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Planning Commission finds Solvang capital improvement program consistent with general plan, debates parking and long-term projects
Summary
The Planning Commission voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution 25-04, finding the City of Solvang—s Fiscal Year 2025–26 Capital Improvement Program consistent with the general plan. Commissioners and staff discussed parking, in‑lieu parking fees, an EV charging/parking lot, the Fjord extension timeline and planned impact fee and parking studies.
The Solvang Planning Commission on June 2 adopted Planning Commission Resolution 25-04 by a 5-0 vote, finding that the City of Solvang—s Fiscal Year 2025–26 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is consistent with the city—s general plan.
Public Works Director Bridget Paris presented the CIP overview and told commissioners the program covers wastewater, water, stormwater, facility and parks projects, alternative-transportation projects and street and road improvements. Paris said the Planning Commission—s role that evening was to determine whether projects listed in the CIP conform to the policies of the 2024 general plan; final project selection and funding are policy decisions for the City Council.
Commissioners spent much of the discussion on parking and on longer-range transportation projects. One commissioner asked whether a new project can be added at this stage; Paris and staff said it is generally too late to add projects for the current CIP cycle but that comments could inform future CIP updates. Commissioners and staff discussed a planned protected left-turn pocket on northbound Fifth Street to westbound Mission Street, and Paris said staff would continue coordinating with Caltrans because State Route 246 approvals are required for changes on that corridor.
Staff and commissioners discussed parking shortage concerns in downtown Solvang during high tourism periods. Administrative Services Director Wendy Berry said the city has an existing 2022 Walker parking study and a parking in‑lieu fee; staff described recent code changes that make in‑lieu fees and shared parking agreements more consistently applied. Berry said the in‑lieu fee is currently lower than the cost to construct parking and that staff plans an impact-fee study by the end of the year to inform fee updates and a longer-term CIP.
Commissioners also discussed the Fjord extension, which staff said remains a long-term item requiring land acquisition and is not expected to be delivered until the 2030s if at all. Paris said the capital improvement plan will be updated to better align with the new general plan and to inform impact-fee calculations over a 10-year horizon.
Other items discussed in the staff report and during commissioner comments included an EV charging and parking project for Lots 4 and 5, a proposed revision to the city—s fee schedule (moving from valuation-based to square-footage-based building fees effective July 1), planned sign-ordinance and design-handbook updates, and upcoming City Council consideration of short-term rental policy questions.
After deliberation a commissioner moved and another seconded approval of Resolution 25-04; the motion passed 5-0. Staff said the CIP will proceed to the City Council for final approval of project priorities and funding allocations.
The discussion produced direction and follow-up items for staff, including: adding parking- and impact-fee studies to next-year CIP work; continuing coordination with Caltrans on Fifth Street/Mission improvements; advancing the Lot 4/5 EV charging and parking project; and completing an impact-fee study by year-end. Staff indicated the new fee schedule will take effect July 1 and that years in the CIP are presented in current-year dollars.
