SIERRA COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 752 January 16, 2025 Chair: Liz Fisher Vice Chair: Jim Kelley Mike Filippini Alan Teague David Goicoechea LOCATION: Sierra County Courthouse Board ofSupervisiors Chambers I 100 Courthouse Square Downieville, CA 95936 This meeting was open to the public for in-person viewingparticpation. as well as available via videoleleconference. 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 10:01 AM. Commissioners Present: Commissioners Teague, Kelley, Filippini, Goicoechea, Commissioner Fisher was absent. Staff Present: Planning Director, Brandon Pangman; Planner II, Ashley Powell; and Administrative Secretary, Theresa Haddow Note: This meeting was available via videofleleconference; but the meeting was not recorded due to technical issues. 1.1 Oath ofOffice Newly - Appointed Commissioners: Mike Filippini and Alan Teague were sworn in by the Clerk-Recorder's Office. 1.2 Election of New Officers Commissioner Goicoechea motioned to continue with the existing officers as Chair and Vice Chair. Commissioner Filippini Seconded. After a discussion Commissioner Goicoechea withdrew his motion and the Commission agreed to withhold voting on new officers until Commissioner Fisher could be present and participate. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion: Filippini/Goicochea. Approved without changes. Vote: 4/0 with Commissioner Fisher being absent 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes for the November 14, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting Motion: Icague/Goicoechea. Approved without changes. Vote:4/0 with Commissioner Fisher being absent Page 1 of 5 4. CORRESPONDENCE None. 5. PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY 5.1 Comment from Sierraville Resident Bryan "Buck" Amodei Regarding His Property at 616 West Willow, Sierraville. Mr. Amodei, attending the meeting in person, explained an issue with getting his property sold due to it not being a legal parcel. Mr. Amodei believes that his property was subdivided in 1969 via a will, the County does not recognize this subdivision. Mr. Amodei also pointed out and it is his belief that the GIS map of his property is inaccurate. There were no other public comments. 6. WORKSHOPS 6.1. Local Responsibility Area (LRA) CalFire Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ), Office of State Fire Marshall (OSFM) Workshop. Planner Powell presented the CalFire Fire Hazard Severity Zone presentation and video. A discussion ensued regarding the Commissioners' ability to amend the fire zone map before it is adopted by the County. The Commissioners agreed that fire safety is ofthe utmost importance. The Commissioners inquired about the current availability of the fire zone maps; and Director Pangman said they are available on CalFire's website, and the Planning Department retains a copy. Director Pangman reminded the Commission that once the maps are finalized by CalFire an actual ordinance will be brought before the Commission to adopt the map(s) and enforce the new laws. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS 7.1 2024-2029 Sierra County Housing Element (7th Cycle) Update. Director Pangman introduced Consultant Gary Price of Price Consulting to present the 2024-2029 Sierra County Housing Element (7th Cycle) Update to the Planning Commission. This is a County-initiated General Plan Amendment to adopt a 5- year update to the Housing Element, as required by State law (Cal. Government Code Sections 65580-65589.8). Mr. Price shared that the Housing Element Draft got preliminary approval from the State. Mr. Price noted the extremely low rental and vacancy rate for homes in the County and the need for high density housing and the infrastructure that is needed to support that. Mr. Price noted that regional housing needs allocation from the State show that two (2) additional units are necessary, particularly at the lower- income categories of affordability. He also noted that adding things like a sewer system would make building easier. A discussion between the Commissioners ensued. Regarding vacant housing, Commissioner Teague pointed out, that there are several homes that are inaccessible during certain times ofthe year and that the Housing Element does not address that fact. Commissioner Teague also brought up that insurance premium increases have impacted the affordability, making housing more difficult to acquire and keep. Page 2 of 5 Commissioner Teague pointed out a typo on page 23 oft the draft. Commissioner Teague also inquired about the availability ofrental vouchers for low-income families. Mr. Price noted that there are not many vouchers available in Sierra County and that there is a large waiting list, one only becomes available when someone leaves. Commissioner Teague clarified that he believes we have eight (8) in the County and wanted to know if there is an issue with property owners accepting the vouchers. Director Pangman noted that these are provided by Heath and Human Services. Commissioner Teague brought up concern over the requirement for designating 100% replacement ofl leech field areas when developing, and wanting to knowif that requirement would be amended. Director Pangman clarified that that would be difficult because of the Local Area Management Plan (LAMP) and that Sierra County does allow alternatives for septic systems but that is really Environmental Health's domain. Commissioner Goicoechea had the opinion that an increase in housing brings an increase ofinsurance for all of us. Commissioner Goicoechea also brought up conçern over installation ofa sewage system due to the increased maintenance or the likeliness ofit to fail. The Commissioner expressed his opinion that lack of housing is a benefit and not a liability as increased housing brings on other issues in the County and that agriculture has a low but positive impact on the community because it reduces other cost. Commissioner Goicoechea wanted clarification that approval of the Housing Element Update does not necessitate a change to the zoning in the County. Director Pangman answered that there is no proposed change to County zoning by approving the draft Housing Element; but also, that there is currently no vacant land that has no constraints to be able to build low-income housing on and this shows a need when the General Plan is this issue ofidentifying additional multi- unit residential lands and potentially high-density residential zones should be considered. Commissioner Filippini stated he understands that the draft Housing Element is necessary to comply with state regulations but the document is somewhat unwieldy; and he said he would like future drafts to include an analysis of both the incorporated and unincorporated areas. Commissioner Filippini also wanted a coversheet on future Housing Elements that outline the process, cost, grants received and how many hours ofPlanning Department time was spent drafting the document in order to show the State the demands they are making on such a small community. Director Pangman informed the Commission of a couple of small technical changes that were made to the document that will be presented to the Board and Mr. Price indicated that he could make an addition related to insurance increasing the cost ofhousing due to this being a high fire hazard area. The floor was then open to public comment. Bryan Amodei noted that the distance to commute to go to work influenced the decline in population and that it would reverse if a two (2) lane road was ever constructed to decrease the drive time to the I-395 corridor. Page 3 of 5 Motion: Goicoechea/Teague to recommend approval to The Board of Supervisors, including the small technical changes noted. Approved. Vote: 4-0 with Commissioner Fisher being absent. 7.2 Revocation of Special Use Permit #965. Director Pangman presented a proposed revocation of Special Use Permit (SUP) No. 965 for a bed and breakfast inn located at 804 Fibreboard Road, Sierraville, (APN 014-090-021), due to unpermitted structural alterations to the main building and other unpermitted work on the property. Commissioner Teague wanted to verify that there was only one (1) communication from the applicant which was included in the Staff Report. Director Pangman confirmed that there has been limited contact with the contractor, engineer, and applicant. Commissioner Teague inquired as to whether there is a way to suspend the SUP and not revoke it. Director Pangman informed the Commission that the SUP is currently suspended. The Commission then opened the hearing to the public for comment where representative, Appollo McDaniel, was present for the property owner. Mr. McDaniel agreed with Director Pangman' S account of what has happened on the property but believes there are some discrepancies. Mr. McDaniel noted that after the original notice from the County that there was no communication for over two (2) years and that he is currently working with Bonnie in the Building Department to figure out how to get the property in compliance and has hired engineer Tom Connelly to assist in getting the barn in compliance before working on the other areas of the property. Mr. McDaniel's believes that he's been in direct contact with the County a lot and that revoking the permit is a waste of time because they will be back to reapply and would like to move forward with the County. Commissioner Teague asked how long until they obtain the permits and begin working with Tom Connelly. The applicant's S representative stated that he believed that permits had already been submitted, however, the Planning Department has not received everything yet. Commissioner Goicoechea moved that the Planning Commission recommend to The Board of Supervisors that they revoke the SUP. Commissioner Filippini wanted to make a comment before the vote, that the SUP is not a right that the property owner has, and due to the liability on the property he's okay with them having to start over. Mr. McDaniel stated that he believes the owner was previously ill advised and that the owner currently does not have a desire to sell the property but for someone to take on a partial summer ownership. Commissioner Teague expressed concerned over the discrepancy on the status of the application. Director Pangman clarified that he was able to locate thee (3) applications for permits that were submitted to the Building Department that had not yet been reviewed by the Planning Department; two (2) were submitted in July 2024 - one (1) for the Grading and one (1) for the solar; and one (1) was submitted in November 2024 for the barn; but that all three permit applications remained Page 4 of 5 incomplete and could not be processed. The Building Department is still waiting for information and documentation from the applicant to process the permits. Commissioner Teague stated he would like to allow the owner sixty (60) days before revocation. Commissioner Goicoechea disagreed and said he believes the permit has been violated. Motion: Goicoechea/Filippini, Approved as recommended. Vote: 3-1 with Commissioner Teague opposing and Commissioner Fisher being absent. 8. BUSINESS REQUIRING ACTION OR DISCUSSION None. 9. PLANNING DIRECTOR'S STAFF REPORTS Director Pangman informed the Commission that the collection ofHousing Policies (Zoning Ordinance) had been approved by The Board of Supervisors, and that this paved the way for final approval and disbursement of the LEAP and REAP Grant funds, which were very beneficial to the County's efforts to complete the General Plan and Zoning Code updates. Director Pangman also gave an update on the appeal from the Mitchell oft their CUP amendment, stating that the Mitchell have opted to withdraw their appeal. 10. PLANNING COMMISSIONERS REPORTS None. 11. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn: Kelley/Goicoechea Vote: 4-0 with Commissioner Fisher being absent Meeting was adjourned at 12:08. The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for February 13, 2025. Respectfully submitted, Approved as Witnessed Theresa Haddow 5 84 Theresa Haddow Brandon Pangman Administrative Secretary III Commission Secretary Page 5 of 5