Fortuna Planning Commission recommends City Council adopt zoning changes to align Title 17 with housing element and Mill District plan

The Fortuna City Planning Commission unanimously recommended that the Fortuna City Council adopt text and map amendments to Title 17 of the Fortuna Municipal Code to align zoning with the Mill District specific plan and the city housing element.

Planning staff told the commission the changes would bring the city’s zoning into compliance with state law and local planning documents. “The text amendments… will allow supportive housing, transitional housing, and community care facilities for individuals, 6 or fewer individuals by right,” said Michelle, planning staff, explaining the changes are intended to reflect state requirements and the housing element programs.

Why it matters: staff said the amendments are intended both to implement the housing element and to avoid creating large numbers of legal nonconforming single‑family homes in neighborhoods adjacent to the Mill District. For one area staff identified, roughly 57 of 79 parcels currently developed with single‑family…