Planning commission approves Grady lot split at 5350 Saunders Avenue, adds condition to clarify sewer lateral requirement

The Loomis Planning Commission approved a minor land division — the Grady lot split at 5350 Saunders Avenue — moving to split a 10.18-acre parcel into one 7.49-acre parcel and one 2.7-acre parcel.

Planning staff (Kim) presented the proposal, saying the split keeps both parcels within the RR (rural residential) zone and that no change to land use or zoning is proposed. The smaller 2.7-acre parcel is sized to avoid mandatory connection to the Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) mainline, so future development there would rely on a well; staff noted the nearest PCWA connection is over 500 feet away. Kim said easements are proposed, including a 20-foot access and utility easement on the existing driveway footprint and a 20-foot sewer easement along the northern and western property limits.

Staff also flagged floodplain issues: FEMA Flood Zone AE crosses the parcel and applicable conditions require addressing base flood elevation, providing elevation certificates, and ensuring future structures are at least 2 feet above base flood elevation or obtaining a no-rise certification from the Placer County Floodplain Administrator. Kim said the application is CEQA Class 15 exempt because it is a minor land division and no new construction is proposed at this stage.

Commission discussion focused on clarifying conditions of approval. One commissioner asked whether Condition 31, as written, required each "building" to have an independent sewer lateral and suggested limiting the requirement to a "residential building" to avoid imposing sewer laterals for nonresidential sheds or garages. Staff agreed that language could be clarified to reference "residential building."

An applicant in the audience briefly said, "We're just excited." A motion to adopt the project subject to modification of Condition 31 was made and seconded; roll call votes were recorded in the affirmative and the item moved forward with the modification.

Conditions of approval also require an arborist report and tree mitigation plan for oak trees that may be affected by future development, and relevant findings were prepared reflecting consistency with the general plan and the zoning ordinance. The commission noted referral agency responses in the packet, including comments or no comment from Placer County Environmental Health, PG&E, Placer County Water Agency, South Placer Municipal Utilities District, the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Placer County Flood Control District, and the South Placer Fire Protection District.

Next steps: final conditions and technical items (flood studies, elevation certificates, any required permits) will be addressed during permit and building-permit review; the lot split itself was approved on the record.