HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12101985 - X.12 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: Supervisor Tom Torlakson Contra
Costa
DATE: December 10, 1985 County
REFERRAL OF ALL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT DECISIONS
SUBJECT: IN THE SOUTHEAST GENERAL PLAN AREA TO THE COUNTY PLANNING
COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION: Enact an emergency ordinance referring all wind-
mill applications wit in the Southeast County General Plan Amendment Area
currently heard by the Zoning Administrator to the County Planning
Commission for public hearing. This is a recognition that the pending
applications are of established public concern and importance. This is
a logical method to ensure full public participation and involvement in
important planning decisions affecting concerned citizens and property
owners alike . It would also serve to expedite the process in my opinion.
There has been confusion under the current process which threatens
continued good faith negotiations and the task force process we have ini-
tiated to resolve issues in the Southeast Area.
BACKGROUND: The Board of Supervisors declined to enact a "mora-
torium" in the southeastern portion of Contra Costa County. Since the
major pending land use applications were the five (5) outstanding permit
applications to establish wind farms , it was determined that the specific
problems could be addressed without a formal moratorium.
Since then, I have sponsored several meetings to attempt to
resolve the issues surrounding windfarm development .
The County Zoning Administrator was to hear projects after the
East Diablo Planning Advisory Committee (EDPAC) had reviewed applications .
The Zoning Administrator �app r_ow� e��d County File #2131-85 (Windmaster/Lopez)
on December 2, 1985 . EDP Cis to have not received a copy of that
application and it is not scheduled to be heard until December 11th
(tomorrow) . Since the decision was made at the Zoning Administrator level
without adequate public review and since the applicant is also not satis-
fied with the decision, both environmental groups and the applicant have
requested reconsideration or are planning to file appeals .
Additionally, the Mt. Diablo Audubon Society has appealed the
staff recommendation for a Negative Declaration for four (4) applications ,
including .#2131-85. The other three (3) applications were by Altamont
Energy Corporation (#2124-85 , 2105-85 , and 2127-85) . The appeal was sub-
mitted on November 25th, and referred by the Board on December 3, 1985 ,
to the Community Development Department.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)
ACTION OF BOARD ON DprpmhPr 10. 1985 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER XX
The Board REQUESTED County Counsel and the Community Development Director to
review the above and the windmill application process and to report to the Board.
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: County Counsel ATTESTED December 10, 1985
Community Development Phil ftheW,Merl►of the&*M of
County Administrator SuWWwsmdCw*Admini**t
M382/7•83 BY L/I ,—_, DEPUTY
December 10, 1985
Page TWO
The Board of Supervisors is appointing a committee to develop
a general plan amendment for the Southeast Area. It would be appropri-
ate to have this committee review some of the generalized process and
land use questions regarding windfarm development as well as giving
EDPAC a chance of review site specific concerns and these generalized
issues .