Planning commissions also review new development and infill development. As eastern Rancho Cordova builds out, plans made a decade earlier will need to be amended, changed to meet the needs of the developers and current residents. A planning commission cannot be directly influenced legally, and gives the citizens a measure of separation and impartiality from developers and special interest.

Infill development along Folsom Blvd will be controversial. A planning commission made of of residents can give citizens more input into what takes shape on  Folsom Blvd and give citizens more time to contribute to how those projects can impact existing neighborhoods.

The General Plan update is fast approaching in 2020, and a planning commission can better ensure that changes to our “constitution of land use planning and zoning” reflects the interests and values of all Rancho Cordovans.

The questions commissioners ask aren’t as predetermined or “steered” like council members questions of developers sometimes are. City staff work for the commission and help clarify things when project proponents are deliberately “vague”.

More Rancho Cordovans asking basic questions about our needs and priorities, how projects and ordinances impact residents, not industry spin, steered conversations which exclude our concerns, ultimately diminishing our property rights is what a commission can bring to Rancho Cordova.

My greatest concern is building institutions that ensure residents have access and control of their government beyond the ballot box. We have to work on our “civic infrastructure”, institutions and processes that protect our rights, and the rights of Rancho Cordovans in the future. That will define and distinguish us from just another base town or tired, old brownfield reuse story.

jurisdiction. You can learn about your commission’s

particular responsibilities by asking the planning

department. Most commissions have the following

responsibilities:

• General Plan. Assist in writing the general plan and

hold public hearings on its adoption. (The governing

body retains authority to actually adopt the general

plan.) Promote public interest in the general plan.

Consult with and advise public officials and agencies,

utilities, organizations, and the public regarding

implementation of the general plan. Also review,

hold hearings on, and act upon proposed

amendments to the plan.

• Specific Plans. Assist in writing any specific plans or

community plans and hold public hearings on such

plans. (The governing body retains authority to

actually adopt specific plans.) Also review, hold

hearings on, and act upon proposed amendments to

such plans.

• Zoning and Subdivision Maps. Review, hold hearings

on, and act upon zoning ordinances, maps,

conditional use permits, and variances. Similarly

consider subdivision applications.

• Individual Project Approvals. Review individual

projects for consistency with the general plan, any

applicable specific plans, the zoning ordinance, and

other land use policies and regulations.

• Report on Capital Improvements Plans. Annually

review the jurisdiction’s capital improvements

program and the public works projects of other local

agencies for consistency with the general plan.

• Hear Appeals of Zoning Administrator Decisions. The Planning Commission hears appeals of Zoning Administrator decisions. In addition, in some instances the Zoning Administrator may refer items up to the Planning Commission for review or Planning Commissioners may call up Zoning Administrator decisions for review.
Coordinate Planning Efforts. Coordinate local plans and programs with those of other public agencies.
Consider Land Acquisitions. Report to the governing body on the consistency of proposed public land acquisition or disposal with the general plan.
Special Studies. Undertake special planning studies as needed.