County studying adding employees, reorganization of planning department

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors is studying whether to approve a $470,600 proposal to increase planning staff and prepare a reorganization of its Planning and Building Division.  The division is responsible for planning in the unincorporated Coastside (i.e. everything not in Half Moon Bay.

Under the proposal, two additional staff members would be hired in order to reduce planners’ caseloads by half. Contractors and interns would also be used to clear the existing backlog.  Planners would be given more leeway to make administrative decisions on small projects. Also, a recommendation for a complete reorganization would be completed by December.