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Buellton planning director outlines busy year: general plan update, new transportation guidelines and multiple development projects
Summary
Staff said the general plan update with consultant Civic Solution is underway with a target of roughly one year to draft adoption hearings; transportation impact guidelines go to council Feb. 12. Several projects — Cottage Health, Shell remodel, Arco AMPM, Shannon Wine Company, self-storage and affordable housing — are moving through entitlement, plan check or permitting stages.
The Buellton City planning director told the Planning Commission that a revised general plan is under active development with consultant Civic Solution and staff anticipates a draft ready for public hearings in about one year.
Staff also said the city will present transportation impact analysis guidelines to the city council on Feb. 12. The guidelines are intended to define when a project requires a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) analysis versus a local transportation study; because the document is a council policy item, it will not return to the planning commission unless tied to a specific discretionary project.
Staff reviewed a range of projects at different stages:
- Cottage Health Medical Building (former movie-theater site): story poles are up; staff expects the project to come to the planning commission Feb. 19 for public hearing.
- Farmers market license agreement: a license-agreement component for the Buellton Farmers Market will go to city council; if approved, the operator expects weekly markets to begin in mid-March.
- Shell gas station: the applicant submitted a formal submittal for remodel and expansion; a preliminary review is expected at the Feb. 5 meeting.
- Arco AMPM: engineering plans have been submitted for the site at the north end of Avenue of Flags; staff said it is moving toward building-plan submittal and possible construction.
- Shannon Wine Company: the project at Industrial Way and Highway 246 is in plan check and appears to be progressing toward building permits.
- The Hub (17-acre site, south end of Industrial Way): staff said the site retains entitlements and that new conceptual proposals may be forthcoming.
- Self-storage proposals: one approved at 70 Industrial Way; another (old BV5 site) is processing resubmittals after an incomplete determination and currently has no public hearing scheduled.
- Umpti Suites: building permits were issued in November; permits are valid for one year, and staff expects construction activity this year.
- Affordable housing (Builtin Garden Apartments behind Albertsons): applications are open; staff did not specify the closing date for the application window.
Staff reiterated that many timelines are approximate and encouraged commissioners to raise questions on individual projects as they come forward for formal hearings. There were no public comments on these items during the meeting.
