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Arcata Planning Commission recommends council adopt gateway zoning changes despite fire-district concerns
Summary
The Arcata City Planning Commission voted unanimously on June 25 to recommend City Council adopt Ordinance No. 1569, a package of text and map changes to implement the Gateway Plan. Public comment from the Arcata Fire District and residents raised safety and process concerns about taller buildings and outstanding coastal studies.
The Arcata City Planning Commission voted unanimously June 25 to approve Resolution PC-24-06, sending a recommendation to the City Council to adopt Ordinance No. 1569, a set of text and map amendments to implement the city’s Gateway Plan.
Community Development Director David Loya told commissioners the package includes the full text of Ordinance No. 1569 and Exhibit 1 with maps and that several text amendments are necessary to remove conflicts between the proposed Gateway zoning and existing special zoning in the Creamery District. "Tonight, the planning commission is being asked to adopt resolution number PC 24-06, which makes a formal recommendation on all of the text changes and mapping changes that are necessary to implement the gateway plan," Loya said.
Why it matters: the Gateway Plan will change allowable uses and zoning standards in the area designated as the gateway, and the text amendments are intended to prevent conflicts that would otherwise complicate implementation. The commission’s recommendation moves those changes to the City Council for final action.
Public commenters, speaking during the hearing, urged caution and criticized the process. Resident Gregory Daggett cited a June 5 Mad River Journal article and letters from the Arcata Fire District and argued the commission and city have not sufficiently responded to safety concerns. Daggett said the fire district warned that buildings over four stories could "put their lives in jeopardy" and urged the commission not to rush implementation while coastal and safety studies remain outstanding. "You can't even wait a number of months for that to come out so that you can make an intelligent body sit here and just totally ignore what they have recommended to you," Daggett said.
The staff presentation noted one specific technical issue: the Gateway area overlaps the Creamery District, which has its own special zoning. Loya said the ordinance and associated exhibits remove that special zoning where it would conflict with the Gateway Plan so the two regulatory tracks align.
After public comment and without additional commissioner questions, a commissioner moved to approve Resolution PC-24-06 and submit it to City Council; another commissioner seconded. Chair Davies called for the vote; commissioners responded "Aye" and the motion passed.
Other commission business: Commissioners noted routine communications. Commissioner Peter said he will miss the July 9 meeting. Commissioner Graham requested a staff presentation at the next meeting clarifying which accessory dwelling unit (ADU) projects must go through design review; staff agreed to prepare that briefing. Community Development Director Loya also said staff expects to return in the fall with follow-up work tied to the General Plan, including several ordinances to implement the plan over the next six to nine months.
The commission adjourned with no further business.
