City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
STAFF 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: Vista Lucia Annexation Project Update
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Gonzales City Council and Planning Commission take the following actions:
• Receive the staff report;
• Receive the presentation from the applicant; and
• Provide comments and direction as necessary.
BACKGROUND
Staff last presented an update on the Vista Lucia project with the Gonzales City Council back on December 5, 2022. Since that time, the City Council, Staff, and the applicant have been diligently moving forward on the processing of this transformative project for the community. Important actions taken since that time include but are not limited to:
• Appointment of Development Sub-Committee
• Retained Contract Staff to Increase Capacity
• Re-Submittal of Draft Specific Plan
• Adoption of Local Ag Mitigation Ordinance
• Completion of SB 610 Water Supply Assessment
• Fiscal Impact Report
• Draft Development Agreement in Process
• Draft Environmental Impact Report Ongoing
AGENDA
ITEM
2 • Progress on Draft Affordable Housing Agreement
• Meetings with Gonzales Unified School District
• Meetings with LAFCO Staff
This presentation will provide the City Council and the Planning Commission with an opportunity to review progress, with anticipation of significant project milestones to occur later in 2023 and into early 2024.
REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
Of significance in the last month has been the resubmittal of a revised Draft Specific Plan by the applicant and the redevelopment of the project description to be used in the Draft Environmental Impact Report.
The Draft EIR is the next critical stage as no votes on the project can be taken until the environmental impacts are reviewed and addressed under the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). It is currently anticipated that the Draft EIR will be available to the public for review by the end of 2023 for a mandatory 45-day review period.
During that period, staff and the applicant team will continue to work on other vital tasks, including the Development Agreement, Affordable Housing Agreements, Public Financing Plans, Agricultural Mitigation and other key information relevant to allowing the Planning Commission, City Council and Monterey LAFCO to adequately review and analyze the project.
How the Recommendation Supports the Vision
Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, family-friendly community, diverse in its heritage, and committed to working collaboratively to preserve and retain its small-town charm.
Explain: Staff is committed to working collaboratively with developers interested in pursuing developments within the City limits as well as the Sphere of Influence. A well-done and wellimplemented specific plan, built upon the City’s General Plan will assure that Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, family-friendly community, diverse in its heritage, and retain its small-town charm.
Explain how the Recommendation Directly Implements the Mission The City Council and Staff of the City of Gonzales will realize our Vision by providing the leadership, commitment, and resources necessary to provide excellent services that enhance the quality of life of our diverse community.
Explain: The City has shown leadership and vision in its support of the Specific Plan developments, built upon the City’s General Plan. While most of the efforts to pay for City and consultant staff time have been funded through the two developers of potential specific plans, the City has been at the table to secure SB1 Grants and other financial resources to allow the City to hire consultants, such as Willdan to evaluate potential development in the sphere of influence.
City services will be delivered in a cost-effective, respectful and friendly manner to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents and the promotion of business, recreational, housing and employment opportunities in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Explain: This update to the City Council is meant to keep all apprised of the work underway, and the work ahead. Eventual approval of such specific plans will allow for the City to triple in population.
As such, the Key Supporting Studies described above and the work on the Development Agreement, and Environmental Impact report are particularly focused on providing City services in a cost- effective, respective and friendly manner to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the new populations to come, without burden on the existing residents and the city/neighborhood-entered designs of the General Plan and specific plans promote and provide for new business, new recreation, housing and employment opportunities in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Strong fiscal policies allow us to provide appropriate infrastructure for:
• Public Safety X Yes No N/A
• Housing X Yes No N/A
• Recreation X Yes No N/A
• Environment X Yes No N/A
• Education X Yes No N/A
Explain: See Vision explanation above.
BUDGET IMPACT
With Reimbursement Agreements in place, the City is offsetting public costs through developer deposits.
Additional activities in support of developing new housing in the sphere areas are also supported by grants that the City has secured. City staff continues to scan for new grant opportunities to provide additional resources to these efforts.
CONCLUSION
Receive the staff report and provide comments and direction, if desired. Staff and the Pembrook development team will be available for comments and questions.
Attachments:
1. PowerPoint Presentation