City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: November 17, 2025
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Community Development Department Activity Report
HOUSING
The Vista Lucia Specific Plan. Staff recently sat with LAFCo staff and the Agricultural Land Trust of Monterey County staff to discuss agricultural mitigation for the Vista Lucia Specific Plan Project.
The Housing Element. Placeworks Inc. is underway preparing the implementation programs for the 6th Cycle Housing Element. Placeworks’ aid to the city is being paid through our REAP 2.0 Grant administered through AMBAG.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
New Beginnings: Amor de Café enjoyed their Grand
Opening Ribbon Cutting on October 24, 2025.
Freeway Electronic Sign. Ground breaking for this longanticipated construction will be in December.
Zoning Code Enhancements for the Industrial District. To leverage economic development and increased investment in our Industrial District, staff is presenting amendments to the Conditional and Permitted uses table for industrial area land uses in the City Code. Items under consideration include:
AGENDA
ITEM
8 • Recreational Vehicle, Equipment Storage and Ministorage uses to support decongestion of public streets and residential areas by providing legal, designated storage areas, potentially improving neighborhood visual and traffic conditions elsewhere in the City. • Retail uses that are business- and resident-serving, which are compatible with the mixed industrial-commercial character, and unlikely to generate adverse environmental effects. • Medical services, such as may be characterized by an “Urgent Care” facility that would complement industrial safety, without need for travel elsewhere. • Caretaker or live/work dwelling units attached or detached. Would allow assured on-site security with immediate response. Strengthens business models by deterring vandalism and theft.
The Planning Commission will consider these zone code changes, November 24, 2025, and the City Council will be asked to act on December 8, 2025.
BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY
From October 1, 2025, to October 31, 2025 (31 reporting days), the City issued 3 permits for removal and replacement of a generator, a garage conversion to an ADU, and a reroof. The estimated value of improvements was $85,800.00.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
The City continues to meet with property owners, inspect potential violations and start documentation to progress to remedies. In October there was a new report of an abandoned car on B Street.
CITY BUSINESS LICENSES
In October, City staff directly mailed and followed through with 70 incomplete business license applications to seek compliance. Response has been robust, and local businesses are becoming compliant.