City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: August 21, 2023
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Community Development Activity Report
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Gloria Road Cooler Project The City submitted an application to LAFCO on May 24th and is currently under review. The property tax agreement has been approved by both the County and the City – and will be forwarded to LAFCo for them to “Complete” the application package and schedule before the LAFCo Commission. The City continues to hold bi-weekly meetings with the applicant’s team to facilitate construction plans, and ensure the satisfaction of conditions of approval.
Legacy Signs, Staff met with Mr. Smith on Wednesday July 12, 2023. Mr. Smith indicated that Caltrans had a requirement for such signs that do need permits from them. The subject property is zoned Industrial or Commercial, which was news to City staff who had been considering two City owned properties with PF (Public Facilities) Zoning. Further discussion with Mr. Smith is necessary, and the City need to consider rezoning land from PF to Commercial to accommodate such a sign in a timely and prudent manner. A General Plan map change which may require time and funds, could also be necessary to change the land uses on one or both of the City drainage facilities.
HOUSING
Housing Element. The Planning Commission held a public workshop to introduce the City’s upcoming Housing Element activities on Monday May 8, 2023. Outreach efforts have been increasing in the community, including tabling at the recent 4th of July activities at Central Park and on August 1, 2023 at the National Night Out Event. On August 21, 2023 our Housing Element Consultant will be guiding a joint PC/CC workshop to facilitate a new housing strategy for the City.
AGENDA
ITEM
10 Staff continues to gather city records and reports for the environmental consultant as well as for some back-logged state 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, has prepared a strategic plan to keep the City on track to complete the Housing Element as well as 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 shortly. 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. 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.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
Prioritizing life, health and safety issues in the community, the City Manager, Community Development Director and City Building Official, along with other staff, are adopting a more assertive approach towards non-permitted structures and unsafe living conditions; and has stayed busy the last month working with homeowners to address code issues. The presence of RVs on public streets connected to private utilities still remains a problem that staff is working to address.
BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY
During the period from July 1 to July 31, 2023, the City's Building Division facilitated the issuance of 6 permits. These encompassed various projects, such as reroofing, electrical work for the installation of a new solar system, and a permit to rectify a Code Enforcement case. The collective value of these improvements was estimated at $43,500.00.