The Sacramento County Planning Commission meeting on June 22, 2026, primarily focused on an appeal regarding a temporary use permit for an equestrian facility and updates on significant countywide planning projects.

Planning Director’s Report

Director Smith provided several key updates regarding recent Board of Supervisors actions and upcoming agendas:

Major Project Approvals: The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Upper West Side Specific Plan and the Crowing Fowl Ordinance on June 16, 2026. The county is now working with Code Enforcement and Animal Care on an enforcement plan for problematic properties under the new rooster regulations.
New Public Participation Rules: Starting July 13, the commission will begin accepting public speakers via Zoom in compliance with new legislative requirements.

El Frenito Horse Training Facility Appeal

The central item of the meeting was an appeal by the El Frenito horse training facility located on Renke Road. The owners sought to overturn the denial of a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) to host events in 2026.

Staff Recommendation for Denial: Planning staff and the Zoning Administrator recommended upholding the denial based on a significant history of non-compliance during the previous two years of permitted events. Key violations cited included:

Unpermitted Events: Evidence from Facebook advertisements and alcohol license records showed events occurring on dates not authorized by the TUP.
Lack of Licensing: The business failed to obtain a required business license for its primary operations.
Safety and Community Impacts: Neighbors reported issues with noise, trash, speeding, and public intoxication. Additionally, the owners failed to provide mandatory prior notifications to the Sheriff’s Department before events.
Lack of Engagement: The property owners failed to attend a follow-up meeting with the District Attorney's office to address these ongoing public nuisance concerns.

Applicant’s Argument: The property owners and their new representative (a real estate agent) argued that the previous non-compliance was due to language barriers and the actions of a former associate who had been "taking advantage" of them. They testified that:

They are experienced business owners who run a successful restaurant franchise and were now committed to following all laws.
The facility is intended for traditional horse training and cultural rodeo events rather than large-scale commercial concerts.
They were unaware of some meetings and specific licensing requirements due to poor communication from their previous representative.

Commission Deliberation and Decision: Commissioners expressed sympathy regarding the language barriers but emphasized that the ultimate responsibility for compliance rests with the property owners. While some members initially considered granting the permit with strict conditions—such as a reduced number of events, a mandatory parking plan, and security requirements—the majority felt the history of violations was too significant to ignore.

The Commission voted to deny the appeal, upholding the denial of the 2026 TUP. However, they modified the final written findings to include "non-prejudicial" language. This ensures that the denial does not automatically jeopardize future applications, such as a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a permanent event center, provided the owners can demonstrate a record of compliance moving forward.

The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.