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Planning Commission backs Magalia general plan amendment and rezoning, citing park funding and community goals
Summary
Butte County staff asked the Planning Commission to recommend a general plan amendment and rezoning affecting parcels in Magalia; the Commission voted to recommend adoption of an EIR addendum, the requested general plan changes and rezones to the Board of Supervisors, after hearing district and community testimony about a $5.2M park grant and parcel redesignation.
Butte County planning staff presented a county-initiated general plan amendment and rezoning March 27 affecting multiple parcels in the Magalia area and asked the Planning Commission to recommend approval to the Board of Supervisors. After public comment from the Upper Ridge Community Council and Paradise Recreation and Park District representatives, the Commission adopted a resolution recommending the Board approve the EIR addendum, general plan amendment (GPA 23-0001) and rezoning (REZ 23-0002).
Senior planner Roland Hickel described the project as rezoning roughly 35 acres from general commercial to Mixed Use 2 and redesignating 4.39 acres from retail/office to mixed use, plus a 1.26-acre parcel (owned by the Paradise Recreation and Park District) proposed to be redesignated from general commercial to public. "Staff is recommending that the planning commission adopt the resolution making findings and recommending the board of advisers approve the addendum and the general plan amendment and rezone," Hickel said.
John Stenberg of the Upper Ridge Community Council said much of the rezoning aligns with the community plan and supports housing, but he opposed the district's request to redesignate the former 'Subway parcel' to public without separate consideration, warning that the redesignation could reduce the parcel's value and complicate district finances. "We are decreasing the value of this parcel by having it redesignated as public," Stenberg said, and urged the Commission to send the non-district parcels forward while considering the public redesignation separately.
Representatives of the Paradise Recreation and Park District said the redesignation would simplify creating an integrated park and would protect a $5,200,000 state grant the district won to build the facility. "We've been very fortunate to get a $5,200,000 grant from the state of California to develop this," said the district manager. Assistant district manager Christy Soine described extensive community outreach and said, "This park is getting built no matter what," noting the grant expires in 2028.
A commissioner moved to adopt the resolution making findings and recommend the Board of Supervisors approve the addendum and the general plan amendment and rezoning; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. Staff noted that the Planning Commission's action is a recommendation and that appeals or final determinations occur at the Board of Supervisors stage.
