In-person participation by the public will be permitted. In addition, remote public participation is available in the following way:
Submit a written public comment prior to the meeting: Public comments submitted to [email protected] by 1:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting will be distributed to the City Council and made part of the official minutes but will not be read out loud during the meeting.
Assistance will be provided to those requiring accommodations for disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Persons requesting accommodation should contact the City in advance of the meeting, and as soon as possible, at (209) 357-6241.
NOTICE OF JOINT SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF ATWATER
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a joint special meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission of the City of Atwater will be held on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 6:00 PM, or as soon thereafter as may be held. This meeting will be held in the Evelyn Chambers Room located at the Atwater Community Center, 760 E. Bellevue Road, Atwater, California.
AGENDA
SPECIAL MEETING CALL TO ORDER:
INVOCATION:
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG:
ROLL CALL:
Ambriz ____, Cale ____, Raymond____, Rochester ____, Nelson ____ Conour ____, Kadach ____, Mokha ____, Sanchez-Garcia ____, Borgwardt ____ PUBLIC COMMENT: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.3, residents wishing to address the City Council and Planning Commission regarding only the items on the agenda may do so when the item is read for consideration. You may state your name and address for the record; however, it is not required. Please limit comments to three (3) minutes or less. Under the provisions of the California Government Code, the City Council may not discuss or take action on any item that is not on the agenda.
City Council Agenda for Special Meeting of April 28, 2025 Page 2 GENERAL PLAN UPDATE:
City of Atwater General Plan Status Update and Possible Direction (Ben Ritchie, DeNovo Planning Group)
ADJOURNMENT:
Dated this 25th day of April 2025.
_______________________________
Mike Nelson, Mayor
pc: Mayor and City Council Members
Planning Commissioners
Atwater Signal/Merced Sun Star
Atwater Times
City of Atwater Website
Atwater General Plan
Update
Council Workshop
April 28, 2025
MEETING OVERVIEW &
OBJECTIVES
• Update on project status and work completed todate
• Review and Discuss Working Draft Land Use
Map
• Seeking general support from Council to proceed with
Draft Map and subsequent analysis
• Next steps and path forward
• Define a long-term vision for future growth and resource management within the City over the next 20 years
• Reflect the goals and values of the City
• Include opportunities for public outreach and community participation
• Balance growth, economic development, conservation, and quality of life
PURPOSE OF THE GENERAL PLAN
• Strategically identifies budget and capital investment priorities based on realizing the General Plan’s vision
• Serves as a management tool used by staff and decision-makers • Provides guidance regarding priorities for City services including the Capital Improvement Program, Parks Planning, and Utilities Master Plans
• Streamlines development that is consistent with City’s vision • Compliance with State laws and grant eligibility
WHY IS THE GENERAL PLAN
IMPORTANT?
• Land Use
• Circulation
• Conservation
• Open Space
• Safety
• Noise
• Housing**
GENERAL PLAN CONTENT
General Plan Elements
• Economic Development
• Parks and Recreation
• Environmental Justice
• Sustainability
• Growth Management
• Administration and
Implementation
** The Housing Element is being updated via a separate process.
SUMMARY OF THE PROCESS
Identify Community Priorities
Existing Conditions Report
Issues, Opportunities, and Land
Use Alternatives
General Plan Goals, Policies, and
Programs
Draft General Plan
Environmental Impact Report
Public Hearings - General Plan and
EIR
Public Participation
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION TO-DATE
• General Plan Website: www.atwater.generalplan.org
• Online surveys, newsletters, meeting info, document library, contact project team, etc.
• Visioning Workshops
• 4 workshops were held between Jan-Mar 2024
• Interactive activities and mapping exercises
• Emphasis on land use, circulation, assets/challenges, community priorities
• Online survey provided additional feedback opportunity • Stakeholder Interviews
• (County, Caltrans, LAFCO, school districts, local businesses, etc.) • The Outreach Summary Report provides a detailed summary of feedback. • The following slides focus on the Working Draft Land Use Map • The project team is seeking feedback from the Council regarding the Draft Land Use Map, as we are at a critical stage in the project and process.
• We are not seeking formal action. Rather, we are seeking support and feedback to ensure we’re on the right track.
• There will be additional opportunities to further refine and modify the Land Use Map before the General Plan Update is completed.
LAND USE MAP DISCUSSION
LAND USE MAP
• The Land Use Map assigns a designation to
every parcel within the City limits, the City’s
Sphere of Influence (SOI), and the larger
General Plan Planning Area
• Determines what can be built, and where
• Similar to the Zoning Map, but at a more
general level of detail
• The GP Update provides an opportunity to
further refine the long term planning area,
revisit SOI land uses, make adjustments within
the City, and plan for future growth
• City Limits: The City Limits include all area
within the City’s corporate boundary, over
which the City exercises land use authority and
provides public services.
• Sphere of Influence (SOI): A Sphere of
Influence (SOI) is the probable physical
boundary and service area of a local agency, as
adopted by a Local Agency Formation
Commission (LAFCO).
• Planning Area: For the purposes of the General
Plan, the Planning Area is defined as the city
limits, SOI, and a larger area of interest that is
included in the analysis and planning for the
20-year horizon of the General Plan.
CURRENT
LAND
USE MAP
Planning
Area
Boundaries
• Feedback received from community during the Visioning Workshops
KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR LAND USE
REVISIONS
• Protection of established residential neighborhoods
• Increase economic development opportunities
• Capitalize on uses near Merced-Castle Airport
• Meet regional housing needs requirements and provide a range of housing choices
• Feasibility of infrastructure expansion
• East-West growth orientation along HWY 99 corridor
• Atwater-Merced Expressway (AME)
• Bellevue Rd Realignment
KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR LAND USE
REVISIONS
SUMMARY OF ACREAGE CHANGES
INSIDE CITY LIMITS
Land Use Designation Existing Proposed Difference
Business Park 356.39 230.09 -126.30
Commercial 380.92 397.57 16.65
Manufacturing 103.87 103.87 0.00
Downtown Residential Transition 45.79 45.79 0.00
Residential Transition 59.47 63.56 4.09
High Density Residential 179.59 273.02 93.43
Medium Density Residential 85.74 85.74 0.00
Low Density Residential 1,589.30 1,541.33 -47.98
Very Low Density Residential 113.48 115.15 1.68
Specific Plan 0.00 78.95 78.95
SUMMARY OF ACREAGE CHANGES IN
SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
Land Use Designation Existing Proposed Difference
Business Park 905.76 366.20 -539.57
Commercial 318.17 162.04 -156.13
Manufacturing 19.42 19.42 0.00
Light Industrial 0.00 304.84 304.84
High Density Residential 2.64 2.64 0.00
Medium Density Residential 151.67 62.86 -88.81
Low Density Residential 634.65 465.89 -168.76
Very Low Density Residential 987.46 823.53 -163.93
Specific Plan 0.00 566.58 566.58
Agriculture 233.76 647.96 414.20
Urban Reserve 2,271.19 2,270.84 -0.35
Urban Reserve Business Park 220.49 0.00 -220.49
• Finish drafting GP elements
• Complete EIR
• Release GP and EIR for public review and conduct
public workshops
• Return to PC and CC with public feedback to get
direction
• Adoption hearings
NEXT STEPS AND PATH FORWARD