[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6651562,"mediaKeyId","2499282-24ca3b4e8ffe87d78d483282bb444f04","parentId",2499282,"title","Visit Modesto reports surge in visitors; hotel occupancy up about 11% year‑over‑year","audioSeconds",245,"startMs",510000,"endMs",755000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2499282-24ca3b4e8ffe87d78d483282bb444f04&start=510&end=755","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2499282-24ca3b4e8ffe87d78d483282bb444f04/thumbnail_510000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6651562/Modesto-City/Stanislaus-County/California/Visit-Modesto-reports-surge-in-visitors-hotel-occupancy-up-about-11-yearoveryear","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6651562-b7913542a78e871cf3c25a319f5c4567/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147969&Signature=bD~SI~USlF5RFELuS-Iyno-NyMlvXWiMyPhOuqo7CfZb~-v2-sf8GXR4188lU2hhrnQNG77xQKBXpdv3eH4TZVKHJHkNz2PIRHWuf-OIahMJMI2IJWWeaV6Ta~0BKSmS7vqYh~U2~jc~uv0WuZ26-vzu2JiKAOV6~wUZUh0rDIcj9NtslrwxRQOuDkNmKh68czopPKTVaUS8Yf45IEEnfw4J8gK5aCKOyx4WHa7M0rw~deBI~srxRuHH0BkGa4tv~hMzCg3Ti7gwUF15-ypq74MemCz3ysbGmweRYmIAiWlIpyf6cF8KTk~ZOXJVV-M2BD55ujqU~-YSSiOjPt7yuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Modesto","date","2025-03-05T03:07:26.777Z","article","Todd Aronson, chief executive officer of Visit Modesto, gave the council a tourism update, saying the city’s marketing and events have produced strong recent results.

Aronson reminded the council that the Visit Modesto business plan was presented in 2018 and accepted by council in May 2019. He said the organization has focused on improving shoulder‑season occupancy (February, March, August and December) and on visibility in the youth sports market. Aronson highlighted the Almond Blossom Cruise, launched in February 2020 and continued annually, as a driver of interest.

Aronson reported that hotel results were “up over 11% to last year” based on national reporting, and that the city has recently hosted tens of thousands of visitors from countries including South Korea, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, France, Canada and India, as well as visitors from across California. He said partners reported sold‑out tour buses and strong retail and restaurant traffic during recent weekends. Aronson noted Visit Modesto’s digital reach, citing about 100,000 users across social channels and roughly 100,000 page views on the Visit Modesto website in the last month.

Council members thanked Aronson and encouraged quarterly updates to the council. Several members praised the visibility generated by national outlets that have featured Modesto, including Forbes, Better Homes & Gardens, Travel + Leisure, National Geographic Traveler and The New York Times.

Aronson closed by thanking Visit Modesto staff and local partners for their work promoting the city’s attractions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","3/4/2025 - City of Modesto Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Todd Aronson, CEO of Visit Modesto, told the City Council the Almond Blossom Cruise and other promotions have driven tens of thousands of visitors recently, with hotel results up approximately 11% compared with last year and high engagement on social channels.","taxTitle","Modesto City, Stanislaus County, California","taxId",3811,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6651566,"Modesto council unanimously approves permit for All Star Ambulance nonemergency transport",290,2541000,2831000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2499282-24ca3b4e8ffe87d78d483282bb444f04&start=2541&end=2831","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2499282-24ca3b4e8ffe87d78d483282bb444f04/thumbnail_2541000.jpg","/articles/6651566/Modesto-City/Stanislaus-County/California/Modesto-council-unanimously-approves-permit-for-All-Star-Ambulance-nonemergency-transport","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6651566-962432ca06f581c97c50204e89f94dd2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147969&Signature=aDPwcphe-dM1ArSXIPWnSh6C1CdzYK8uze3FvNsHVCM0s3l52fyA29VoEhHUTSNu5pOKTZmH1gBpLo6mm4WMfubZIVkyRqBY3vvo25ecL-EYgKAwETuH3pd6Rj4CQR8ovqv96OauHkn3b3nf2fbLMZVPac279w5ndQzMQ42Ks47vo4P~p4Zn7bXN3pTiRyh6KFmTgyY0kWGnr9AA-~sju4F0UcySv9OHndJPhP3iVzthLscTZb9x9CbE3Mk6m78pIQOtDeKBrhlKkHNukMD3zyuc7kvKd6w0hfaB6WA8qMJ3-tychDoLSwa4R40Oje0fGsXQTFkdDO9YgIVJ7l5xng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Modesto City Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing All Star Ambulance to operate as a permitted nonemergency medical transport provider that originates within Modesto.

Lieutenant Kalani of the Modesto Police Department presented the application and review. Kalani said All Star submitted the required documentation and a $1,000 filing fee and that the police department completed the background review of the business and drivers, concluding there were no issues preventing issuance under the municipal code sections 3‑9.01 through 3‑9.20.

Kalani told the council that the city currently has 14 permitted nonemergency transport companies and that approval of the All Star application would make 15; she added that prior to the COVID‑19 pandemic the city had more than 20 permitted providers. Council members asked whether the reduced number of firms had produced any negative service impacts; Kalani replied the department had not observed a measurable negative impact to date and described the typical coordination process for transports arranged by families or insurers.

Council Member Wright moved to approve the resolution; Council Member Williams seconded. The roll call vote was unanimous.

City staff noted the permit covers transports that originate in Modesto and that out‑of‑jurisdiction providers can be used when coordinated by insurers or families and when they meet municipal code requirements. The applicant’s owner was not present at the hearing, the police presenter said.

The council’s action directs city staff to issue the permit and add All Star Ambulance to the city’s permit roster for nonemergency medical transport.","The council voted to approve a nonemergency medical transport permit for All Star Ambulance after the police department reported the applicant met municipal code requirements; the company paid a $1,000 filing fee and would become the 15th permitted operator in the city.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6651570,"Modesto council approves rezoning for 89‑lot Lennar single‑family development at Pelendale and American",891,1654000,2545000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2499282-24ca3b4e8ffe87d78d483282bb444f04&start=1654&end=2545","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2499282-24ca3b4e8ffe87d78d483282bb444f04/thumbnail_1654000.jpg","/articles/6651570/Modesto-City/Stanislaus-County/California/Modesto-council-approves-rezoning-for-89lot-Lennar-singlefamily-development-at-Pelendale-and-American","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6651570-3f24b47ec2fa94cd38b2a4c87d9f977f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147969&Signature=Kjn4e8lqkSo1jRPc1Y-Y7jHIjJPSaVXf9U6Cs~5pqYgNX9dwd6cELPydsf9dzE-Ljtme722VkOrW59slWDODQyfPP8eIsjVZINXu8~lNTW~JPeLv7XHMdIp7F2f1KV9lgrKB8pK8nF8UlNA2mAAFqOutYSQJ7LH4WmlJ7qPcwphWQUQGPKctbIYiFnaRa7QDtAYsezSPqDHgfSB9tRGbOJb1CUIap3hPl7hu~DUMlCUuulBodBc6lDo2c1AWH7b1y3k9R66ROx5KSaNJtqvVuDqUvKSkbFbSc-4qK1xjcw1nvJUINFVP7stlhVc8KZ3cr~jugHs9hkxlzEjfSqdx4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Modesto City Council unanimously approved a rezone of about 22.6 acres at the northwest corner of Pelendale Avenue and American Avenue to Planned Development Zone P‑D 617 for an 89‑lot single‑family subdivision developed by Lennar Homes.

Jessica Hill, the city’s director of community and economic development, told the council the proposal would convert an area that was previously part of the Kiernan Business Park specific plan to a planned development to allow smaller lot setbacks and a small‑lot product consistent with recent Modesto projects. Hill said the overall Bridges tentative subdivision map includes 35 acres divided into single‑family lots and a separate 12‑acre multi‑family site; the 89 lots before the council are the single‑family component.

Hill said staff prepared an initial study and a mitigated negative declaration for the project and that the Planning Commission recommended approval on Feb. 3, 2025, by a 7‑0 vote. Lennar representative Steve Garrett said the homes are planned to be market‑sized for the area, with home footprints the company expects to range roughly from 1,600 to 2,400 square feet and an average around 2,000 square feet, and that the design emphasizes porches and living space at the front of homes rather than a “sea of garage doors.” Garrett described typical lot and parking plans, saying the community would generally include two‑car garages and driveways about 18 feet long.

The development as presented will be gated, with private internal streets, common‑area lots and a park/storm‑drain basin lot. Hill said the proposal also includes smaller front and side setbacks and an 8‑foot minimum separation between adjacent homes in many areas; edge lots facing Pelendale and American would have about 10 feet of total separation (5 feet each side). She also noted an already‑approved apartment project occupying roughly 12 acres immediately north of the single‑family site, with building permits in place and anticipated construction later this year.

A resident, Kevin McLarty (District 1), asked whether improvements would affect a farmhouse on Bangs Avenue; staff replied that improvements along Bangs Avenue will be part of a community facilities district (CFD) coming to council next week and that planned road work includes roundabouts at American/Bangs and at Bangs/future Bruno Parkway.

Council members speaking in support praised the product and its potential to add housing supply. Council Member Escudia Brayton moved to approve the resolution adopting the development plan for P‑D 617; Council Member Wright seconded. The motion passed on a roll call vote with all members voting aye.

Council then adopted the mitigated negative declaration for the rezone (motion by Vice Mayor Bavaro, second by Council Member Wright) and introduced and waived the first reading of the ordinance amending the zoning map to P‑D 617 (motion by Council Member Williams, second by Council Member Scudia Brayton). All votes were unanimous.

Because the council approved a planned development zoning designation and a mitigated negative declaration, the project will proceed to the drafting of final maps, improvement plans and subsequent permit approvals. City staff and the applicant indicated additional public‑facing improvements along Bangs Avenue and other frontage work will be addressed through the upcoming CFD and related improvement plans.

Planning background: staff emphasized parallels between this small‑lot approach and recent Modesto projects such as Tivoli and The Crossings, and said Lennar has used similar setbacks and separation standards in other Northern California communities.

The council’s action covered three formal items: approval of the development plan for Planned Development Zone P‑D 617, adoption of the mitigated negative declaration for the rezone, and introduction/waiver of first reading of the zoning ordinance to effect the rezone.","The City Council unanimously approved rezoning 22.6 acres at the northwest corner of Pelendale Avenue and American Avenue to Planned Development (P‑D 617) for an 89‑lot gated single‑family subdivision by Lennar Homes, adopted a mitigated negative declaration and waived first reading of the zoning ordinance.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Visit Modesto reports surge in visitors; hotel occupancy up about 11% year‑over‑year

Modesto council unanimously approves permit for All Star Ambulance nonemergency transport

Modesto council approves rezoning for 89‑lot Lennar single‑family development at Pelendale and American