Michael J. Johnson, who currently serves as Placer County's Planning Director, has been named Community Development Resource Agency Director.

In closed session today, the Board of Supervisors confirmed the appointment made by County Executive Officer Thomas M. Miller.

Johnson currently serves as Planning Director, a post that will not be refilled at this time. Prior to coming to Placer County in 2005, he held planning positions in Folsom from 1997 to 2005, and also served in the cities of Fremont and Merced. He has also worked as a land use planner, manager, and environmental planner for private firms, and has been a planner for the San Luis Obispo County Land Conservancy.

He has an undergraduate degree in City and Regional planning from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; post graduate studies in the California State University (Hayward) Masters of the Public Administration program; and the City Planning, Architecture and Landscaping Architecture programs at the University of California (Berkeley).

During his time as Placer County’s Planning Director, the County has approved numerous high profile projects, including Placer Vineyards and Regional University in western Placer County, and the Foresthill Community Plan. He will begin work as Community Development Resource Agency Director in January of 2009.

"Placer County is very fortunate to have such a knowledgeable and competent individual to promote for this important position," said CEO Miller. "His experience with growth in our region also makes him well-qualified for this position."

In his position with the Community Development/Resource Agency, he will be responsible for handling environmental review of projects and for coordinating review of the largest, most complex development proposals facing the county. CD/RA includes the planning and building departments, and staff from land development sections from public works.

“This is a critical time for the County as its deals with a wide array of land use issues, from urban development and land conservation in the western county area to complex environmental issues in the Tahoe Basin,” Johnson said. “I look forward to continuing to implement the work started by John Marin, the current CDRA Director, as the agency addresses the demands of a growing county.”

He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, and a member of the American Planning Association. A resident of Rocklin, his family includes daughters Caitlin, a junior at University of California (Davis), and Meghan, a freshman at the University of California (Santa Barbara), and son Cooper, a junior at Del Oro High School. His wife Laura is a librarian with the City of Roseville.

He replaces John Marin, CDRA Director, who will retire Dec. 31 after 30 years of service to Placer County. Planning, Building and Engineering are the three departments in the Community Development Resource Agency. Planning responsibilities cover areas outside the incorporated cities as well as coordination with regional issues