When you were a child, did you ever imagine the fun you could have wearing a cloak that made you invisible?

Well, if you're a citizen of Sacramento County, you don't need a mysterious cape – magical or otherwise. Because to some county supervisors and staff, you already don't exist.

I can assure you, being invisible isn't fun. So much for childhood fantasies.

At several county hearings, I've watched three supervisors, the exceptions being Don Nottoli and Jimmie Yee, ignore citizens at the podium, literally turning away from those testifying, choosing instead to focus their eyes on their computers, except when a political dignitary or a developer's lawyer spoke.

Now, in case you're thinking they are merely taking notes, let me just say, I seriously hope you're right. But I have to admit, I – who have been known to multi-task myself, only half-listening to people on the phone while I'm correcting my son's homework, brushing my hair and feeding the cat – have the feeling they aren't taking notes at all. They could be busy forwarding humorous e-mails to their favorite cousin, twice removed, or, worse yet, preparing a grocery list for next week's dinner (2 pounds of beef, 1/2 cup wine, 1 onion and 3 carrots – finely chopped).

And it's not just citizens who risk being zapped into oblivion. Just like magic, an entire grocery store in Rancho Murieta – competition for a proposed commercial project – has disappeared into the county's version of the "Twilight Zone."

For about five years, a shopping center and housing project called Murieta Gardens has been in the county's pipeline for approval. The project is located next to a substantial 66,000-plus-square-foot shopping center anchored by Plaza Foods, a 17,000-plus-square-foot grocery store. But, according to some county staff in the planning and environmental review departments, much of that shopping center, and the supermarket, simply don't exist.

Over the years, the developer, Foothill Partners, has frequently described the project as the chance for Murieta to finally have an anchor supermarket. And the developer said it so many times, some staff at the county just assumed it was true.

While a county environmental report for the project briefly acknowledges existing commercial buildings with a few shops and a mini-mart next to a gas station, much of the thriving center, including the grocery store, are not recognized.

In fact, a map, also in the environmental report, revealing nearby locations, clearly shows two buildings – a post office and a fire station. However, in between them, the entire shopping center has vanished. Just like that – buildings, businesses and livelihoods have strangely disappeared.

In addition, that same environmental report offered erroneous conclusions based on the "invisibility" factor. Claims are made that, with the approval of the project, the community will produce 33 percent less carbon emissions, because, according to the document: "Rancho Murieta currently does not have an anchor supermarket, commercial center or retail shops for residents. Thus, they must by default travel to Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Sacramento and potentially beyond to simply go to a grocery store."

County translation: To get real food. From a real store.

In case you're ever caught in a twilight zone of your own, don't be startled by the fact that even in a make-believe building, the phone can ring. I assure you this is true because Darin Sexton, one of the owners of Plaza Foods, recently received a call from the Sacramento County Planning Department. Why? The caller wanted to know just what kind of business he ran. Imagine Sexton's surprise when he discovered his entire store had slipped into Sacramento County stealth mode.

But if Plaza Foods wasn't real, why was the county rep calling? Because, even though the development project had been in the works for five years, the staffer had just noticed suspicious nearby addresses and decided to give Darin a call.

During their brief, but lively, conversation, the planner made an astounding discovery: He realized Murieta already had a grocery store, hiding in plain view, next to the proposed commercial site. A supermarket, by the way, which had faithfully been serving customers for 25 years.

That's a long time to be invisible.

The mystery of the missing store might have been solved earlier if citizens had been notified of the project's recent planning meeting (don't get me started). But, in the end, it probably wouldn't have mattered. Over the years, residents have tried to explain to the county that the community already has a supermarket and have expressed concerns that the proposed development will drive the present, family-owned store right out of business. But not a soul, except Supervisor Don Nottoli, seemed to be listening.

You can't blame local government, really. After all, who listens to imaginary people? They can be so … well, imaginary. The unfortunate truth is, when it comes to developer influence at Sacramento County, citizens, like supermarkets, are too often invisible.

Childhood fantasies be damned. Nonexistence definitely has its drawbacks.

Candy Chand is a writer living in Rancho Murieta whose sixth book will be released this fall. Reach Chand at PatCan85@hotmail.com.