ORDINANCE NO. 2025-149
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GONZALES
APPROVING A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF
GONZALES AND CIELO GRANDE RANCH, LLC RELATIVE TO THE
DEVELOPMENT KNOWN AS VISTA LUCIA
WHEREAS, the City of Gonzales has received a request to consider a Development Agreement initiated by Cielo Grande Ranch, LLC, establishing relevant property development rights associated with proposed development on 771 acres of property located east of Fanoe Road adjacent to the eastern edge of the City of Gonzales city limits; and WHEREAS, the City and Cielo Grande Ranch, LLC, believe that execution of a Development Agreement will assist in the timely, efficient, orderly and proper development of the property; and
WHEREAS, the City Council complied with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), and has independently reviewed and considered the Final Environmental Impact Report for the City of Gonzales 2010 General Plan, the 2014 General Plan EIR Sphere of Influence Expansion Addendum and the City Council has certified the Final Environmental Impact Report, and adopted CEQA Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Consideration for the proposed Vista Lucia Project; and
WHEREAS, on March 10th, 2025, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing to consider a recommendation to the City Council on the proposed Development Agreement, and considered the Staff Report and oral report for this item, and all public comments; and
WHEREAS, on September 2nd, 2025, the City Council conducted a duly noticed public hearing to consider the Planning Commission recommendation on the proposed Development Agreement, and considered the written and oral Staff Report, and all public comments and correspondence received.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED that the City Council of the City of Gonzales adopts an ordinance that approves the Development Agreement as follows:
SECTION 1. All of the recitals set forth above are true and correct to the best of the Council’s knowledge, and by this reference, are incorporated herein.
SECTION 2. The City Council accepts the Planning Commission’s recommendation concerning adoption of a Development Agreement between the City of Gonzales and Cielo Grande Ranch, LLC.
SECTION 3. The City Council has evaluated the consistency of the proposed Development Agreement with the City’s procedures and requirements for development agreements as set forth in City Council Resolution No. 2003-42 and has determined that the Development Agreement:
1. Is consistent with the objectives, policies, general land uses and programs specified in the City of Gonzales General Plan. The Development Agreement does not expand, diminish, or modify in any way the scope of uses or the development potential established by adoption of the Vista Lucia Specific Plan, Vesting Tentative Map 2023-01, or the PreZoning designation assigned to the property in the Gonzales City Code.
2. Is in conformity with public convenience, general welfare and good land use practices.
Nothing in the Development Agreement is adverse to the public convenience or welfare.
To the contrary, adoption of the Agreement and acceptance by the parties will improve the likelihood for successful development of the Vista Lucia Project which will be of broad public benefit in terms of job and economic growth, and the orderly development of the City. Use of development agreements is a land use regulatory practice established by the State legislature and confirmed by City Council adoption of Resolution No. 2003-42.
3. Will not be detrimental to the health, safety and general welfare of persons residing in the immediate area nor detrimental or injurious to property or persons in the general neighborhood or to the general welfare of the residents of the City as a whole. The area addressed by the Development Agreement is unoccupied by residents at this time and there are no businesses currently in operation. The Development Agreement will provide certainty with respect to responsibilities for and financing of certain public improvements associated with the Vista Lucia Project and will therefore benefit not only the project site, but the entire vicinity by assisting in the timely completion of these improvements.
4. Will not adversely affect the orderly development of property or significantly impact the preservation of property values. The Development Agreement is intended to enhance the orderly development of the Vista Lucia Project site and off-site road improvements and is fully consistent with the conditions and requirements of Vesting Tentative Map 2023-01.
5. Is consistent with the provisions of Government Code Section 65864 through 65869.5. The Development Agreement has been prepared to address the required elements of content and the findings established by the Government Code, has been processed in the manner required by the Government Code and has been subject to properly noticed hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council. Moreover, City Council Resolution No. 2003- 42 was adopted to establish procedures in compliance with Government Code Sections 65864 through 65869.5 and this Development Agreement has been processed in substantial compliance with Resolution 2003-42.
SECTION 4. The Development Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A and by this reference incorporated herein, is hereby approved, and the Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to execute the same on behalf of the City of Gonzales. The City Clerk is directed to record an executed copy of the Development Agreement with the County Clerk.
SECTION 5. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect commencing thirty (30) days after the date of its final passage and a summary hereof shall be published once within fifteen (15) days of passage in the Salinas Valley Tribune, a newspaper of general circulation printed and published in the County of Monterey and circulated in the City of Gonzales.
This Ordinance was introduced and first read by the City Council of the City of Gonzales at a regular meeting on the 2nd of September 2025, and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the ___ day of ________, 2025, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
______________________________
Jose L. Rios, The Honorable Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________________
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk
Exhibit A: Development Agreement
See the following link: https://gonzalesca.gov/node/673