Planning Commission Meeting

Public Appearances for Non-Agenda Items

Shortly after the hearing begins, the PC invites public participation regarding the affairs of the County. Any person desiring to speak on any matter which is not scheduled on this agenda may do so. Comments may be limited to three minutes, or as imposed at the discretion of the Chair. Under State Law, matters presented during public appearances cannot be discussed or acted upon by the PC commissioners.

Public Appearances for Agenda Items

PC hearings begin at 1:00 PM and are recorded. Agenda items begin on or after the time stated on the agenda. After a county staff project presentation and commission questions, the public hearing is then opened. The applicant may then give a 10-minute project presentation followed by public comments. The time limit for public comments is at the Chair’s discretion and is typically three minutes per speaker. Please state your name for the record when you are called upon. Questions raised by the public may be answered after all public comments are given. The Commission may request staff or the applicant to answer questions, and the applicant is given the opportunity to respond to any public comments. The public hearing is then closed, and no further public comments are received. The commissioners discuss the project and make a decision by motion and roll call vote.

Contributions

Pursuant to Government Code section 84308 (the "Levine Act"), members of the Planning Agency or Planning Commission (collectively “Planning Agency”) are disqualified and not able to participate in any agenda item involving contracts (other than competitively bid, labor, or personal employment contracts), franchises, discretionary land use permits and other entitlements if the member of the Planning Agency received more than $500 in campaign contributions from the applicant or contractor, an agent of the applicant or contractor, or any financially interested participant who actively supports or opposes the County’s decision on the agenda item within the preceding 12 months. Members of the Planning Agency who have received, and applicants, contractors or their agents who have made, campaign contributions totaling more than $500 to a member of the Planning Agency within the 12 months prior to the Planning Agency taking action, are required to disclose that fact for the official record of the subject proceeding. Disclosures must include the amount of the campaign contribution and identify the recipient Planning Agency member and may be made in writing to the Clerk for the Planning Agency on the date of application or, for contributions made during any stage while the application/hearing is pending, within 30 days of making the contribution or the date the party first appears before the Planning Agency, whichever is earliest. 

Public Comments

Please follow the instructions below to submit a Public Comment in writing, email or in person via the hearing room. The PC invites interested persons to submit comments which are entered into the permanent record. Written comments received prior to and during the hearing are distributed to the commissioners, staff, and are available to the public via the public copies link in the calendar section of this agenda. Written comments received after the package is made public may be read into the record.

Mail Public Comments

Address letters to: Permit Sonoma, 2550 Ventura Avenue, Attn: Planning Agency Secretary, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 and include the project number. 

Email Public Comments

Email comments to: PlanningAgency@sonomacounty.gov. Please provide your name and the project number. It is advised to email comments (no later than the day before) prior to the hearing date to give commissioners and staff review time.

Public Comments Using Zoom

Comments are not accepted through Zoom at this time. If you wish to provide comments, please follow the instructions provided on this page for mail, email, or in-person comment.

Speaking In-Person on an Agenda Item

If you wish to speak on an item which appears on this agenda, please que at the direction of the Chair.  The meetings are recorded and all in person testimony must be given through the microphone. Please state your name upon approaching the microphone. Each person may speak only once and is usually granted 3 minutes. Time limits are at the discretion of the Chair. Questions raised by the public are to be directed to the Commission. At the end of the hearing, the Commission may ask staff or the applicant to respond to any questions raised during the hearing.

Be Respectful and Courteous

Please Be Respectful of others and the varying points of view. No clapping, booing, or speaking out of turn.

Please Be Courteous turn off cell phones and pagers while the meeting is in session.