Planning commission meeting canceled again

Tonight's regular meeting of the Elk Grove Planning Commission has once again been canceled. According to a person in the office, there were no items to be heard.

While it is not surprising no new planning items are to be heard given the state of real estate and the economy in general, this cancellation masks another problem for Elk Grove - the abundance of vacant commercial real estate.

Although it is difficult to get accurate numbers, any casual observer can tell commercial vacancies, retail in particular, are high. While it is normal for small retail businesses to come and go quickly during normal economic times, as small businesses close now, much of the space in going vacant for extended periods of time.

Likewise, there seems to be several retail centers that have yet to be occupied. Matters are not likely to improve in this sector with the Elk Grove Promenade opening next year.

Vacant buildings, no matter how new and shiny they are, are ripe targets for vandalism. To bad the city council didn't have the vision a few years ago to slow down growth.

That would have been a great time to have had a few less planning meetings.