El Dorado County taking comments on development

Prompted by resident concerns over proposed housing developments, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors is asking the public for additional feedback. Supervisors are considering a new policy to guide evaluation of large, privately initiated developments that would require a change to the county’s General Plan.

The county’s Community Development Agency presented a draft policy to the Board of Supervisors at a special workshop on June 27. The new policy would require an “initiation” hearing before the Board of Supervisors for projects that increase the density of residential development beyond what is currently allowed in the General Plan.

Major issues under consideration include whether the policy should apply to all projects requiring a change to the General Plan in addition to residential, and whether the policy should apply to pending projects. Thirteen projects have been submitted to the county which add a combined total of approximately 6,000 new residential units.

The Board of Supervisors directed staff to make the policy available for public comment for 30 days ending Aug. 2. A final decision is expected sometime in September.

Additional information and a copy of the proposed policy is available online.