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Resident urges high-density downtown housing to draw businesses and reduce commuting
Summary
At the Shafter Planning Commission meeting, resident Malachi DT urged officials to focus development on a denser downtown with multi-story housing and mixed uses to attract jobs, support small businesses and leverage an upcoming 42-acre sports and recreation center. His comments were made during public comment and did not trigger formal action.
Malachi DT, who identified himself as a Shafter resident, told the Planning Commission that Shafter should pursue a downtown development strategy focused on higher-density housing and multi-story mixed-use projects.
"I strongly believe that Shafter has the potential to transform its downtown into a thriving, high-density hub that attracts businesses, visitors and higher-paying jobs," Malachi said, urging the city to prioritize redevelopment of underused single-story structures into multi-story housing and commercial space.
In his remarks he argued that concentrating growth downtown would increase foot traffic for local businesses, support struggling small shops, reduce traffic congestion and commuting to Bakersfield and nearby cities, and make public services such as police and emergency response more efficient. He pointed to examples of other California downtowns that have attracted young professionals and entrepreneurs after adopting denser development patterns.
Malachi also referenced an upcoming 42-acre sports and recreation center as an opportunity for downtown to capture visitor spending from regional events. He closed by asking city leaders to guide investors toward revitalizing the downtown core rather than expanding along highway corridors.
His comments were made during the public comment period and did not result in any formal direction or action by the Planning Commission at this meeting.
