Staff previews active development map, announces three-day downtown charrette; commission agrees to naming‑committee appointments

Planning staff briefed commissioners on active and upcoming projects visible on the city's interactive development activity map and announced a three-day downtown charrette to gather public input on downtown design.

Mel Pavlina (Community Development) demonstrated the city's online development activity map and pointed commissioners to a cluster of tentative map and design-review projects in the Village 1 area. She identified several projects by name as shown in staff slides: a project labeled "Stardust 12," a larger project staff referred to verbally as "Level Ranch" (presented in the slide as "10 89 residential lots"), and Parkwood (presented as "1 22 residential lots"). Pavlina also said staff anticipates a small Heartland of Hidden Hills subdivision (described as 14 lots) will be agendized for the commission in the coming month. Staff said it will provide full project documentation (EIR references, staff reports and attachments) ahead of the hearings and will email commissioners direct links to the interactive map.

Why it matters: Staff said these projects represent an active development pipeline in and near Village 1 and that advance notice and access to project documentation will help commissioners prepare for upcoming design reviews and public hearings.

Downtown charrette

Staff announced a three-day downtown charrette at McBean Pavilion, led by consultants from Opticos. The schedule provided in the presentation was: Tuesday starting at 1 p.m. and closing at 5 p.m.; Wednesday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Thursday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a closing presentation at 6 p.m. Staff said the event will include poster displays, options for building typologies, and opportunities for public feedback; the consultants will distill data received during the charrette and present findings at the end of the workshop.

Commission distribution and new commissioner

Chairman Gilbert introduced Tim Jackson as the incoming planning commissioner; staff said the City Council will vote on his candidacy at its next meeting and that Jackson is expected to join the commission in April (as announced at the meeting). Commissioners asked that staff include the incoming commissioner on distribution lists for the interactive map and project materials.

Theme-and-naming committee appointments

In general business, staff recommended reconfirming Commissioner Jerry Johnson to the city's theme-and-naming ad hoc committee and asked the commission to appoint two additional commissioners to the ad hoc group. Commissioners indicated by consensus that Jerry Johnson will continue and that two other commissioners would serve as the additional members; staff said the ad hoc group meets on an as-needed basis and that the city council receives the committee's recommendations for formal adoption.

Practical notes and next steps

- Staff will email commissioners a direct link to the interactive development activity map and the supporting documentation for projects expected on future agendas. - The charrette is intended to be accessible to residents (including after-work hours) and to collect community preferences that will inform downtown design work. - Staff reminded commissioners that Village 5 and other large projects may result in a busy upcoming workload and urged early preparation for project reviews.

Speakers and staff quoted are those recorded in the informational presentation and general-business discussion.