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The San Juan Bautista Planning Commission has accepted the annual progress reports on how the city has implemented its General Plan and Housing Elements during the last calendar year. The San Juan Bautista City Council will vote on whether to accept them at its March 18 meeting.
According to Ilse Lopez-Narvaez, the city’s associate planner, all cities and counties in California must submit a general plan progress report to the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and the California Department of Housing and Community Development by April 1.
The city adopted its 2035 General Plan in November 2015. It includes seven mandated elements: land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, noise and safety. Lopez-Narvaez said the city is not required to address air quality or environmental justice, but the plan does include other elements such as economic development, historic preservation and community design.
Lopez-Narvaez identified several planning activities in 2024, which are mentioned in the report and include the following:
- Resolutions adopted by the city to identify and secure grants for the city’s water and sewer projects
- Public workshops seeking information on the strategic plan
- Passing a resolution to allocate accessory dwelling unit (ADU) permitting funds to homeless supportive services
- Resolutions on levying and collecting assessments within the community facilities district
- Resolutions on the sphere of influence and urban growth boundary
- Updating regulations for solid waste collection
- Amendments to the General Plan on growth through infill development
Lopez-Narvaez said the measures to change the sphere of influence and planning area and to establish an urban growth boundary are expected to lead to major General Plan updates by the end of 2025.
The commission voted 3-1 to accept the annual progress report. Commissioners Dan DeVries, Elise Brentnall and Eddie Sanchez voted for the measure. Iraida Pisano abstained and Chris Martorana was absent.
Lopez-Narvaez said the city currently complies with the state’s housing mandates. She said that five housing permits were received in 2024: four ADU permits and one for the construction of two duplexes. Only one of the ADUs which was issued a building permit remains uncompleted. One building permit was received and approved in 2019 for an affordable housing project at Casa Rosa.
The commission voted 4-1 to accept the Housing Element, with Martorana absent. The reports will face final approval at the City Council meeting on March 18.
The March 10 Planning Commission Special Meeting is available on YouTube. The agenda packet is available on the city’s website.
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