Rezone program moves forward to Placer Supervisors

Following an expedited 13-month process, Placer County's rezone project will continue on to the Board of Supervisors for consideration on Tuesday, May 21. The Housing Element Implementation Program HE-1: Rezone to Meet the RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Allocation) involves the assessment of potential candidate sites to be rezoned to accommodate a shortfall in Placer's capacity in lower-income households. The state tasked Placer with rezoning enough property to accommodate 1,219 units, with a recommended buffer of 15-30 percent. The deadline was May 15. During the April 2 Meddlers meeting in Auburn, District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson advised the hearing is being held after the state's deadline to ensure there is a full board during rezone consideration. On April 25, the Placer County Planning Commission voted to recommend 14 candidate rezone sites to accommodate the shortfall to the board. The commission's recommendation included reducing site 26 in Granite Bay to 10 acres, adding the Cincinnati Avenue property in the Sunset Area for consideration to yield 250 units and moving forward with 13 of county staff's recommended sites in North Auburn, Bowman, Penryn, Granite Bay and Sheridan. The commission also unanimously voted to recommend the certification of the final environmental impact report (EIR) for the rezone program. Placer residents utilized the public comment period of the board's May 7 meeting to share their opposition ahead of the May 21 consideration. The 24 comments included asking the county to be more aggressive in pushing back against the state's requirements, the possible impacts high-density development would have on Placer's rural communities, requesting the county to request an extension from the state to vet better sites for high-density housing and the removal of certain sites within the commission's recommendation. "... We didn't ask for this; it got shoved upon us," Dry Creek resident Craig Watts said. "We're here. We just want to save what's left of our rural community. And you guys got us into this mess and it's your guys' choice to get it out and, I hope, find a better way than shoving it in our communities." Placer County resident Jennifer White added, "This is going to change the face of Placer County. You guys have the ability, right now, to save us or possibly not. And I really hope as you make these decisions that you're going to say, 'You know what, this is really going to change the whole lifestyle.' " The board is scheduled to consider the rezone program at 10 a.m. The public is invited to attend in the Jeff Brown Room of the Health and Human Services Center, 11434 B Avenue in Auburn, or online at placer.ca.gov/boslive and via livestream on YouTube. The agenda, along with the draft and final EIRs and written comments already received, can be found at placer.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/79696/2024-052124-Additional-Documents.