September 16, 2025
TO: City Council
REQUESTED BY: Travis Randel, Deputy City Manager, Development Services APPROVED BY: Robert A. Johnson, City Manager
SUBJECT: Reappointment of Planning Commissioners Corinne Awad, Michelle Peterson, and Taurus Jones
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council reappoint Commissioners Corinne Awad, Michelle Peterson, and Taurus Jones to the San Jacinto Planning Commission for a four-year term commencing November 1, 2025, through October 31, 2029.
DISCUSSION:
The San Jacinto Planning Commission (“Commission”) plays a vital role in shaping the community’s future by guiding and regulating development, land use, and zoning within the City. Depending on the matter before it, the Commission serves in both an advisory and approval authority capacity.
The Commission consists of five San Jacinto residents appointed by the City Council to alternating four-year terms. Its authority is vested in California Government Code and the City of San Jacinto Municipal Code (Chapters 2 and 17).
Government Code §65100 requires that each city and county establish a Local Planning Agency.
In San Jacinto, the Planning Commission is designated as the Planning Agency and as the Advisory Agency, when required or authorized.
The San Jacinto Planning Commission was established by Ordinance 251 on November 27, 1945, and has been amended multiple times over the years to reflect changes in state law and local planning needs. Chapter 17.700 of the Development Code outlines the Commission’s duties, including:
1. Reviewing development projects, including referrals from the Director.
2. Hearing appeals from the Director’s decisions.
3. Recommending to the City Council final action on development agreements, Development Code amendments, General Plan amendments, specific plans and amendments, Zoning Map amendments, and related environmental documents.
4. Carrying out the above responsibilities in compliance with Table 6-1 (Review Authority), Article 6 (Permit Procedures), and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Beyond its statutory responsibilities, the Commission serves as a bridge between the City and the community. Public hearings conducted by the Commission provide a forum for residents, business owners, and stakeholders to express concerns and ideas, fostering transparency and ensuring that community input informs decision-making.
The terms for Commissioners Michelle Peterson, Taurus Jones, and Corinne Awad expire on October 31, 2025. Each has expressed interest in continuing service, and staff recommends their reappointment for an additional four-year term. Commissioners John Gagnepain and Patricia Scott are the remaining commissioners and their terms expire on October 31, 2027.
COMMISSION PROJECTS AND POLICY ACTIONS:
Over the past four years, the Planning Commission has deliberated on a wide variety of projects and policy initiatives that have shaped the City’s growth and future direction. Key areas of work include:
General Plan & Development Code Updates
The Commission advanced Envision San Jacinto – General Plan 2040, the City’s comprehensive update to long-range land use, housing, circulation, and community development goals. The Commission also reviewed and recommended adoption of numerous Development Code amendments to ensure consistency with State housing mandates, emerging land use trends, and best practices. Updates addressed topics such as accessory dwelling units, parking standards, residential and commercial zoning, fences and walls, subdivision requirements, and design review procedures. In addition, the Commission reviewed the 6th Cycle Housing Element (2021–2029), a critical State-mandated plan demonstrating how San Jacinto will accommodate its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).
Residential Development
The Commission considered several major subdivision maps representing hundreds of new single-family homes. Notable projects included Tentative Tract Map 38107 (Sunterra – 215 lots), Tentative Tract Map 37881 (Rancho De Alamo – 191 lots), Tentative Tract Map 38468 (Lyon Street – 153 lots), Tentative Tract Map 38872 (Passco Pacifica – 249 lots), Tentative Tract Map 38509 (Monte Vista Homes – 27 lots), Tentative Tract Map 38066 (206 lots), Tentative Tract Map 38202 (Rockland Land Co. – 181 lots), and Tentative Tract Map 38203 (Jab Mill Creek – 424 lots). These projects expanded the City’s housing supply, integrated new parks and open spaces, and ensured the inclusion of infrastructure such as drainage basins and roadway improvements.
Commercial Development
The Commission reviewed and approved several major commercial projects that have expanded San Jacinto’s retail and service offerings. Key approvals included the fueling station at the Walmart center, a 16-pump service station with kiosk that enhanced convenience at the City’s largest retail anchor, and the 55,026-square-foot Vallarta Supermarket with an additional 12,000- square-foot retail building, a transformative project that brings a full-service grocery store and new shopping opportunities to the community. The Commission also acted on smaller-scale commercial proposals such as the SJ Retail Center which includes a Service Station with a Convenience Store and Carwash, ensuring balanced growth across the City’s commercial corridors. Collectively, these projects have attracted new investment, created jobs, and broadened the range of shopping and service options available to residents.
Institutional & Community Projects
The Commission considered several Conditional Use Permits for facilities that broaden community services and amenities. These included approvals for Renaissance Valley Academy and San Jacinto Valley Academy, providing expanded educational opportunities; and assembly and worship facilities, which contribute to community cohesion. The Commission carefully evaluated land use compatibility, traffic circulation, and neighborhood integration to ensure these projects supported broader community needs.
CONCLUSION:
The Planning Commission’s extensive work over the past four years underscores its central role in shaping San Jacinto’s future. Commissioners Peterson, Jones, and Awad have each demonstrated a strong commitment to public service, applying sound judgment and community perspective in evaluating complex projects and policy issues. Their deliberations have guided the City through some of its most consequential planning efforts, including the adoption of Envision San Jacinto – General Plan 2040, the 6th Cycle Housing Element, and numerous Development Code amendments to align local regulations with State law and modern planning practices.
In addition to policy-level direction, the Commission has overseen a wide range of residential subdivisions, commercial developments, and institutional projects that have reshaped the City’s landscape and created new opportunities for residents and businesses. Their work has consistently balanced the need for growth with the protection of neighborhood character, infrastructure capacity, and community quality of life.
Reappointing Commissioners Peterson, Jones, and Awad will preserve valuable institutional knowledge at a time when the City is continuing to implement its new General Plan, respond to State housing mandates, and manage significant private development interest. Their experience provides stability and continuity that will benefit both the City Council and the community as San Jacinto navigates the next phase of growth and long-term prosperity.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this request.