Established by state law, the Planning Commission's primary function is to study proposed developments that may have an impact on the County's growth and environment. Specifically, the Planning Commission is assigned the review and approval authority for Conditional Use Permits, Variances and Tentative Tract Maps. The Commission also makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on amendments to the County's general plan and ordinances. The Commission ensures that proposed developments will meet the County's technical, environmental and aesthetic standards. The Commission holds public hearings to review plans to ensure that they comply with the County's zoning regulations and General Plan for development. The five-member commission meets on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 8:45 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Chambers of the County Government Center in San Luis Obispo. The Planning Commission is appointed by the Board of Supervisors and represent each district within the County. The Commission receives primary support from the Current Planning and Long Range Planning Divisions of the Department of Planning and Building, a full-time, professional staff.
You can view the Planning Commission meetings live, or you can view recorded past meetings, and read the agendas.
If you have questions or comments for the Planning Commission you can email them, or use the Planning Commission online contact form.
Use the eComments form to submit comments regarding an item on the upcoming Planning Commission meeting agenda. You may submit comments on one hearing item at a time using this form.
The current Planning Commission members are:
District 1 - Bruce White
The Planning Commissioner Representing Supervisorial District 1, Bruce White, is a life long resident of Paso Robles and the North County. He is a Small Businessman who has worked as a Plumbing Contactor, Business Owner/Operator, Developer/Investor, and Community Volunteer. Bruce has developed many projects, and along with his wife Terry has worked with the City of Paso Robles and the Paso Robles Historical Society to restore two Historical Victorian Homes on Vine Street in Paso Robles. Bruce has long been a supporter of many community causes and organizations. He has coached youth sports and is the past Board President of The First Tee Central Coast. Bruce also enjoys playing golf and spending time with family and friends. He has a vast range of business and personal experience successfully working and interacting with a variety of people. He will continue this effort and is honored to serve The People of San Luis Obispo County.
District 2 - Anne Wyatt
The Planning Commissioner representing Supervisorial District 2, Anne Wyatt has a bachelors degree in planning, with an emphasis on housing policy, from UCSD and a masters in planning from Cal Poly. She is a member of the American Planning Association, has served as a Cambria Parks commissioner and as chair of the North Coast Advisory Council and currently serves on the board of the Cambria Historical Society, planning operations of the Cambria Historical Museum. She enjoys bicycling, gardening, reading and experimenting with ways to live, operate her business (the Bridge Street Inn), and participate in the local community so as to function successfully and sustainably, towing the line between incremental individual muddling and integrated collaborative planning. She has lived in Cambria since 1996.
District 3 - Carlyn Christianson
The Planning Commissioner representing Supervisorial District 3 is Carlyn Christianson. Carlyn has worked a medical practice administrator for 11 years at Coastal Anesthesiology Medical Associates. Prior to this, she managed an OB/GYN practice. From 1989 to1995, she was Director of SLO County Planned Parenthood. She is a licensed attorney, and managed her former husband’s law practice while they raised their two sons, now 21 and 25. Her volunteer experience in San Luis Obispo has included serving on the SLO City Planning Commission (11/2002-12/2008), SLO Chamber of Commerce Health Care Task Force (6/2005-present), SLO Chamber of Commerce Housing Task Force (as Chair), SLO Chamber of Commerce Board (2001-2003), Environmental Defense Center Board (2000-2001), ACTION Housing Initiative (2000-2002), ACTION for Healthy Communities Steering Committee, Foundation for Community Design, SLO Community Health Foundation, SLO Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program Class IV, SLO County Health Commission, and the SLO Coastal Superintendent’s Blue Ribbon Committee to Study Teach School.
District 4 - Gene Mehlschau
The Planning Commissioner representing Supervisorial District 4 is Eugene Mehlschau. He has farmed in the Nipomo area since his childhood, following in the footsteps of generations before him, and continues to do so today. He holds a bachelor of science degree in Crop Production from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Gene served on the Nipomo Advisory Group in the 1980's and has been an active member of the Farm Bureau, serving as county president from 1966 to 1968 and district director at the state level from 1982 to 1988. He was Farm Bureau Agriculturalist of the Year in San Luis Obispo County in 2001. He and his family formed EcoSpray to share their expertise in orchard management with local farming communities in this and surrounding counties.
District 5 - Sarah Christie
The Planning Commissioner representing Supervisorial District 5, Sarah Christie is the Legislative Director for the California Coastal Commission, a state-wide land use planning agency that regulates new development, protects natural resources and provides public access throughout California's coastal zone. She is also an award-winning journalist and freelance writer. Sarah moved from Kauai, Hawaii to Creston with her four horses in 1994. Her involvement in local land use issues and politics began almost immediately, as a reporter, then as a Legislative Aide to former District 2 Supervisor Bud Laurent. Sarah graduated summa cum laude from Sacramento State with a BA in Government. She enjoys trail riding, kayaking, reading and listening to bluegrass music.