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Community Development reports year-end project activity; commissioners press on PG&E delays and bylaws
Summary
City Community Development staff reported steady progress across major projects—including an 80-room Marriott TownePlace hotel in permit review, a self-storage facility, and the Poppy truck stop—and told commissioners an updated major-projects report will be presented at the next meeting.
City Community Development staff presented a year-end update on major projects, noting activity across industrial, commercial and residential sites and answering commissioner questions about specific delays and process issues.
Paul Mullen, Community Development, said most projects in the department’s last major-projects report have advanced and staff is preparing an updated report to present at the next commission meeting. He outlined several active projects: the Poppy truck stop project on El Camino Real (with building permits in final review), a self-storage facility with roughly 65 parking spaces for large vehicles, the Avalon Farmworker Housing project in the Walnut Avenue specific plan (completing its building), and permit review activity for an 80-room Marriott TownePlace hotel that is on a third pass of building-permit review. Mullen said La Quinta is also considering a site near the Marriott but has not submitted materials.
Mullen described work to improve an RV site’s signage and noted outreach to the property owner. He summarized efforts on the South End annexation, saying the city is working with a housing developer that is evaluating feasibility for residential and commercial uses on annexed acreage.
Commissioners pressed staff for updates on a small commercial center on Walnut (restaurants and a still-closed chicken establishment); staff said Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) had not committed to a service schedule and the building official has been actively pursuing internal contacts to get information for the property owner. Commissioners called the situation “very frustrating” because property owners have invested substantially and must rely on a temporary generator.
A commissioner asked about the Tom Rogers Museum; staff said there was not a strong update but that early-phase foundation issues had been resolved. Commissioners also asked how quickly construction typically begins after permits are issued; staff said it varies but developers generally aim to start soon after permits are issued and that the department has verbal commitments to begin construction upon permit issuance for at least one hotel project.
In other business commissioners raised questions about appointment procedures and bylaws. Staff said that the city council will agendize the appointment process at its next meeting and will decide whether to amend the municipal code or bylaws; commissioners were advised that bylaw amendments would also require council approval. Commissioners also discussed the eligibility of residents from unincorporated territory within one mile of city limits and asked staff to place potential bylaw amendments on a future agenda.
Mullen said staff will update the major-projects report and present it at the next meeting, and that a housing-law handbook and webinars on ADUs will be circulated to commissioners.
