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CITY OF BAKERSFIELD
PLANNING COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: January 15, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: 5.e.
TO: Chair Strickland and Members of the Planning Commission FROM: Jennie Eng, Assistant Planning Director J. Eng
DATE: January 9, 2026
WARD: 5
FILE: General Plan Amendment and Zone Change 25-0003 [Document Description] STAFF PLANNER: Yazid Alawgarey, Assistant Planner
REQUEST: (1) General Plan Amendment to change land use designation from OC (Office Commercial) to LMR (Low Medium Density Residential); and (2) Zone Change to amend the zone classification from C - O/PCD (Commercial Office/ Planned Comme rcial Development) to R -2 (Small Lot Single -Unit Dwelling) zone on approximately 49 acres.
APPLICANT: Bolthouse Properties OWNER: same as applicant Bradford J. DeBranch
11601 Bolthouse Drive Suite 200
Bakersfield, CA 93311
LOCATION: Southwest corner of Stockdale Highway and South Wegis Avenue
APN: 534-011-50
PROJECT SIZE: 49 Acres CEQA: Mitigated Negative Declaration
EXISTING GENERAL PLAN DESIGNATION: OC (Office Commercial) EXISTING ZONE CLASSIFICATION: C-O/PCD (Commercial Office/ Planned Commercial Development)
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
(1) Adopt Resolution Adopting Mitigated Negative Declaration pursuant to Section 15074 of the California Environmental Quality Act; (2) adopt Resolution APPROVING general plan amendment to change the land use designation from OC to LMR; and (3) adopt Resolution APPROVING amending the zone classification from C-2/PCD and R-2 and recommend the same to City Council.
File No. GPA/ZC 25-0003
SITE CHARACTERISTICS: The project site is currently utilized as agriculture farmland, as are the properties to the south, east, and west. The properties to the north are developed with single-family residential.
BACKGROUND AND TIMELINE:
March 25, 2011 – The project site was annexed into the City of Bakersfield as a part of a larger annexation; Annexation 548, Stockdale No. 15 (Resolution 104-10).
November 21, 2017 - The project site was rezoned as C -O/PCD (Commercial Office/ Planned Commercial Development) as part of a 564+ acre General Plan Amendment and zone change , and certified Environmental Impact Report, Stockdale Ranch EIR SCH No. 2009071068 (GPA/ZC 09-0263 – Stockdale Ranch).
PROJECT ANALYSIS:
General Plan Amendment/Zone Change (“GPA/ZC”). The proposed request is a General Plan Amendment to change the land use designation from OC (Office Commercial) to LMR (Low Medium Density Residential) and a Zone Ch ange to amend the existing zone from C -O/PCD (Commercial Office/ Planned Commercial Development) to R-2 (Small Lot Single-Unit Dwelling) on approximately 49 acres.
The proposed request is to address the ongoing demand for residential development and will accelerate completion of the Stockdale River Ranch buildout. No formal plans have been submitted, with the exception of preliminary conceptual plans. All future developments will be analyzed for municipal and CEQA compliance which will require a sewer study and a drainage study to retain drainage on site.
CALIFORNIA STATE HOUSING BILLS:
Housing Accountability Act. The Housing Accountability Act, Government Code Section 65589.5, establishes limitations to a local government’s ability to deny, reduce the density of, or make infeasible housing development projects, emergency shelters, or farmworker housing that are consistent with objective local development standards and contribute to meeting housing need. Pursuant to Government Code Section 65589.5(3)(j), when a proposed housing development project complies with applicable, objective general plan, zoning, and subdivision standards and criteria, including design review standards, in effect at the time that the application was deemed complete, but the local agency proposes to disapprove the project or to impose a condition that the project be developed at a lower density, the local agency shall base its decision regarding the proposed housing development project upon written findings supported by a preponderance of the evidence on the record that both of the following conditions exist:
1. The housing development project would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety unless the project is disapproved or approved upon the condition that the project be developed at a lower density. As used in this paragraph, a “specific, adverse impact” means a significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact, based on objective, identified written public health or safety standards, policies, or cond itions as they existed on the date the application was deemed complete.
2. There is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the adverse impact identified pursuant to paragraph (1), other than the disapproval of the housing development project or the approval of the project upon the condition that it be developed at a lower density.
File No. GPA/ZC 25-0003
Regional Housing Needs Assessment. The Regional Housing Needs Assessment (“RHNA”) is a process mandated by California state law that requires jurisdictions to plan for new housing to accommodate projected growth. The RHNA assigns the n umber of housing units that the California State Housing and Community Development Agency (HCD) determines is necessary to build in an eight -year cycle for each jurisdiction, organized by affordability level. The project would contribute additional R-2 residential units on 49 acres to the City of Bakersfield’s 6th Housing Element Cycle from 2023 through 2031.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND DETERMINATION:
As previously stated, an Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) was previously certified for the project site as part of the overall analysis for the Stockdale River Ranch Project. The Final EIR (“FEIR”) was certified by the City on March, 2010 (SCH No. 2009071068 ). The California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Guidelines, Section 15164 (b) states that an Addendum to a previously adopted FEIR shall be prepared if only minor technical changes or additions are necessary but none of the conditions described in Section 15162 call for the preparation of subsequent EIR or supplemental Negative Declaration have occurre d.
The City of Bakersfield as the Lead Agency has determined not to prepare an addendum to the EIR since the request will not involve major substantial increases in the severity of previously significant effects to the certified EIR.
Therefore, Staff prepared an initial study to review the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project. The Initial Study determined that compliance with recommended mitigation measures, local ordinances, state laws, and construction to the standards of the Uniform B uilding Codes will reduce impacts to a less -than- significant level. Therefore, a Mitigated Negative Declaration (“MND”) was prepared for this project in accordance with CEQA. The MND was circulated for a 30-day public and agency review period from October 31, 2025 to December 3, 2025 (SCH No. 2025101495).
The State CEQA Guidelines and the City of Bakersfield’s CEQA Implementation Procedures have been followed in the evaluation of the environmental effects of this project. Significant environmental impacts beyond those identified in the EIR were not identified within staff analysis. The MND also concluded that the proposed development will not result in an exceedance of the allowable residential unit count for the entire Stockdale River Ranch project.
Comments Received. As of this writing, two comment letters were received from the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and California Department of Conservation in response to the Initial Study. The Department of Toxic Substances Control letter notes only good practices while the California Department of Conservation letter mentions a nearby well that may may have future access impeded.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION:
Public notice for the proposed project and environmental determination was advertised in The Bakersfield Californian and posted on the bulletin board in the City of Bakersfield Development Services Building, 1715 Chester Avenue, Bakersfield, California. All property owners within 300 feet of the project site were notified by United States Postal Service mail regarding this public hearing in accordance with city ordinance and state law.
Comments Received. As of this writing, no written comments have been received in response to the notice of public hearing.
Tribal Consultation. In accordance with Senate Bill (SB) 18, a letter was sent by staff on October 1, 2025, to inform the American Indian Tribes about the proposed project and its site location. This notification File No. GPA/ZC 25-0003
marks the initiation of the 90 -day consultation period mandated by SB 18. At p resent, no request for tribal consultation has been received.
COMPATIBILITY ANALYSIS:
Compatibility with Land Use Element. Staff has reviewed the proposal for compatibility with the applicable goals and policies contained within the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan Land Use Element and finds the following:
Goal 1: Accommodate new development which captures the economic demands generated by the marketplace and establishes Bakersfield’s role as the capital of the southern San Joaquin Valley.
The project is new residential development that captures the current residential marketplace within the southern San Joaquin Valley by providing residential development.
Goal 2: Accommodate new development which provides a full mix of uses to support its population.
The project is consistent with this goal because the property owner determined the market is driving a need for residential within the project area. Additionally, the State encourages the densification of residential uses within cities throughout California.
Goal 3: Accommodate new development which is compatible with and complements existing land uses.
The project is consistent with this goal by providing residential housing densification to support the local population.
Goal 4: Accommodate new development which channels land uses in a phased, orderly manner and is coordinated with the provision of infrastructure and public improvements.
The necessary infrastructure and public improvements are available to accommodate residential developments or, if the project is approved, will be developed through the fair -share payment of impacts fees by the property owner. Therefore, the project is consistent with this goal.
Policy 2: Allow for the development of a variety of residential types and densities.
The project provides land use within an area that consists of both single -family and multi -family residential use. Therefore, the project is consistent with this policy.
CONCLUSIONS:
Consistency with Surrounding Development. The project would provide for residential use to complement the existing single-family residential development in the area.
Consistency with General Plan/Zoning Ordinance. The proposal is consistent with land use goals and policies as contained in the General Plan related to residential development, as noted above. Should the applicant submit site development plans, they will be reviewed for compliance with requirements and regulations as set forth in the Bakersfield Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning Ordinance) and Ci ty Development Standards.
File No. GPA/ZC 25-0003
Recommendation. Staff finds that the applicable provisions of CEQA have been complied with, and the proposal is compatible with the surrounding area, land use designation, and zoning ordinance.
Therefore, staff recommends your Commission: (1) Adopt Resolution ADOPTING a Mitigated Negative Declaration pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act; (2) adopt Resolution APPROVING general plan amendment to change the land use designation from OC to LMR; and (3) adopt Resoluti on APPROVING change in zone classification from C-2/PCD and R-2.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: Map Set
• GPA/ZC Aerial
• GPA/ZC Zone Classification
• GPA/ZC General Plan Designation
Attachment B: Mitigated Negative Declaration with Attachments Attachment C: Planning Commission Draft Resolutions
• Adopt MND with Attachments
• Approve GPA with Attachments
• Approve ZC with Attachments