The LWVDV supports the following objectives:

• A city (or town) Planning Commission should act as an advisory body concerned mainly with long-range planning and decisions affecting the physical growth of the city/town. It should be involved with developing general policies, zoning, approving subdivisions and other developments, as well as being alert to innovative solutions to planning problems.

• A responsibility of the commission should be to inform the community of the objectives and nature of the planning process. Proper procedures should include adequate advance publicity of the agenda and opportunity for public input before decisions are made, availability to the public of the commission’s working papers, and widespread publicity of the decisions.

• The city/town council should, as far as is practical, appoint members to the Planning Commission who represent all segments of the community. By “segments” we mean those defined by geography, socioeconomics, age, sex, race, and ethnic background. While a balance of laypersons is desirable, candidates with professional backgrounds in related fields should not be excluded. Every effort should be made to avoid potential conflict of interest.

• New members of the commission should be required to acquire a thorough knowledge of the area. Personal schedules of members should allow ample time to do the job required. {Moraga & Contra Costa Planning Commissions: Service on the commission should not exceed two consecutive two-year terms.]
• Procedures for filling vacancies should include: 

1. A well-publicized call for applicants stating the necessary qualifications, including that of being a resident of the jurisdiction.
2. Publication of a full list of applicants and their occupations.
3. Interview by the city/town Council of each applicant well in advance of the appointment.

• The Environmental and Design Review Boards should advise the Planning Commission on the impact of development within the community, provide an architectural review of all projects, and work with applicants on matters such as grading, site plans, design, colors, landscaping, signs, etc. Qualifications and vacancy procedures should be the same as for the Planning Commission.

[Lafayette]

The Lafayette members of the LWVDV support the following objective:

• Cooperation between the planning commission and other Lafayette commissions on matters of overlapping concern. 

[San Ramon Valley Area] 

The purpose of the planning commission should be to provide the community with more local control over local decisions. Local commissioners are more aware of the needs of the community. The commission would recommend policies and special studies as the need arises. 

The SRV members of the LWVDV support the following objectives:

• The San Ramon Valley Area Planning Commission should meet the following criteria:

• It should be composed of seven people.
• Commissioners should reside in the San Ramon Valley and be involved in community affairs.
• The Board should be balanced geographically, in background, and in business interests and occupations.
• Commissioners should serve staggered two-year terms with no limit to the number of terms.

• The San Ramon Valley Area Planning Commission should be chosen by a screening committee selected by the supervisors and composed of seven representatives from these groups:

• One member, each representing the three general geographical areas of Alamo, Danville, and San Ramon.
• One representative each from the Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Realtors/Development, the R-7 Park District, and community organizations.
• The screening committee would then recommend to the Board of Supervisors one candidate for each position on the Planning Commission.

• The agenda should be available upon request and given to newspapers prior to each Planning Commission hearing. Staff reports and information on applications should be available to the public upon request and to the commissioners at least 4–5 days before the hearing. Commission meetings should be taped and those tapes made available to the public upon request.

• The San Ramon Valley Area Planning Commission should look at the trend of planning decisions annually to see whether the General Plan should be reviewed. Review of the trends should be done at an open meeting. The Planning Commission should be empowered to appoint a citizens’ committee to study and recommend revisions to the General Plan.

• There should be long-term as well as short-term land-use planning, particularly in the following areas:

• A balance in housing and employment in order to meet various socioeconomic needs.
• Transportation planning, including circulation patterns and public transportation.
• Community, neighborhood, and regional parks.
• Contiguous development to prevent urban sprawl.
• Adequate school facilities.

(Updated 2015)