Countywide : Grand Jury Urges Planners to Meet at Night, Widen Notices

The Orange County Grand Jury has urged county planning commissioners to meet at night, and to notify more people of hearings affecting planned communities.

The grand jury’s two-page statement also praised the commissioners, Board of Supervisors and county Environmental Management Agency for “setting excellent guidelines for planned communities,” such as requirements for open space and recreational facilities.

Planning commissioners were unavailable to comment on the statement.

However, EMA Director Murray Storm said he would discuss the grand jury’s recommendations with the panel, which meets Tuesdays and Wednesdays during regular business hours.

Storm said the commissioners have rejected recommendations for night sessions in previous years.

“They felt that if people are interested, there is adequate opportunity (for participation),” Storm said.

“We don’t lack for an audience. I just don’t think the Planning Commission has ever felt there was a benefit in doing this.”

State law requires that the county notify people who live within 300 feet of a site that is the subject of hearings on land-use change.

But the grand jury recommended last week that the commission also advertise hearings in a countywide newspaper, instead of only in the community press.

The county has 53 planned communities, including Cota de Caza, Rossmoor-Leisure World and Mission Viejo.

Residents’ groups have complained in the past about the lack of notification of hearings.