Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Neighbors urge supervisors to reject Hidden Grove rezone, citing spot zoning and wildland concerns
Summary
Multiple Cedar Ridge residents told the board in public comment that the Hidden Grove live/work development proposal—15 studio apartments over nine light industrial units—would amount to spot rezoning, threaten rural character, present fire/evacuation risks and provide few truly affordable units.
Residents of Cedar Ridge used the board's public comment period April 14 to urge supervisors to reject a proposed Hidden Grove project that would rezone a small parcel for live/work units and light industrial space.
Corey, a District 3 resident, described the development as 15 one‑bedroom studio apartments over nine light‑industrial units on less than 1.2 acres and said early phases prioritize commercial space while the promised affordable housing is in a later phase with only a single very‑low‑income unit guaranteed. “The affordable housing component is phase three, which is the last phase of a project that the applicant has up to seven years to begin,” the speaker said, adding that staff had found the project inconsistent with key General Plan policies.
Other residents echoed zoning and environmental concerns. Dolly Lewis said the proposal would change rural character, increase noise and light, threaten downhill wells and worsen congestion on narrow roads and wildfire escape routes. John Vaughn argued the request contradicts general plan policy and urged the board to follow the county plan and direct development toward properly zoned locations. Several speakers also cited alleged long‑running code violations by the developer, Jerry Serino, and asked supervisors to defer to planning staff recommendations.
On process, Regenesis Planet's Gordon Gosage urged the board to speed up land use decisions while educating the broader county about affordable housing policies and jurisdictional limits, and other neighbors asked for stricter adherence to suitability standards and that any rezoning follow the same scrutiny as general plan updates.
What happens next: The comments were recorded in the public record. Any formal planning applications or rezoning proposals for Hidden Grove will proceed through the planning review and hearing process where staff recommendations and environmental review will be considered; neighbors indicated they will remain engaged at future hearings.
