Fortuna planning commission directs staff to submit 2025 General Plan and housing progress report to state agencies

The Fortuna City Planning Commission on March 10 received a staff presentation on the city’s 2025 General Plan and Housing Element annual progress reports and voted to direct staff to submit the documents to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation.

Katie, a city planning staff member, told commissioners the department had expanded digital permitting and integrated a master address table with parcel mapping to speed reviews and improve consistency. "We did utilize our digital permitting to streamline the application processes, improve transparency and reduce approval times," Katie said.

The presentation covered multiple plan elements and recent implementation steps. Staff highlighted the adoption of the Mill District Specific Plan to guide redevelopment of the former mill site, ongoing outreach with local businesses and developers to reduce investment barriers, and transportation priorities that include multimodal connections and proposed roundabouts intended to link Riverwalk with the rest of the city.

On housing, Katie gave program and permit figures intended to show progress toward the city’s housing goals. She reported 101 entitled multifamily units — of which 66 were described as senior housing planned for Newberg — and described 2025 permit activity as nine single-family permits issued, eight two-to-four-unit permits (fourplexes), and one accessory dwelling unit permitted; staff also said three ADUs were completed during the period. "Those are entitlements to allow for those units to be built in the future," she said, distinguishing between entitled units and units actually under construction or completed.

Staff also described natural and cultural resources work, including stream restoration and fish-passage projects, and said the city is working with local tribal partners on riverfront plans tied to Riverwalk. Katie announced the city had received a $10,000 technical assistance grant from the North Coast Resource Partnership to develop a community forest plan and said public meetings on that project will begin next week.

Commissioners asked several follow-up questions. Commissioner Howie confirmed that the Orchard apartments project referenced in the presentation is on Smith Lane. A commissioner asked why proposed noise and lighting ordinances have not returned to council; Katie said council had directed corrections and that staff turnover delayed returning those ordinances, but she said the items can be reintroduced under the new council.

After the presentation and a public-comment period with no speakers, the commission moved, seconded and recorded a roll-call vote directing staff to submit the 2025 General Plan and Housing Element annual progress report to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. The roll call recorded affirmative votes from Commissioner Howie, Commissioner Kine, Vice Chair Aean and Chair Nichols.

In other business commissioners discussed a resident lighting complaint and the status of design review guidelines (staff said commercial design guidelines remain a priority and residential lighting issues could be considered). Staff and commissioners also reiterated enthusiasm for Riverwalk park improvements and an upcoming public workshop on March 25 at River Lodge to gather ideas for the city’s future.

The commission adjourned after approving the motion to direct staff to submit the annual reports.

Next steps: staff will submit the 2025 progress reports to the state agencies named in the motion and the commission will consider the city’s capital improvement program in May and follow up on the design and ordinance items later this year.