City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: April 17, 2023
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Trevin W. Barber, City Manager
SUBJECT: Community Development Activity Report
BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY
From March 1, 2023, through March 31, 2023 (reporting 31 days), the City issued 13 permits from the Building Division for two ADUs, three reroofs and electrical permits associated with residential solar installations. The estimated valuation of all improvements was $321,292.00.
BUSINESS LICENSES
The City has 305 active business licenses as of January 23, 2023. These licenses represent our longstanding 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.” The mayor raised an issue at the City Council Meeting of April 3, 2023 regarding an exploration of enforcement or liberalization of vendor truck regulations in the City of Gonzales. Council members asked that the item/discussion be agendized for a future date.
POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL PROJECTS
A query was made to the Community Development Director from a valley-oriented commercial realtor, that she had a client looking to explore and find locations for a mini-storage facility in the City of Gonzales. Staff responded, that such developments could be requested in the HC Highway Commercial AGENDA
ITEM
7 district and that there were unimproved lands at Gloria Road, Hwy 101 and Alta with the HC designation.
She asked for the property owner and staff shared the ownership by name. Staff offered assistance and engagement with any future information needs she or her client may need.
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. The Planning Commission will convene on Monday April 24, 2023 to consider the Rianda Family Trust Agricultural Cooler Project. The project has no less than 5 actions embodied in 5 resolutions that address environmental review, general plan and zoning amendments, “pre-zoning”, and preparation for the City to formally request LAFCo consideration for incorporating the new city land areas that will support the nearly $80 million cooler investment in the local economy.
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.
Building blocks to the Vista Lucia Specific Plan and EIR that are now in place or sufficiently far along to be relied upon to advance the preparation of the Specific Plan and EIR include:
1. The City’s VMT or Vehicle Miles Traveled Policy
2. The Water Supply Assessment (WSA)
3. Draft Willdan Financial Study. Annexation Fiscal Impact Analysis Administrative Draft Report
4. Agricultural Mitigation Ordinance. Introduced April 3, 2023, and cued for final City approval April 17, 2023.
Additionally, on Wednesday April 5, 2023 staff convened a power study discussion and review of the applicant’s latest response (February 2023) to City comments on the unfolding Draft Vista Lucia Specific Plan. Working side-by-side in the review were: the City Manager, Community Development Director, Public Works Director, Slama Consulting (on behalf of City interests and proficient in LAFCo affairs), the City Attorney, and the Community Development Department Administrative Assistant. Staff will follow up with written comments and a face-to-face engagement with Pembrook Development on Wednesday April 19, 2023.
Pembrook Development has also requested to present their Affordable Housing program to the City Council on Monday April 17, 2023. The item will be for presentation only by Pembrook and no actions or decisions making on the part of the Council are being requested at this time.
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. See comments on Planning Commission activities below.
Housing Within the City
DR. Horton continues in their due diligence and exploration of the development of the 138-acre D’Arrigo property. City Council on March 6th established an Ad Hoc Committee. The Ad Hoc Committee will be convening on Thursday April 11, 2023 to discuss matters, including approaches to impact fees and affordable housing.
Housing Element Preparation.
A kick-off meeting is yet to be scheduled and a presentation with the Planning Commission and community is to be scheduled soon.
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTIVITY
The Planning Commission joined the City Council on February 21, 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. The regular April 10, meeting of the City Planning Commission will be canceled, yet the Planning Commission will convene on Monday April 24, 2023 to consider the Rianda Family Trust Agricultural Cooler Project. The project has no less than 5 actions embodied in 5 resolutions that address environmental review, general plan, and zoning amendments, “pre-zoning”, and preparation for the City to formally request LAFCo consideration for incorporating the new city land areas that will support the nearly $80 million cooler investment in the local economy. We are working to have all City entitlements in place for the cooler upon incorporation into the City through City Council and LAFCo.
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)