increased
A number of land-use policy changes are being proposed. Among them is a proposal to allow residential mixed-use developments to increase in density from 16 to 20 units per acre.
Multi-family density would be allowed to increase from 24 to 30 units per acre.
Also proposed is amending the 30 percent open space requirement for Planned Development community regions and rural centers to allow a lesser area of “improved open space” on site, with the option of allowing a portion of the required open space off-site or by an in-lieu fee option.
Other proposed land-use changes
Proposed changes for commercial land use include permitting an increase in density for commercial/mixed use from 16 to 20 units per acre and allowing commercial and industrial uses in rural regions.
Planners want established standards for wetland and riparian setbacks and to delete the requirement that industrial lands be restricted to areas within, or in close proximity to community regions and rural centers.
Also recommended is streamlining the California Environmental Quality Act process for qualified projects that are consistent with Metropolitan Transportation Plans.
CAP program
As part of the General Plan update, the county is discussing developing a Climate Action Plan (CAP). The plan includes a set of policies and implementation measures designed to meet state requirements for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The state has a goal to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
While there is no mandate that a jurisdiction must adopt a CAP, there is a mandate that a project as defined and subject to CEQA must analyze the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate impacts to protect against “climate change.” The county is exploring options to meeting those state objectives.
People can view all the proposed policy and zoning changes, public comments, and other documents at www.edcgov.us/landuseupdate.
The deadline for additional agency and public comments is July 10.
Contact Dawn Hodson at 530-344-5071 or dhodson@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @DHodsonMtDemo on Twitter.
The Mountain Democrat does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy
Ernie LouisJuly 06, 2012 - 11:49 am
Pierre Rivas was listed as the Planner for the General Plan update and Zoning change. I wrote this e-mail regarding the process on 7-5-2012. I got an automatic notice that he would be out of his office for an extended period of time. I want someone to know my concerns. A lot of my concern would be lightened if all votes and policy by the present BOS require final review and approval after the new Board of Supervisors take office. Pierre Rivas, Principal Planner Development Services Department El Dorado County From: Ernie Louis [mailto:ernie4re@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2012 2:18 PM To: 'rre.rivas@edcgov.us' Cc: 'ernie4re@sbcglobal.net' Subject: Chief Planner for EDC General Plan update and Re-zone Changes Good Afternoon . The General Plan and Re-zoning process is fatally flawed. John Edwards showed us the difference between legal/illegal and right/wrong. The following points demonstrate both. 1. Improper Notification. 2. Improper citizen response Time frames. 3. Non-conforming Zoning proposed with-out project specific disclosure in a Low density neighborhood. 4. Inadequate egress and ingress. 5. Improper conducted public hearing process denying public questions and comments. 6. Un addressed questions and public comment. 7. Review 2012 Amador Grand Jury final Report to measure the competency and creditability of the Presenters and staff. 8. Moderator and CEO, announced false and misleading information during the public meetings. 9. Meetings were not recorded, mikes present were disabled excluding mike used by presenters. Minutes were not taken during the public meetings. 10. Project is non-confirming and un-sustainable. I trust you will do your job for the citizens of El Dorado County. Ernie Louis Placerville (530) 622-6763 (916) 965-3300
Lori ParlinJuly 07, 2012 - 7:16 am
Dawn, would you please publish the place and time of the Zoning Workshops. I clicked all over that website from the article and cannot find those details for the workshops. We need that information to advertise the workshops so that people can arrange their schedules to attend. The handout I received at the Scoping meeting also does not have complete details.
Sam ParlinJuly 08, 2012 - 9:26 pm
The 2012 Grand Jury Final Report from Amador County found that Kimberly Kerr, former City Manager of Ione, "...solely oversaw the expenditures for consultants and did not maintain proper payment procedures..."; and was also found to have "...disregarded findings and recommendations of the 2010-2011 Grand Jury report..."; and was also found to have "...ignored complaints voiced by local citizens at City Council meetings concerning financial matters and problems surrounding the proposed wastewater treatment plant." Kim Kerr left the city of Ione and is now the El Dorado County Assistant Chief Administrative Officer taking the lead in updating the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance. Can we trust this person with the future of El Dorado County?
Monique WJuly 11, 2012 - 7:16 pm
Lori Parlin, you will need to check the Board of Supervisor (BOS) agendas before the Tuesday meetings (for the dates listed above). The agendas are listed by close of business on the Thursday before the Tuesday meeting. A note, always check the "consent calendar". Those are items that are automatically approved unless a Supervisor pulls it off consent and puts it on as a regular agenda item -- if anything ever concerns you on the consent calendar, notify the BOS, and/or come up to speak at the podium before the regular meeting starts to request that it be pulled. Here is a link regarding the zoning ordinance update: http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/landuseupdate/ Ernie, the planner for the General Plan Update is Shawna, not Pierre: http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/Government/CAO/PressReleases/Scoping_Begins_for_General_Plan_and_Zoning_Update.aspx Ernie, these are scoping meetings, not hearings. They are informational only. The best way to comment is to send in written comments. Also, some of your comments don't seem to apply: ingress/egress, project not conforming - these are comments for specific projects, not for general plan updating, which doesn't have specific projects. Don't bash staff. I know them. They don't have agendas, and are doing their jobs. There is no conspiracy amongst staff. Really. Sam, I am concerned that the general plan update is being handled out of the CAO's office. It should be handled out of the Planning Department - planners are the ones with the education and knowledge to make sure that state and federal regulations are being followed, to prevent lawsuits against the county (paid by you and me, the taxpayers). I don't know why the BOS would have the CAO's office manage it....unless the developers want it that way (and the developers pretty much run EDAC). Want to read developers' spin on county land use issues? Go to Cris Alarcon's website (yes, that Cris Alarcon): http://inedc.com/