City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: August 15, 2022
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Carmen Gil, Interim City Manager
SUBJECT: Community Development Activity Report - July 2022
1. BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY
From the period July 5, through August 8, 2022, the city issued seven permits from the Building Division for two residential reroofing, two solar installations, a porch overhang, and demolition of a detached garage. The estimated valuation of all improvements was $57,795.65.
2. GENERAL PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
City staff continues to work with Pembrook Development Group and Jackson Family Investments on SOI Sphere of Influence Development project(s).
Also in the sphere of influence, outside of City Limits, staff continues to work with the Rianda Family Trust proposal for an agricultural cooler on Gloria Road. A traffic study has just been submitted for evaluation Friday August 5, 2022, and staff will be meeting with Mr. Rianda Tuesday, August 9, 2022.
City staff received two responses from our “Request For Proposals For The Sixth Cycle Housing Element Update Planning Period 2023-2031.” At the time of writing this report, Tuesday, August 9, staff is evaluating the two submittals and will soon report. Standard practice would have staff refine the final scope of work and costs and then make a recommendation to the Council for selection of an appropriate firm (September 6, 2022). From that point we finalize AGENDA
ITEM
9 contracts, issue a Notice to Proceed to the selected firm and then get underway with a kick-off meeting.
Accompanying the state requirement for the City to update its Housing Element comes the need for the City to pay for such an endeavor. Staff is staying abreast of state funding and grant opportunities for the City and is participating with our local Council of Government, AMBAG in expressing our needs to secure regional financial resources (REAP 1 and REAP 2). The Housing Element effort may require as much as $500,000.
3. POLICY DEVELOPMENT
Targeting a September 12, 2022 workshop and recommendation to the Planning Commission, staff will be presenting an Agricultural Mitigation Ordinance and a VMT Vehicle Miles Travelled Policy. Follow any edits or revisions suggested by the Planning Commission, Staff will plan to present to the City Council for action on the October 3, 2022 regular meeting.
4. APPROVED COMMERCIAL PROJECTS AND THEIR STATUS
• New laundromat under construction at 28 Fourth Street. • Salad Bowl Boxing at 32B Fourth Street, operational and active. • Construction plans being revised for the new 18-room hotel at 34 & 51 Fourth Street. o This Project has stalled out on the applicant’s side.
5. OTHER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES
For the D’Arrigo Property in the city limits, staff met on-line July 7, 2022 with the advance planning team of D.R. Horton. On August 1, 2022, D.R. Horton introduced their team to a Joint Session of the City Council and Planning Commission. Staff will continue to assist and facilitate community outreach efforts as the developer gives shape to the eventual new subdivision submittal. Once prepared by the applicant, the development proposal will be accompanied by General Plan Amendment requests to move or shift land use designations on the General Plan Land Use Map differing from the former “Rincon” proposal. Staff is expecting a 700+ unit multidensity residential development proposal with school sites, public facilities and open spaces incorporated.
Staff is also looking forward to a stronger relationship with the City of Gonzales Chamber of Commerce, and the Director of Community Development remains available to discuss partnerships and cooperative efforts in supporting our local business community.