City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: October 21, 2024
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Activity Report
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Freeway Sign. Following the City Council’s approval of the Lease Agreement with Legacy Signs on Monday October 7, 2024, staff is coordinating the necessary signatures, and the sign company will proceed to prepare construction plans and begin fabrication.
HOUSING
Vista Lucia Specific Plan. Staff is meeting and conferring daily on the Development Agreement (DA), and is actively planning for a coming Joint Workshop of the Planning Commission and City Council.
Staff will share an “end run” calendar soon that will include a joint PC/CC Workshop, a Planning Commission public hearing and then a City Council public hearing. Following City Council action, the LAFCo application will be made. A copy of the Vista Lucia Specific Plan EIR is available on the City of Gonzales website (https://gonzalesca.gov/services/community-development/development-activityprojects) under the Vista Lucia Project section.
Outreach. The City continues to add names and groups (including realtors, commercial brokers and civic leaders) to the “Interested in Housing” list for our citizens (153 persons as of October 14, 2024). People on the list will be notified of the coming Vista Lucia Specific Plan PC/CC joint workshop, Planning Commission public hearing and City Council public hearing. We will draw from the outreach list once again to invite public participation to the LAFCo public hearing annexation proposal.
Housing Element. In the week of October 14, City staff will have posted to the City’s website and social media, an updated 6th Cycle Housing Element draft that has responded to comments received from the AGENDA
ITEM
8 public and the office of Housing and Community Development (HCD). After being available to the public for 7 days, staff will forward the new revisions to HCD, where they will have 60-days to review this second Housing Element document and to comment again.
Housing Project on S. Alta. The City has engaged with CHISPA to find a path to construct new housing units on this project site. Presently, CHISPA will be engaging an architect to work with the original designer of the City’s ADU templates, and the City is fostering conversations for potential private sector financing to facilitate a project there.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
The City continues to meet with property owners, inspect potential violations and start documentation to progress to remedies.
BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY
From September 1, 2024, to September 30, 2024 (30 reporting days), the City issued 13 permits from the Building Division for roof repairs, solar installations, residential restoration, demolition of unpermitted structures, and a new ADU. The estimated value of all improvements was $572,923.50
GENERAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY
Potential Mini Storage and Vehicle Storage. 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 that have not been revisited since 1972 (52 years).
Vacant Position. Development Services Technician & Administrative Analyst position. The position is full-time and has a salary range of $4,044-$5,504 monthly. To apply, please go to https://gonzalesca.gov/services/human-resources/job-opportunities.