Sutter County Planning Commission forwards two land-use proposals to Board of Supervisors

The Sutter County Planning Commission on a unanimous vote recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve two land-use proposals — a tentative parcel map for the Van Dyke property and a general plan amendment and rezone proposed by Neil Siller.

Casey Murray, senior planner, presented Project U25-002, describing it as “a tentative parcel map to divide a 2.75-acre parcel into a 1.60-acre agricultural parcel and a 1.15-acre agricultural parcel” and said the project is encumbered by an existing development-rights agreement that must be rescinded and replaced to preserve the proposed parcels. Murray told commissioners the site is zoned agriculture, designated AG-80 minimum in the general plan, consists of rice fields with an existing solar array, and that staff found the proposal consistent with the Sub-County Subdivision Ordinance and the Subdivision Map Act. Staff said the project met county requirements for frontage, lot width and parcel count and was covered by a CEQA “common sense” exemption; no public opposition was reported.

After an opportunity for public comment — the project surveyor said he had reviewed the conditions and had no comments — a commissioner moved to recommend approval and the motion carried on a unanimous roll call.

Ravenna Saroya, associate planner, presented Project U23-0017, a request to amend the general plan and rezone five parcels totaling about 19.37 acres from agricultural/ranchette to industrial-commercial and commercial-industrial. Saroya said one smaller parcel contains a dilapidated barn proposed for demolition and that the applicant provided a conceptual site plan showing a 300-foot agricultural buffer on the north and south of potential building pads. An initial study with 13 mitigation measures and a trip generation analysis by Wood Rogers identified three traffic-related mitigation measures, including a requirement that the property owner pay a fair-share fee for potential future intersection improvements. Saroya recommended the commission forward a negative declaration and a recommendation of approval to the Board of Supervisors.

George Masalem of Northwell Engineering spoke in support, saying his client had reviewed the conditions and “we are in agreement with them,” and noted the project’s access avoids the intersection of local concern. After no public opposition, a commissioner moved to approve the planning staff recommendation, the motion was seconded, and the commission recorded unanimous affirmative roll call votes.

Separately, county staffer Neil Hay updated the commission that at its May 27 meeting the Board of Supervisors adopted on second reading the ordinance related to the Lucid Project’s rezone and general plan amendment, and he thanked the commission for prior recommendations. Hay said staff is assembling the July planning commission agenda and may push items to August if the agenda is light.

Votes at a glance - Project U25-002 (Van Dyke tentative parcel map; applicant: Robert Van Dyke): motion to recommend approval — unanimous in favor by roll call. - Project U23-0017 (Neil Siller; general plan amendment and rezone for five parcels): motion to recommend approval — unanimous in favor by roll call.

What happens next Both recommendations will be transmitted to the Sutter County Board of Supervisors for final action. The planning commission’s votes were recommendations; any changes or final approvals will be recorded in upcoming Board of Supervisors agendas and minutes.