City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: October 16, 2023
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Community Development Department Activity Report - September 2023
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Gloria Road Cooler Project. Was approved by the LAFCo Commission on Monday, September 25, 2023, The matter will now be sent to the California Board of Equalization by LAFCo staff to formally acknowledge the annexation. The City will continue to meet with the applicant to further condition compliance activities and site development conditions. Staff will commission new maps to be drawn for the City representing the new territory added.
Legacy Signs. Legacy is proceeding with a proposal to change text within the City’s sign code to allow such a sign and will propose a small lease area and access agreement with the City. Such processes and review will require a CEQA determination, Planning Commission review, and City Council action on the changes to the sign code and accepting a lease agreement.
HOUSING
Housing Element. Our consultants are targeting Monday, October 16, 2023, for delivery of the draft Housing Element to staff. Following the Admin Draft review among Gonzales staff, the Housing Element is circulated for 30 days of public review. We must then take 10 working days to incorporate public comment before submitting an Initial Draft to HCD for a 90-day review. After receiving initial comments, the City can move to adopt and resubmit to HCD for another 60-day review. HCD then either find the element in compliance or provide further comment followed by subsequent 60-day review until certification.
AGENDA
ITEM
7 From that point with a certified Housing Element, we will work to implement the Housing Element through zoning actions, program creations, and other mechanisms.
ADUs. Four architectural plan types in four floor-plan sets may be purchased over the counter at City Hall. Plans will be offered for a low administrative fee of $405, representing significant savings for homeowners who may not have to hire an architect and/or civil engineer. Unique site plans will still need to be completed and submitted along with solar plans and fire sprinkler information, if required. Staff intends to update and activate the City’s website, bilingual handout materials, and instructions for submittal.
Vista Lucia. In addition to an intense focus on the financing of public facilities and infrastructure, detailed work is progressing on the CEQA environmental review and the various components and deal points of the draft Development Agreement. Prior to submission to LAFCo, the EIR will need to be completed, and the project and its many components brought to the Planning Commission for recommendation and to the City Council for action in December 2023.
The D’Arrigo Property. City staff is actively trying to draw developer attention and interest to this property and has provided city contacts and conversations and histories that can be helpful. We continue to work closely with the D’Arrigo management leaders and speak regularly.
D’Arrigo H2A Proposal. A Reimbursement Agreement was authorized by the City Council on October 2, 2023, to cover the expense of staff’s time to the matter. The item is yet to be funded, and no additional plans or proposal has been sent to the City. D’Arrigo and Avila Construction have proceeded with community outreach. No meetings with County planners have been scheduled at this time yet.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
The City Manager, Community Development Director, and City Building Official, along with other staff, are taking a more aggressive approach to non-permitted structures and unsafe living conditions. The City continues to meet with property owners, inspect potential violations, and start documentation to progress to remedies.
BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY
From September 1 to September 30, 2023 (30 reporting days), the City issued 4 permits from the Building Division for two solar systems, air conditioning, and a re-roof. The estimated valuation of all improvements was $35,866.00