San Joaquin County planners seek input on rules for special events, threshold for neighbor notice

San Joaquin County planning staff asked the Planning Commission for policy input on updating the county's development title rules for special events, focusing discussion on when higher levels of review or public notice should be required.

Principal Planner Megan Ahire said current rules require a temporary use permit for all special events of 75 people or more, issued ministerially and renewed annually up to four events per year. She said staff wants feedback on whether the county should tier review by event size or other triggers and what thresholds should trigger additional requirements such as public notice or discretionary review.

Commissioners and members of the public raised a range of issues: whether thresholds should be based on attendees or zoning context; requiring neighbor notification for large or potentially disruptive events; tying additional review to alcohol service, amplified sound, occupant load, traffic impacts or public-safety staffing; and whether religious assemblies should…