Brenda Magana, planning manager for the City of Palmdale, and Brian George, the city’s building official, gave the City Council an overview Thursday of accomplishments from 2024 and projects expected in 2025.

Magana said the planning division has 10 staff and that about 70% of the group is Spanish-speaking, a capability she called important given the city’s population. She listed high-volume customer service statistics: more than 5,000 calls, 3,000 counter visits and more than 6,000 email inquiries in 2024; the division processed more than 1,000 new business licenses and over 6,000 renewals. Magana also noted the division published three environmental impact reports in 2024 tied to large industrial developments and cited two active industrial projects by name: Antelope Valley Commerce Center and Trans Western, and a large master‑planned community in the unincorporated Los Angeles County area near Anna Verde and Render Ranch.

"City planning shapes where we live, work and play," Magana said, describing the department’s role in processing applications, coordinating environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act and working with internal and external agencies including LA County Fire and local water providers.

George said Building & Safety has 16 staff and handled more than 6,000 permit applications and more than 15,000 inspections in 2024. He said the plan‑review team provided over 3,000 plan reviews and that the division continues to adapt to new state requirements, citing work to comply with AB 1332 requiring jurisdictions to post ADU plans online.

The building official listed completed and ongoing projects: The Legacy at Palmdale, a 99,000-square-foot industrial project; a partially occupied Trader Joe’s building; a Bob’s Discount Furniture tenant improvement; and multiple hotel and multifamily projects scheduled or under construction in 2025, including a 122-room WoodSpring Suites and a 120-room TownePlace Suites by Marriott. George said D.R. Horton’s Reserve at Quartz Hill will include 86 single‑family residences.

Council members praised staff productivity and asked about jobs tied to large projects. Councilmember Andrea said the permit, review and inspection totals represented a large volume of work for a small staff and asked about job counts; George said he could not provide definitive job numbers and that post‑construction jobs and construction‑period jobs differ.

The presentation included mention that the planning division received a Lighthouse Award from the California Municipal Revenue and Tax Association for adoption of ordinance 16‑12 streamlining business license and permit processes.

The presentation concluded with staff availability for follow‑up questions and council praise for the emphasis on local labor and customer service.

Ending: The council did not take action on the presentation; staff said they will continue to monitor the listed projects and provide updates as phases move forward.