City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: August 18, 2025
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Adopt Ordinance No. 2025-152 Implementing Rezoning Actions for the 6Th Cycle Housing Element
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
• Open the public hearing;
• Close the public hearing; and
• Waive reading, read by title only, and adopt Ordinance No. 2025-152, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving the New 6th Cycle Housing Element by Amending Title 12- (Zoning Regulations) with Associated Zoning Map and Zoning Regulation Text Changes, as Follows: Provisions in Chapter 12.08-Definitions, Chapter 12.20-Site Plan Permits, Chapter 12.48-Density Bonus, Chapter 12.56-Summary Of Zoning Districts and Permitted Uses, Chapter 12.68-R-1 Medium Density Residential District, Chapter 12.112-General Applications, and Chapter 12.120-Parking, and the Addition of New Chapter 12.54-Reasonable Accommodations, Chapter 12.110-AHO Affordable Housing Overlay, Chapter 12.154-Local Education Agency Lands, Chapter 12.156-Employee Housing, Chapter 12.158-Licensed Residential Care Facilities, and Chapter 12.160-Transitional and Supportive Housing, and Amending the Zoning Map to Comply with the General Plan.
BACKGROUND
On August 4, 2025, the City Council introduced, waived the first reading, and read by title only Ordinance No. 2025-152, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving the New AGENDA
ITEM
15 6th Cycle Housing Element Update by Amending Title 12- (Zoning Regulations) with Associated Zoning Map and Zoning Regulation Text Changes.
Public Notice for announcing the consideration and adoption of Ordinance No.2025-152 was published on August 6, 2025, for consideration on this date August 18, 2025, by the City Council.
REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
Zoning Text Amendments
Embodied in Ordinance 2025-152, the City has added the following zoning text amendments to comply with State law.
• Amended/Added the following definitions in Chapter 12.08 (Definitions) o (Added) “Low-Barrier Navigation Center”
o (Added) “Employee Housing, Large” and “Employee Housing, Small” o (Added) “Target Population”
o (Amended) Residential Care Facilities, Large and Small” — Replaced with definitions for “Licensed Residential Care Facilities” and “Unlicensed Residential Care Facilities” o (Amended) “Family,” “Emergency Shelter,” “Transitional Housing,” and “Supportive Housing”
• Amended Chapter 12.48 (Density Bonus) to comply with the most recent State Law • Added new Section 12.48.040.B (Supplemental Density Bonus Programs) to offer local bonus incentives, including:
o Urban Agriculture Bonus – for projects that provide 500+ sq. ft. of edible garden space. o Large Family Bonus – for developments reserving 35% of units for large families (3+ bedrooms) or 20% for 4+ bedrooms.
o Universal Design Bonus – for projects incorporating step-free access, livable ground floors, and accessible environmental controls in at least 20% of units. • Amended Section 12.56.040 (List of Permitted and Conditional Uses By Zoning District) to address:
o Low-Barrier Navigation Centers
o Employee Housing, Small
o Employee Housing, Large
o Licensed and Unlicensed Residential Care Facilities
o Manufactured Homes
o Transitional and Supportive Housing
• Amended Section 12.120.150 (Parking Standards) to remove covered parking requirements and revise the current guest parking space standards.
• Amended Section 12.112.020 (Accessory Dwelling Units) to comply with ADU/JADU law and allow JADUs within all single-family dwellings.
• Amended Section 12.68.040.A.2 (R-2 Development Standards) to increase the maximum allowed density to 20 dwelling units per acre.
• Added new Chapter 12.54 (Reasonable Accommodations) to establish a procedure for individuals with disabilities to request accommodation for equal access to housing. • Added new Chapter 12.154 (Local Education Agency Lands) to encourage the development of housing on local education agency (LEA) lands.
• Added new Chapter 12.156 (Employee Housing) to establish development standards and a streamlined approval process for employee housing consisting of 12 units or fewer. • Added new Chapter 12.158 (Licensed Residential Care Facilities) to establish development standards for licensed residential care facilities.
• Added new Chapter 12.160 (Transitional and Supportive Housing) to establish development standards for Supportive Housing, up to 50 units.
Embodied in Ordinance 2025-152, the City has added the following zoning map amendments to comply with State law.
Rezone to Meet RHNA
• Affordable Housing Overlay
o Added new Chapter 12.110 (Affordable Housing Overlay). o The six parcels listed below will be rezoned to apply the Affordable Housing Overlay (IAHO) zone.
o The proposed allowable density will be 20-30 units per acre. o Permitted uses include multiple-family residential uses (by right, as defined in Government Code Section 65583.2(i)), low-barrier navigation centers, residential care facilities, supportive housing, and transitional housing
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In Resolution No. 2025-51, approved by the City Council on August 4, 2025, the City Council determined that the Common Sense Exemption to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Applied to the Proposed 6th Cycle Housing Element, General Plan Land Use Text Amendment and Zoning Ordinance Text/Map Amendments as Supported by the Housing Element Update CEQA Exemption Technical Memorandum Prepared in February of 2025.
Explain the Recommendation and How it Supports the Vision Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, family-friendly community, diverse in its heritage, and committed to working collaboratively to preserve and retain its small-town charm.
Explanation: Preparation of the updated housing element and its implementation Ordinance No. 2025-152 has presented an opportunity for the City to directly engage citizens and interest groups in defining housing issues particular to the City of Gonzales, and in creating solutions that meet the needs of the community. Public participation has been the cornerstone of the process.
Explain how the Recommendation Directly Implements the Mission The City Council and Staff of the City of Gonzales will realize our Vision by providing the leadership, commitment, and resources necessary to provide excellent services that enhance the quality of life of our diverse community.
Explain: Preparation of the updated housing element and its implementation Ordinance No. 2025-152 has presented an opportunity for the City to directly engage citizens and interest groups in defining housing issues particular to the City of Gonzales, and in creating solutions that meet the needs of the community. Public participation has been the cornerstone of the process.
Additionally, staff has secured grant funding to facilitate and implement the programs and policies of the new 6th Cycle Housing Element.
Strong fiscal policies allow us to provide appropriate infrastructure for:
• Public Safety Yes No X N/A
• Housing X Yes No N/A
• Recreation Yes No X N/A
• Environment Yes No X N/A
• Education Yes No X N/A
Explain: Please see the Vision above.
ALTERNATIVES
Not adopting Ordinance No. 2025-152 would delay the City from coming compliant with state direction at the Department of Housing and Community Development. Additional delay may also compromise our grant funding re-imbursements for our implementation efforts to date and moving forward. Delay or not approving the 6th Cycle Housing Element would negate the need for the consulting services contract with Placeworks Inc, presented as a separate agenda item on this August 18, 2025, Agenda.
BUDGET IMPACT
REAP 2.0 Grant funding has been secured that is covering staff and consultant contract costs for implementation of the 6th Cycle Housing Element. The REAP 2.0 grant is offsetting the Community Development Director’s time and efforts with report writing, public noticing and presentation items before the Planning Commission and City Council, resulting in modest general fund savings for those hours worked and material expenses to the effort. Long-term, it is hoped that the updated 6th Cycle Housing Element and the implementation of the zoning text and map changes in Ordinance No. 2025- 152, results in additional housing units constructed in the community, adding social as well as fiscal value to the community.
SCHEDULE
Following a second reading and adoption of the ordinance, the new zoning provisions will be in-force 30 days later.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
• Open the public hearing;
• Close the public hearing; and
• Waive reading, read by title only, and adopt Ordinance No. 2025-152, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving the New 6th Cycle Housing Element by Amending Title 12- (Zoning Regulations) with Associated Zoning Map and Zoning Regulation Text Changes, as Follows: Provisions in Chapter 12.08-Definitions, Chapter 12.20-Site Plan Permits, Chapter 12.48-Density Bonus, Chapter 12.56-Summary Of Zoning Districts and Permitted Uses, Chapter 12.68-R-1 Medium Density Residential District, Chapter 12.112-General Applications, and Chapter 12.120-Parking, and the Addition of New Chapter 12.54-Reasonable Accommodations, Chapter 12.110-AHO Affordable Housing Overlay, Chapter 12.154-Local Education Agency Lands, Chapter 12.156-Employee Housing, Chapter 12.158-Licensed Residential Care Facilities, and Chapter 12.160-Transitional and Supportive Housing, and Amending the Zoning Map to Comply with the General Plan.
Attachments:
1. Public Hearing Notice
2. Ordinance No. 2025-152 Housing Element