Gonzales council certifies Vista Lucia EIR, approves first-phase map and initiates 771-acre LAFCO annexation

GONZALES, Calif. — The Gonzales City Council on Sept. 2 certified the Vista Lucia final environmental impact report, adopted required CEQA findings and a mitigation monitoring and reporting program, approved a general-plan amendment and the Vista Lucia specific plan, and approved a tentative map for blocks 1–8 that would create 1,247 units on about 236.5 acres in the project’s first phase. The council also introduced, by title only, two ordinances to pre-zone the project area and to approve a development agreement, and voted to initiate a 771‑acre annexation application to the Monterey County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO).

The project is a master-planned community on land east of Fano Road that the city has identified for growth since at least 2010. The applicant and city staff said the full specific plan envisions about 3,498 homes overall, a mix of single-family and multifamily housing, 79 acres of parks, three school sites and a phased infrastructure program intended to extend Fano Road and provide a direct connection to U.S. 101. Staff and the developer told the council the first phase would be built on roughly 236.5 acres and could take decades to complete depending on market demand.

Staff and the project team emphasized housing diversity and requirements in the specific plan. The developer is proposing two donated sites for deed‑restricted multifamily…