So – if they declare a moratorium

Then it is time to furlough or close the Building/Planning Department.

◼ Rezoning decision awaits Supes today; after marathon meeting, board continues discussion - Thadeus Greenson/The Times-Standard

After a marathon session Tuesday high on acrimony and disagreement but short on decisions, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will continue meeting today to determine the fate of a massive effort to rezone properties throughout the county for multifamily housing developments.

In a meeting that featured multiple twists, as well as some changing facts, the board took public comment from more than two dozen people -- with much of it sharply critical of county staff and the rezoning plan. It ultimately directed staff to do some more homework -- and come up with some answers -- before the meeting at 11 a.m. today.

The plan -- which is being driven forward on a tight timeline -- seeks to rezone 55 parcels throughout the county to allow for the development of more than 1,000 multifamily units, a little more than half of which would be designated for low-income families.

The project is being fast-tracked under the terms of a settlement reached last month between the county and the advocacy group Housing for All in the court case brought against the county in 2007 by Humboldt Sunshine, which alleged the county's housing element was out of compliance with state law. Under the terms of the settlement, the board has to approve the plan by Saturday, and the state has to OK it by Aug. 15.

If the county fails to meet the deadline, a Humboldt County Superior Court judge could issue a moratorium on the issuance of building and development permits within the county....