Chico Builders Association highlights housing concerns during planning commission hearing

The City of Chico's Planning Commission meeting on July 17, 2025, opened with a public hearing addressing critical housing and infrastructure issues affecting the community. The session featured input from local stakeholders, including Katie Toma, Executive Director of the Chico Builders Association, who highlighted significant challenges in the housing market.

Toma emphasized the urgent need for housing in Chico, citing rising material costs, limited land availability, and increasing fees that hinder home purchases. She expressed concerns over proposed changes to the Chico Municipal Code (CMC) that could exacerbate these issues. Notably, she pointed out that lowering the traffic study threshold from 100 to 50 would require more extensive traffic studies, potentially costing developers between $10,000 and $30,000 each. This change could significantly inflate project expenses and further complicate the housing crisis.

Additionally, Toma raised issues regarding material submittal approvals, suggesting that an annual approval for unchanged materials would streamline the process and reduce delays. She also criticized the proposed pavement standards and street lighting requirements, arguing that they are unnecessarily stringent and would drive up costs for local developers. Toma urged the commission to amend resolution 25-10 to incorporate these concerns, asserting that such adjustments would help control housing costs and support the city's goal of increasing housing availability.

Following Toma, Julian Zenar expressed his admiration for the engineering department's detailed work but raised concerns about specific local infrastructure issues, particularly regarding South Park Drive and the so-called maze gates.

The discussions at this meeting underscore the ongoing challenges Chico faces in balancing development needs with regulatory requirements. As the city continues to navigate these complexities, the outcomes of these discussions will be crucial in shaping the future of housing and infrastructure in the community. The Planning Commission's response to these concerns will be closely watched by residents and stakeholders alike as they seek solutions to improve housing accessibility in Chico.