Guest Column: Zoning, permit process needs change

Nearly 300 north county residents recently attended a town-hall meeting to discuss the policies and practices of the county's Offices of Planning and Zoning and Inspections and Permits.

As Capital readers are aware, horror stories have been popping up for years about citizens' experiences with these offices. But never before have so many people come together to voice their grievances and to suggest improvements. Approximately 35 people shared their personal experiences with the offices.

Over the course of the evening, consistent themes emerged. People indicated that they were losing their basic rights,...