Municipal Services Agency, Planning and Community Development Department

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors oversees and approves major development projects within the unincorporated area of Sacramento County. To facilitate commercial and residential developments that protect and preserve the environment, the Board employs various County departments to analyze and advise them on development applications.

The traditional project approval process calls for developers to submit their plans to County for review. After internal review, the County either approves the plan or returns it to the applicant for further revision. Because the Easton Project has a single applicant and covers a large area, the County has joined into a unique partnership where County and GenCorp staff work together to address and resolve matters as they occur during the planning process. This partnership is being facilitated by a third-party consultant, Fair Oaks-based O’Farrell & Associates.

Lead County Department

The Planning and Community Development Department is the lead County entity on the Easton Project team. The Department reviews development applications to ensure compliance with the long-term, planning vision for Sacramento County. It also oversees subdivision plans in newly emerging communities, locations of public facilities such as fire stations, and infrastructure financing. The Department manages the entitlement process for projects requiring amendment to the General Plan and rezoning issues that may be subject to a public hearing before one of several hearing bodies.

Other elements to be reviewed and carried forward to the Board of Supervisors are:

Transportation circulation (including pedestrian, public, and bicycle traffic) is overseen by the Sacramento County Department of Transportation. Both the existing and proposed new roadways and intersections and efficient operation and compliance with County standards are under review.

Water drainage – is being overseen by the Department of Water Resources’ (DWR). The project lies wholly within the Sacramento County Water Agency Zone 11B and requires the design and construction of terminal trunk drainage facilities that will drain to both Alder Creek and the American River, and will ultimately be operated and maintained by DWR through its Stormwater utility functions.

Clean water supply also falls under the purview of DWR. While current proposals for water supply do not contemplate annexation to the Sacramento County Water Agency’s Zone 41 for retail water supply, DWR staff is reviewing the project proposals for conformance with objectives associated with the Sacramento Area Water Forum, including but not limited to optimum use of regional surface water supplies and groundwater basin management goals.

The proper planning, design, and construction of sanitary sewer facilities is overseen by the Department of Water Quality who will draft conditions of approval, provide review and guidance on technical studies, review improvement plans, and review facilities for construction acceptance.

Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD) has been working closely with the Easton project team (developer and County staff) to explore and identify all potential recycled water uses at the envisioned development. The Easton project is a great opportunity to use recycled water as a water supply, in place of valuable groundwater or surface water supplies, for irrigation of parks, ball fields and landscaped areas.

The Waste Management and Recycling Department is available as technical consultants to the Environmental Management and Planning Departments (EMD) with respect to the proposed “clean closure” (removal) of some old small closed landfills within the project area. There is a possibility that some of the material from these landfills may come to the Kiefer Landfill for ultimate disposal if the material satisfies County acceptance criteria for waste type. EMD is a comprehensive environmental health agency that implements regulatory services protective of public health and the environment throughout the entire County.

The Regional Parks department is reviewing suggested trail routes, proposed facilities and uses with the resource center and to help ensure the park areas function well for users.

Preparation of Infrastructure Financing is required by the Sacramento County General Plan policies prior to approval of planning entitlements for new urban growth areas. The Development & Surveyor Services Division Infrastructure Finance Section (IFS) will coordinate the preparation of an infrastructure financing plan for Easton and its review by service provider agencies prior to its inclusion in the Environmental Impact Report for the project. Upon an approval of the Easton development entitlements by the Board of Supervisors, IFS will work with the developer to implement the various infrastructure financing mechanisms proposed in the adopted financing plan, such as development impact fees, Mello-Roos community facilities districts, assessment districts, and other mechanisms. They require ongoing IFS administration during the build-out of the project and, in some cases, tax levy administration for 30 years or more.

These and other elements will be presented at a public hearing, and then moved to the Department of Environmental Review and Assessment (DERA), which manages environmental review processes for the County of Sacramento. DERA prepares California Environmental Quality Act documents (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents for all privately and publicly initiated projects.