AUBURN, CA (MPG) - The Placer County Planning Commission took action on April 25 to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve 14 sites throughout the county to be rezoned to meet state requirements for multi-family housing.  

Placer County has been working for more than a year with willing property owners to participate in its Housing Element Sites Rezone program, which would change zoning of the selected sites to allow for development of multi-family housing at 20-30 units per acre. The county is charged with rezoning enough land to accommodate a minimum of 1,219 units to meet the state’s mandate. 

The Planning Commission on Thursday held a public hearing that included a detailed staff presentation describing sites throughout the county proposed for rezoning, more than 50 comments from community members and ultimately a recommendation by the commission.  

Commissioners voted 4-3 to recommend the Board of Supervisors remove two sites (of the proposed 15) in the Dry Creek area that are currently zoned as residential/agricultural and move forward with 13 of the staff’s recommended sites in North Auburn, Bowman, Penryn, Granite Bay and Sheridan.  

The commission also recommended adding an approximately 26.4-acre site on county-owned land on Cincinnati Avenue in the Sunset Area of west Placer County into the rezone program. 

Staff’s full presentation can be viewed by clicking here, and the Planning Commission’s full deliberation and recommendations can be viewed by clicking here. 

“The Planning Commission’s recommendation falls in line with the Board of Supervisors vision to only include willing landowners, and it adheres to staff’s recommendation to submit a complete package to the state, fulfilling all requirements,” Planning Director Chris Pahule said.   

The Rezone Program is part of the county’s 2021-2029 Housing Element, a comprehensive plan aimed at addressing and accommodating Placer County’s housing needs while ensuring equitable access to housing options. The county’s Housing Element requires completion of a rezone program by May 2024 to accommodate a shortfall of land identified for multifamily residential development.  

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to hold a public hearing that will include a staff presentation, public comment and a possible final action at 9 a.m. on May 21.