CITY OF PACIFICA
PLANNING COMMISSION
2023 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
The Planning Commission is submitting the following summary of work for calendar year 2023.
I. Planning Commission Membership in 2023
Commission Members Term Expires
Samantha Hauser, Chair 2028
David Leal, Vice Chair1 2024
Lauren Berman 2027
Daniella Devine 2027
Alex Ferguson 2026
James Godwin 2026
Greg Wright 2025
II. Planning Commission Activity Report
The Planning Commission held 17 regular meetings, 1 special meeting, and 3 joint study sessions with City Council in 2023.
The Planning Commission heard 9 development-related applications including a the 70-unit Oddstad Boulevard workforce housing project at the former Oddstad Elementary School and the North Coast County Water District (NCCWD) headquarters renovation project. For comparison, the Planning Commission heard 11 development-related applications in 2022, 12 in 2021, 15 in 2020, and 25 in 2019.
The Planning Commission also considered recommendations to City Council related to the Housing Element and associated objective development standards, and zoning text amendments related to short-term rentals (STRs), emergency shelters, and cannabis operations. While development project review activity in 2023 was lower than in recent years, the Planning Commission’s intensive focus on the Housing Element required considerable preparation and work by the Commission.
The Planning Department received 20 new discretionary permit applications in 2023. For comparison, the Planning Division received 16 new discretionary permit applications in 2022, 25 in 2021, 16 in 2020, and 27 in 2019. These figures include all types of entitlement applications including new developments, conditional uses in existing structures, or modifications to existing structures. Of note, these applications also included five preliminary applications submitted under Senate Bill 330 (SB 330).
1 Commissioner Leal ended his service on the Planning Commission in 2024. The City Council appointed Commissioner Chris Redfield to replace him in March 2024.
III. Summary of Significant Items Heard by the Commission Housing Element of the General Plan
Recommended amendments to the Zoning Regulations related to a cap on the number of STRs, establishing regulations to authorize emergency shelters, and revising storefront window requirements for cannabis operations.
Approved the Pacifica School District’s workforce housing project at the former Oddstad Elementary School at 930 Oddstad Boulevard, and recommended City Council approval of a rezoning and development agreement.
IV. Planning Commission Five-Year Hearing Summary2:
Year
New or
Continued Public
Hearings Held
Speakers on
Topics Not on
Agenda
New Residential
Dwelling Units
Approved
New Commercial
Floor Area
Approved (Sq. Ft.)
2020 22 9 24 4,684
2021 19 32 1 0
2022 17 16 21 3,165
2023 13 15 71 0
V. Building Permit Activity (Five-Year Summary):
Year Permits Issued Inspections
Residential
Valuation
Non-Residential
Valuation
2019 1,587 5,147 $19,793,920 $5,965,473
2020 1,416 3,419 $16,882,230 $1,308,107
2021 1,591 3,908 $40,720,764 $1,807,197
2022 1,521 4,250 $34,548,886 $11,788,746*
2023 1,742 3,319 $39,934,869 $2,101,931
* Includes Civic Center renovation valued at approximately $8,000,000 2 The Planning Commission added this component to the annual report for Calendar Year 2020. The report will be expanded annually until five years of data are presented on a rolling basis.
VI. Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Building Permit Activity (Five-Year Summary3 ):
Year Permits Issued
2021 40
2022 28
2023 17
VII. City Council Strategic Plan Strategies Involving Planning Commission Goal 1: Enhance organizational and fiscal stability.
o Strategy C: Prioritize implementation of the Economic Opportunities Study. Goal 3: Prioritize protection and development of affordable housing. o Strategy A: Complete the Housing Element Update.
o Strategy B: Update the Short-Term Rental Ordinance.
o Strategy C: Prioritize Housing Element program implementation. Goal 4: Pursue climate change adaptation and mitigation. o Strategy C: Update Pacifica’s Local Coastal Plan and improve communications and collaboration with the California Coastal Commission.
3 The Planning Commission added this component to the annual report for Calendar Year 2021. The report will be expanded annually until five years of data are presented on a rolling basis.