Placer County Planning Commission members voted unanimously to continue consideration of a modification to the approved Schaeffer’s Mill Subdivision to a special meeting on May 8 at 9 a.m. to allow staff time to respond to public comments from fire agencies.

Planning staff told the commission they had received four written comments as recently as the night before the hearing, including correspondence from Nevada County Firefighters Local 3800, the fire chief for Placer Hills Fire, Placer County LAFCO and Truckee Fire Protection District Chief McKechnie. Staff requested a two-week continuance so they could prepare detailed responses to concerns raised in those letters.

The commission opened the item for public comment on the proposed continuance but recorded no in-person or remote speakers on the question. After no public testimony, a motion to continue the hearing to May 8 at 9 a.m. passed on a roll call vote of 6-0; Commissioner Dahlgren was absent. Commissioners who voted yes were Renting, Johnson, Watts, Jewell, Alves and Beckler.

A commissioner asked whether the county could require mailed or emailed comments to meet a deadline so materials did not arrive just before a hearing. Planning staff said the county accepts public comment up until the meeting starts and, in practice, through the meeting’s conclusion.

The continuance postpones formal action on the Schaeffer’s Mill modification until staff has had an opportunity to submit responses to the commenting agencies. No conditions or votes on the substance of the subdivision modification were recorded at this meeting.