The Board of Supervisors voted to stop forward motion on preparations of the Palo Cedro Town Center Specific Plan. They have directed Resource Management staff to create a steering committee comprised of Palo Cedro residents to reset and work together in casting vision for the future of Palo Cedro and discuss what some plan may look like for the city's future.
Prior direction from the Board called for staff and 2 members of each group to meet and discuss any potential common ground. While there are still many differences in desires for the city, it is clear that both groups absolutely want Palo Cedro to stay rural. Though a common goal is shared, differences seem to arise when determining how to reach that goal.
In an effort to facilitate collaboration, the Board of Supervisors voted to direct Department of Resource Management staff to meet with 2 representatives from each of the opposing groups and discuss any common ground on potential plans and vision for the future of a Palo Cedro Town Center. Staff is to report back with results of the discussion and at the March 14, 2023 Board of Supervisors meeting.
Since August 2022, staff has placed the preparation of the Palo Cedro Town Center Specific Plan on hold in light of considerable community opposition to the use of state grant funding for this effort and the lack of an alternate funding source. During the November 8, 2022, Board meeting, Acting County Executive Officer Patrick Minturn announced that state grants will not be utilized for the preparation of the Plan and that the Department of Resource Management will seek input from the community and direction from the Board regarding what, if any, planning efforts should be undertaken for Palo Cedro during the Board’s February 21, 2023, evening meeting.