Alan MacDonald serves as the Planning Commission Chair, according to a notice signed by him on Thursday, September 3, 2026. As the head of the commission, MacDonald oversees public hearings that address significant local development and zoning matters. For example, on Thursday, September 3, 2026, he signed a hearing notice regarding a proposed development agreement for a parcel located on Healey Boulevard, identified as parcel #11:054:0449. This specific proposal involves a developer seeking to build a subdivision that includes a private lane and one extra lot. Under current regulations, private lanes are not allowed in Alpine, but the developer is offering to fund public works projects for the city in exchange for an exception. This matter was scheduled to be heard by the commission on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
MacDonald also played a role in communicating scheduled changes to residential property rules. On Friday, August 7, 2026, he signed a notice for a public hearing regarding proposed zoning code changes for detached accessory dwelling units. This hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at Alpine City Hall. The proposed rules sought to allow detached accessory dwelling units on most single-family lots, provided the property owner lives in either the main home or the accessory unit. The regulations also included provisions to prohibit short-term rentals for periods of less than 90 consecutive days and required that the units match the design of the main home. This public hearing was the final major opportunity for community members to provide comments before the code advanced toward a state-mandated deadline of October 1, 2026.
In addition to zoning and development, the Planning Commission under MacDonald's leadership handles matters related to community safety and infrastructure. The commission was scheduled to review a proposed Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) map on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. This map identifies areas where homes meet wildland and face higher fire risk. The necessity of this map was highlighted by the fact that Alpine could lose access to state firefighting resources without an adopted WUI map. This follows a May 26, 2026, meeting where the Alpine City Council unanimously approved a Cooperative Wildland Fire Management Agreement to ensure state coverage for certain wildland fire costs and to relieve the city of financial liability.
Furthermore, the commission handles adjustments to local ordinances, such as the rules governing fences, walls, and hedges. During a meeting scheduled for September 15, 2026, the commission was set to consider five questions regarding Section 3.21.060 of the development code. These questions included whether to ban 8-foot solid fences, whether to prohibit chain-link fences citywide, and whether to require property owners to notify neighbors before construction. The commission also considered how fence height should be measured and whether shorter fences should be required near driveways to improve sight lines for drivers.
What this means for Alpine
For Alpine residents, MacDonald's role as Planning Commission Chair means he oversees the formal processes that determine how land is used. Whether the commission is evaluating new subdivision layouts, wildfire safety maps, or changes to fence height rules, his signed notices provide the official schedule for when citizens can participate in the local legislative process.
