City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: August 19, 2024
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Community Development Department Activity Report - July 2024
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Freeway Sign. The Sign Design Committee will meet on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, to discuss the aesthetic fit of the sign into the Gonzales landscape and a recommendation will be made to the City Planning Commission.
The Planning Commission will then consider a conditional use permit for the sign on Monday, August 26, 2024. Following the Planning Commission’s actions, the City Council will consider an extendable 25- year lease of public property to maintain the freeway oriented electronic billboard sign adjacent to Hwy 101 on the west side, in the visual context of the vineyard grapes and Constellation Brands winery.
AGENDA
ITEM
10 Rianda Family Partnership, Agricultural Cooler on Gloria Road – New 45-acre Annexation to the City.
Christine Kemp, representing the Rianda Family Partnership, reported on Monday, August 12, 2024, that they expect to record the Ag Land Trust Easement this week by Friday, August 16, 2024. LAFCo staff have responded and reported that they will be able to record and effectuate the annexation once the recorded conservation easement is available. These activities will occur in August, prior to the one-year conditional LAFCo permit expiring in September 2024. (Images below.) Monterey County Business Council, South County Round Table. Staff continues to meet and collaborate once a month with our fellow cities of the Salinas Valley for opportunities to expand and support commercial services, industries, and to further the creation of new housing.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Partnership Investment Act (HOME Entitlement Qualification Process. In 2025, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will consider adopting a new Consolidated Plan for the Urban County. The City of Gonzales has been invited to work with the County on drafting the Consolidated Plan and developing a funding allocation plan. The City of Gonzales is opting to continue with the County as a Participating Jurisdiction (PD) and CDBG Urban County. Over the next 3 years, the County expects to divide $6 million in CDBG Funding and $3 million in HOME Funding. The City of Gonzales will be at the table.
HOUSING
Vista Lucia Specific Plan. City staff is advancing the Development Agreement, Affordable Housing Agreement, draft staff report, and the Condition Compliance and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program. 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. An update on the VLSP will be presented separately at this meeting.
Staff met with the Farmworker Housing Study Oversight Committee, sponsored by the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership and Hosted by the United Way on Monday, August 5, 2024. The Committee continued its commitment to follow the 2018 Salinas and Pajaro Valley Farmworker Study, and its determination to develop affordable housing for all workers. Committee members discussed new construction of worker housing and pending and potential housing projects.
City of Gonzales staff presented the Vista Lucia Specific Plan to the Oversight Committee and its vision of creating 3,498 new units in a city-centered, integrated community adjacent to the present City of Gonzales. Some at the table asked to be included on the” Interested In Housing” list begun by the City.
Staff also left a pamphlet, business cards and other information regarding the coming project.
Outreach. On Tuesday, August 6, 2024 National Night Out sponsored by the Gonzales Police Department, the city handed out information and discussed face-to-face with our community about the coming Vista Lucia Neighborhood. From this effort and others before, increased counter, telephone and email queries have resulted, and staff has officially created an “Interested in Housing” list for our citizens. People on the list will be included in new meeting notifications and other outreach efforts regarding new housing in the City. (The list does not guarantee or assure a position or advantage for new units.)
Housing Element. The City is responding to questions from Housing and Community Development (HCD) upon our first draft submittal. In late July, the City was presented with added resources to complete this task by offering and paying for new consultant efforts to further the 6th Cycle and respond to the States’ first round of comments and requirements of the City.
Senior Housing Proposal on S. Alta. Geoffrey Morgan intends to meet with the City Council in September to share CHISPA’s progress point in developing senior housing on the City-owned parcel.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
The City continues to meet with property owners, inspect potential violations and start documentation to progress to remedies.
BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY
From July 1, 2024, to July 31, 2024 (31 reporting days), the City issued six permits from the Building Division for residential roof repairs and re-roofs, solar, and commercial tenant improvements (TI). The estimated valuation of all improvements was $74,104.00.
GENERAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY
Potential mini storage and vehicle storage opportunity. The Community Development Department continues to work with an applicant as his proposal takes shape for new commercial/industrial uses on Gonzales River road on the western city edge. The potential here is to provide support for our major agricultural processing giants but will also include mini storage and vehicle storage opportunities for the greater public.
City’s Business License Ordinances. The Economic Development staff is looking into an update to the City’s Business License Ordinances, which have not been revisited since 1972 (52 years).