ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: July 15, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent – Agreements TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Phillip Burns, Development Services Director
DATE: July 10, 2026
SUBJECT: Amendments to Agreements for purposes of completing the Bakersfield Temple Project Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
1. Amendment No. 1 to Applicant/Reimbursement Agreement No. 2025-010 with HKS Inc., (increasing compensation $54,000, revised not to exceed $263,524.80) for the preparation of an EIR.
2. Amendment No. 1 to Consultant Agreement with Impact Sciences (increasing compensation $54,000, revised not to exceed amount of $228,604.00) to prepare an EIR.
3. Appropriate the additional $54,000.00 (HKS Inc. contribution) to the Development Services Operating budget in the General Fund
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the amendments.
BACKGROUND:
HKS Inc., (applicant) is proposing a Zone Modification (MOD) and Site Plan Review (SPR) to develop a
13.07-acre religious campus at the southwest corner of Stockdale Hwy & Jewetta Avenue. The Bakersfield Temple Project consists of one temple, one meeting house, a cl othing center, grounds building, equipment enclosure, and Accessory structure. The plan is to have the campus built in two phases and shall include a cross-lot easement to the north. Access to the campus shall be from the north, west, and south.
The proposed temple building shall contain a mechanical penthouse and a basement. The main floor has a primary parapet height of 24' -6", for the majority of the building, and accent walls at the building quadrants that have a parapet height of 36 feet. The mechan ical penthouse, which is inset from the exterior walls and central to the building, has a maximum parapet height of 45 feet at the base of the steeple. The steeple consists of an unoccupied tower, cupola/dome and finial ending at the 124 -foot elevation, thus requiring a zone modification to exceed the 60 -foot height limit of the C -O (Commercial Office) zone. The meeting house shall have a height limit of 66 feet.
The project includes the following actions:
1. A zone modification to allow the building heights that exceed the 60-foot height limit of the C-O (Commercial Office) zone; and
2. Site Plan Review to approve the development of a religious campus.
Applicant - City Agreement Amendment. The amendment to the existing agreement (2025-010) between the Applicant and the City is for purposes of paying all costs associated with the preparation of the EIR.
The total cost of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was $209,524.80. The parties seek to amend the agreement and increase the compensation by $54,000 for purposes of completing the EIR and covering all costs, for a new not to exceed amount of $263,524.80.
Consultant - City Agreement Amendment. The amendment to the existing agreement (2025 -011) between the Consultant and City is for purposes of paying for the preparation of the Bakersfield Temple Project EIR for Site Plan Review (SPR) 24-60000027 and Zone Modification (MOD) 24-60000032 by Impact Sciences. The amendment with Impact Sciences will increase compensation by $54,000.00, for a new not to exceed amount of $228,604.00. The scope of work has been revised accordingly to address the additional technical studies needed and their review during the preparation of the EIR.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Applicant Agreement acknowledges that HKS Architects, Inc. will pay for all additional costs associated with preparing and completing the EIR, therefore no impact to the City’s General Fund.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Community Character & Quality of Life
Safety and Resilience
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 2025-010
2. Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 2025-011