SUTTER: Larry Munger says minimum lot sizes may increase

With January's floods fresh in the minds of Sacramento legislators, 2006 is the year to lobby for money to improve Sutter County's levees, said new Board of Supervisors Chairman Larry Munger.

An annual change of board leadership on Tuesday saw Munger take the gavel from Supervisor Jim Whiteaker.

“Sacramento listens when they're in high water. Otherwise they have deaf ears,” Munger said.

Munger and other officials toured the county's levees Saturday with Rep. Wally Herger.

Possible land use changes also will be on the agenda in 2006. That includes a possible change in the county's minimum lot size from 20 acres to anywhere from 30 to 100 acres in an effort to prevent agricultural land from being divided by developers, said Munger.

The board also will examine which areas should be eligible for “ranchette” parcels as small as two acres, he said.

A series of community hearings will be held on any proposed changes, he said.

At a Dec. 20 study session, supervisors looked tentatively at a proposal to change the county's General Plan to allow land along Highway 99 between Live Oak and the junction with Highway 113 to be developed. Another study session on the topic is expected in February.

“The board has previously expressed an interest in discussing development along Highway 99, including possibly creating one or more specific plans for commercial and/or industrial projects,” said Planning Division Chief Danelle Stylos.

As chairman, Munger said, he will try to keep board meetings shorter by strictly enforce the board's three-minute limit on public comment. The limit will apply equally to board critics and supporters, he said.

Munger took office in January 1995.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Rob Young can be reached at 749-4710. You may e-mail him at ryoung@appeal-democrat.com.