City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: February 20, 2024
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Community Development Activity Report
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Freeway Oriented Reader Board. Following staff’s update to the City Council, on February 5, 2024, staff prepared a draft revision to the City of Gonzales Sign Ordinance (Zoning Code Section 12.116) to enable Freeway Oriented Reader Board signs. Staff is working with the City Attorney to perfect the new code language and to confer on the City’s approach to CEQA environmental review. On a separate track, staff continues to engage with Legacy Signs who has shown interest in proposing such a sign on City property and extending a revenue opportunity to the community. On Tuesday, February 13, 2024, staff met Legacy Signs at a potential city-owned site for such a sign. A formal Conditional Use Permit and lease request is expected soon.
Monterey County Business Council. On Thursday,
February 22, 2024, City staff will be hosting the
South County Roundtable at the tasting room of the
Constellation Winery from 11:30 – 1:00 pm. A
recent agenda had the Roundtable addressing:
Financing Tools for Economic Development, Rural
Business Development Grants, Hospitality Industry
Marketing, Trails of Anza vs. South County
Roundtable, and a Hotel Feasibility Study. This
meeting will be a continuation of this dialogue and
collaboration.
Gloria Road Cooler Project. There has been no movement since the last report.
AGENDA
ITEM
7 HOUSING
Housing Element. On Monday, February 12, 2024, staff held a second workshop with the Planning Commission and concluded a 30-day public review period. Three commissioners (of 4) were in attendance, and no persons from the public were present or spoke by Zoom. Commissioners commented on how out-of-reach housing prices are for so many in the community and how complex and involved the Housing Element is; that it is hard to grasp. To date, staff has only received a single written response from LandWatch Monterey County.
Staff will now make final notes and revisions (if necessary) and forward the Housing Element to the State Department of Housing and Community Development. The State then has 90 days to review and return comments to the City, should additional issues need to be addressed or clarified. After receiving initial comments, the City can move to adopt and resubmit to HCD for another 60-day review. HCD then either finds the element in compliance or provides further comment followed by subsequent 60-day review(s) until certification.
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. The City of Gonzales, in partnership with Design Path Studio, is providing property owners with a choice of four (4) pre-approved ADU plans to encourage the development of new detached ADUs within the city boundaries. The available plans encompass four (4) architectural styles: Craftsman, Mid-Century, Ranch, and Spanish, offering four (4) unit types: 1A - One Bed/One Bath (495 sf), 1B - One Bed/One Bath (553 sf), 2A - Two Bed/Two Bath (749 sf), 2B - Two Bed/One Bath (746 sf). The four architectural plan types are available over the counter at City Hall for a low administrative fee of $405, representing a 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 Specific Plan. A major milestone has been reached with this project; the VLSP Draft Environmental Impact Report was completed and is out for 45-day public review. A copy of the EIR is available on the City of Gonzales website (https://gonzalesca.gov/services/community- development/development-activity-projects) under the Vista Lucia Project section. Flash drives are also available with the several files. The Final EIR will need to be completed by addressing the comments received during public review, and the project and its many components then brought to the Planning Commission for recommendation and to City Council for action in the Spring of 2024.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
The City is actively meeting with property owners, inspecting potential violations and starting documentation to progress to remedies.
BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY
From January 1, 2024 to January 31, 2024 (31 reporting days), the City issued 9 permits from the Building Division for roof repair, fire sprinklers, a furnace replacement and electrical and plumbing work to abate code enforcement notifications. The estimated valuation of all improvements was $90,011.21.