COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AGENCY

 
 

Date:

January 13, 2003

   

Hearing Date:

February 4, 2003

 
 

To:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

 

From:

Marcia Raines, Director of Environmental Services

 

Subject:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Consideration of a Zoning Text Amendment to change appeal periods of most planning permits to 10 working days.

 
 

RECOMMENDATION

 

Adopt by ordinance a change to relevant zoning and ordinance sections that would revise the appeal periods of most planning permits to 10 working days.

 

PROPOSAL

 

The County Planning Division and the Planning Commission propose zoning text amendments that would revise the appeal periods of most planning permits to 10 working days.

 

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION

 

On December 11, 2002, the Planning Commission considered the proposal and unanimously recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt, by ordinance, a change to relevant zoning and ordinance sections that would change the appeal periods of most planning permits to 10 working days.

 

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

 

Most planning permit decisions issued by the Planning Division are subject to appeal periods as stipulated in the various County Zoning Regulations and County Ordinance Code. Certain Zoning Regulations and County Ordinance Codes stipulate a 10-working day appeal period while some stipulate a 10-calendar day appeal period. This project seeks to conform prescribed appeal periods of all permits to 10 working days.

 

In addition, the use of calendar days is constrained by the Planning Division's change in business hours from a 5-day to a 4-day work week, whereby mail service to and from interested parties regarding permit decisions may be further hindered by the reduced mail service into and out of this department, especially depending upon the dynamics of mail service into and out of certain remote County communities. The change to working days for all prescribed appeal periods will provide approximately 2-1/2 weeks from the date of a permit decision. This change would provided sufficient time for proper noticing of permit decisions and respective appeal periods, while also better fulfilling the intent of public involvement with the Planning Division's change to a 4-day work week.