City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: July 17, 2023
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Community Development Activity Report June-July 2023
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Gloria Road Cooler Project The City Council adopted a Mitigated Negative Declaration, approved a General Plan Amendment, Prezoning, and initiated annexation proceedings with LAFCO on May 15th to potentially allow for the construction of a 243,800 square foot development with a 70,000 square foot expansion. The City submitted the application to LAFCO on May 24th and is currently under their review. Staff has been in contact with Monterey County regarding the required Property Tax Transfer Agreement. The City continues to meet bi-weekly with the applicant’s team to facilitate construction plans, and satisfaction of conditions of approval. Slama Consulting has provided exceptional assistance with these efforts.
Legacy Signs, who wishes to construct one to two freeway-oriented electronic reader billboards, has shared what development application review materials, supplemental information items and development review fees would be necessary to move forward. Zoning text changes will be necessary, a use permit application, environmental review document, development review fees deposited, and eventually a lease agreement with the City for use of City lands and operations of the sign, including public service announcements. Staff will be meeting with Mr. Smith on Wednesday July 12, 2023.
HOUSING
Housing Element. The Planning Commission conducted a public workshop introducing the City’s coming Housing Element activities on Monday May 8, 2023, and there have been increasing outreach efforts into the community, including tabling at the recent 4th of July activities at Centennial Park. Staff continues to gather city records and reports for the environmental consultant as well as for some back-logged state AGENDA
ITEM
10 reporting responsibilities. The Community Development Department pages on the City’s website are being updated and include links to a Housing needs survey in both English and Spanish.
City Manager Carmen Gil, is preparing a strategic plan to keep the City on course with completing the Housing Element and other housing-related projects. The strategic plan anticipates a draft Housing Element to go out for public comment in August and for submittal to the state in October.
ADUs. Staff has moved forward with pre-prepared ADU plans for the public to be able to use when wanting to build an ADU on their properties. Plans are coming together for finalization and customization to the City of Gonzales and are expected to be ready to the public by August. Plans will be offered for a low administrative fee, but applicants should save money significantly by not having to hire an architect and/or civil engineer.
Vista Lucia. The Specific Plan has progressed significantly enough, whereby the environmental review process can restart in earnest. Staff met on Thursday, July 6 with the CEQA consultant and reviewed a tight list of information needs and status to enable progress on this front. As the water supply assessment has been finalized, the Development Agreement has been submitted for City Review, the financing and plans for services has matured, the Affordable Housing Plan and first Tentative Map have been re-thought and re-presented to demonstrate a strong affordable housing component to this large and sizable development. Prior to submission to LAFCo, the environmental review process will need to be completed, and the project and its many components brought to the Planning Commission for recommendation and to City Council for action in December 2023. Slama Consulting continues to provide very instrumental assistance with these efforts.
DR. Horton continues in their due diligence and exploration of development of the 138-acre D’Arrigo property. While not wanting to proceed with a formal Reimbursement Agreement to pay for City development review efforts directly attributable to the developer’s proposal, the builder has offered a “pay as we go” item for item.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
4-LEAF consulting won the new Building and Code Enforcement services contract with the City of Gonzales. City administrative staff is rethinking our approach to Code Enforcement and how best to serve the community. Drawing upon the skill set and familiarity of the Fire Chief for some of these activities is being discussed. Our new Building Official, through 4-LEAF, has shown a strong and professional engagement with the City and is at the City Hall office two- half days a week. Additionally, 4-LEAF provides plan check and inspection service.
BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY
From May 1, 2023, through May 31, 2023 (31 reporting days), the City issued 10 permits from the Building Division for reroofing and electrical for new solar systems. The estimated valuation of all improvements was $171,641.98.
From June 1, 2023, through June 30, 2023 (30 reporting days), the City issued 5 permits from the Building Division for reroofing, electrical for a new solar system, fire sprinklers, and a building addition The estimated valuation of all improvements was $90,500.