The Resource Management Agency (RMA) has embarked on an aggressive
streamlining effort, both to reduce costs to the public and to
improve service. The Madera County Resource Management Agency
is a service organization that facilitates the development for
Madera County. The following are the departments that make up
the Resource Management Agency.
Planning
Department
The Department functions as the planning agency for the
unincorporated area of Madera County, formulating and
implementing the general plan and community plans, and
coordinating land use considerations in accordance with
the zoning ordinance. The department is responsible for
processing conditional use permits, zoning permits, land
divisions, and other entitlement applications, and for
assisting the public in explaining zoning and planning
matters.
Planning
Commission
The Planning Commission consists of five members, appointed
by the Board of Supervisors, representing each of the
supervisorial districts within the County. The Commission
considers and takes action on land use applications including
parcel maps, conditional use permits, variances, site
plan reviews, appeals, etc. The Commission also makes
recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on items such
as rezoning, general plan amendment, text amendment, and
subdivision map applications, where the Board must take
the final action.
Development Review Committee
The Development Review Committee is a committee comprised
of staff members from each department within the Resource
Management Agency. The committee is responsible for evaluating
the environmental impacts of projects in compliance with
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Committee
determines the level of environmental review necessary
for land use applications and ensures that significant
environmental effects are avoided where possible, or mitigated
where feasible.
Zoning
Administrator
The Zoning Administrator is the Planning Director
or a member of the Planning Department Staff appointed
by the Director. This individual is responsible for conducting
public hearings (Zoning Administrator Hearings) for zoning
permits and assessing public comments for setback variances.
LAFCO
The Madera LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Commission)
is an autonomous agency that is not part of County Government.
However, the Madera LAFCO has chosen to contract for staff
services with the County of Madera. LAFCO is responsible
for coordinating logical and timely changes in local governmental
boundaries. Typical projects evaluated by LAFCO include
proposals to annex into or detach from cities or special
districts, while more complex projects may include incorporation
(city formation), sphere of influence expansion, and miscellaneous
special studies.
Of
Interest For Our Citizens
