ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: March 11, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Public Hearings TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Phillip Burns, Development Services Director
DATE: March 6, 2026
SUBJECT: Public hearing to consider Planning Commission’s approval of General Plan Amendment/Zone Change No. 25-0003
and its proposed mitigated negative declaration. (Ward 5)
Bolthouse Properties (applicant and property owner) is proposing a General Plan Amendment and Zone Change on approximately 49 acres generally located at the southwest corner of Stockdale Highway and South Wegis Avenue. The request includes:
1. Resolution adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.
2. Resolution adopting General Plan Amendment to change land use designation from OC (Office Commercial) to LMR (Low Medium Density Residential).
3. First Reading of an ordinance amending Title 17 of the Bakersfield Municipal Code by changing the official zoning classification from C-O/PCD (Commercial Office/ Planned Commercial Development) to R-2 (Small Lot Single-Unit Dwelling).
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff and the Planning Commission recommend a doption of the resolutions and first reading of the ordinance.
BACKGROUND:
The project is a request for an amendment to the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan Land Use Element and the City of Bakersfield Zon ing Ordinance on approximately 49 acres generally located on the southwest corner of Stockdale Highway and South Wegis Avenue. The applicant proposes to change the land use designation from OC (O ffice Commercial) to LMR ( Low-Medium Density Residential); and to change the zone classification from C -O/PCD (Commercial Office/Planned Commercial Development) to R-2 (Small-Lot Single Dwelling).
PROJECT SUMMARY:
The proposed project seeks the above approvals to establish consistent land use and zoning designations within the project site and with surrounding residential areas. 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.
SITE HISTORY:
March 25, 2011 – The project site was annexed into the City of Bakersfield as 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).
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 in 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 occurred.
The City of Bakersfield as the Lead Agency has determined not to prepare an addend um 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 Building Codes will reduce impacts to a less -than- significant level. Therefore, a Miti gated 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 Hall North, 1600 Trux tun 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.
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 marks the initiation of the 90 -day consultation period mandated by SB 18. At present, no request for tribal consultation has been received.
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.
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION:
The project was considered by the Planning Commission on January 15, 2026. No individuals or agencies were present at the hearing that opposed the request. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the project to the City Council. Two Commissioners were absent. The Planning Commission’s findings are contained in Resolution Nos. 06-26, 07-26, and 08-26.
FISCAL IMPACT:
If this site develops to its full land use economic potential it will have a positive impact on generating revenue for the City General Fund.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Community Character & Quality of Life
Safety and Resilience
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution (Mitigated Negative Declaration)
2. Resolution (General Plan Amendment)
3. Ordinance (Zone Change)
4. Map Set
5. Mitigated Negative Declaration with Attachments
6. Planning Commission Resolutions
a. Adopt MND with Attachments
b. Approve GPA with Attachments
c. Approve ZC with Attachments
7. Planning Commission Staff Report
8. Traffic Memo