City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: March 20, 2023
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Trevin W. Barber, City Manager
SUBJECT: Community Development Activity Report
BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY
From February 1, through February 28, 2023, (reporting 28 days) the city issued 8 permits from the Building Division for a 900 sq ft detached ADU, fire damage repair, electrical work associated with solar projects, and reroofing. The estimated valuation of all improvements was $308,410.00.
BUSINESS LICENSES
The City has 305 active business licenses as of January 23, 2023. These licenses represent our long standing agricultural businesses, downtown businesses, commercial district businesses, home occupation businesses, as well as consultants and other contractors who conduct business within the City.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
The City presently has several active Code Enforcement cases and other calls that we field responses to that do not rise to official “cases.” These involve rubbish in yards that need to be removed, vehicles parked on residential lawns, RVs not regularly moved, or RVs being connected to house utilities while in driveways and streets.
POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL PROJECTS
A new deli, Cheli’s Cafe will soon be opening across from the Post Office.
Mann Packing has expressed a desire to double the size of its Gonzales facility. Their architect is AGENDA
ITEM
6 advancing designs and site plans and on September 28, 2022, staff met face-to-face to discuss the matter.
Pending potential language adjustments in the City’s standard Reimbursement Agreement, Mann Packing may be ready to execute a Reimbursement Agreement soon. Such would allow the City to craft an RFP to begin an environmental review process while the project description gets further refined. Such a project will be dependent on the City’s infrastructure capacity to serve existing and future developments.
Staff has fielded a few calls regarding the HC Highway Commercial property on the corner of Fifth and Fanoe Road. There appears to be an interest to develop a moderate-sized hotel with provisions (potentially half of the units) to allow worker housing during the high activity agricultural seasons. Such a facility could serve tourists and visitors, as well as worker housing.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Rianda Agricultural Cooler proposal on Gloria road. The CEQA Public Review period begins March 15, 2023 and will run for 30 days to April 13, 2023. We are working to have all City entitlements in place for the cooler upon incorporation into the City through City Council and LAFCo. Following incorporation, the applicant would just need to meet the conditions of approval and any mitigation measures that may be in place.
Helping restart the City of Gonzales Chamber of Commerce. The city is ready to assist with outreach or other efforts for our local business community.
Potential Freestanding Electronic-Display Freeway-Oriented Billboard. Following the holiday break, staff will be outlining the tasks ahead to potentially modify the zoning and sign codes to allow such structure on public property. Other items, mainly Housing related efforts and the Rianda Agricultural Cooler appear to have precedence.
HOUSING
Sphere of Influence Area
City staff continues to work with Pembrook Development Group (Vista Lucia Specific Plan: VLSP) and Jackson Family Investments (Puente Del Monte Specific Plan: PDMSP) and the Rianda Family Trust on developments in the City’s Sphere of Influence.
1. Vista Lucia Specific Plan
a. The Water Supply Assessment (WSA) was presented to a joint meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission, Tuesday February 21, 2023. The document and its determination were acknowledged and will be incorporated into the Vista Lucia planning and environmental documents and other studies underway for the proposed new development.
b. Willdan Financial Study. The Gonzales Sphere of Influence Area Annexation Fiscal Impact Analysis Administrative Draft Report dated March 3, 2023 was submitted back to staff. Staff will meet internally before presenting to Council and sharing with our development applicants. It is staff’s intent to present the status report to Council April 3, 2023. Such study will inform the City’s coming negotiations with the County for revenue neutrality, and assessment districts or other financial structures that may be employed in the areas to be incorporated.
c. The VLSP representatives delivered a draft Development Agreement on November 16, 2022, to the City. Administrative Staff will be convening in March to determine City needs and responsibilities in the matter and to flesh out phasing of the VLSP project among a host of activities such as infrastructure installation and costs, Affordable Housing, Agricultural Mitigation and other business details. d. The City’s Agricultural Mitigation Ordinance and recently adopted Vehicle Miles Travelled policy also have a bearing on this project.
2. Puente Del Monte Specific Plan (PDMSP). The Rianda Cooler project proposal will reshape the PDMSP once more is known and certain about how the Rianda Cooler moves through city development review and LAFCo processes.
Housing Within the City
DR. Horton continues in their due diligence and exploration of development of the 138 acre D’Arrigo property. City Council on March 6th established an Ad Hoc Committee. The mayor assigned Councilwoman Worthy and Orozco to work with Administrative staff on points of business.
Housing Element Preparation.
A kick-off meeting with 4-Leaf consultants was scheduled in January, and a presentation with the Planning Commission and community will be scheduled soon.
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTIVITY
The Planning Commission joined the City Council on February 21, 2023 in a joint session to receive a report on the Water Supply Assessment for the Vista Lucia Specific Plan.
On March 13, 2023, the Planning Commission considered the City’s Ag Advisory Committee recommendation on the draft Agricultural Resource Mitigation Ordinance. With a few clarifications and enhancements, the Planning Commission (3-0) advanced a recommendation to approve the draft Ordinance to the City Council. April 3, 2023, has been targeted for Council consideration.
OTHER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES
Anticipated Ordinances and Policies that are needed and are being worked into the department’s work program:
a. Agricultural Mitigation Ordinance
b. Housing Element Update
c. Safety Element Update
d. Environmental Justice Element (a new state requirement) e. Electric Vehicle Charging Ordinance / Policy
f. Administrative Citation /Code Enforcement Ordinance strengthening, g. Water Efficiency Landscaping Ordinance (update to the 2015 effort) h. Parking Regulations (potentially, if directed)
i. Sign Ordinance revisions (potentially, if directed)