Planning Commission recommends annexing 17 parcels north of Arbor Road into Tracy

The City of Tracy Planning Commission voted on July 8 to recommend that City Council authorize the city manager to petition the San Joaquin Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to annex 17 parcels totaling approximately 762 acres north of Arbor Road and to prezone the area to light industrial and agriculture (application AP26-0002).

Genevieve Federiki, project planner with the Community and Economic Development Department, told commissioners the application is city-initiated, does not include any immediate development, and is intended to bring jurisdiction over city-owned lands into the city. "The city actually owns about 515 acres of the roughly 762 acres proposed to be annexed," Federiki said, adding that the prezoning aligns with current General Plan designations.

The commission heard several clarifying questions before the vote. Commissioners asked whether property owners had been notified and whether annexation would change private property rights. Federiki said the project required a 20-day notice to affected owners and properties within 300 feet were noticed; she reported staff had not received responses from noticed property owners. She emphasized that annexation does not transfer private land to the city and that the prezoning would preserve the current agricultural designation where applicable. "This is a City-initiated project, and there is no development included with this application," Federiki said.

Commissioners also asked about a narrow strip at the map’s northern edge that remained outside the proposed annexation. Federiki explained those parcels are county-owned and designated for a regional park and were requested to remain unincorporated. Commissioners sought and received confirmation that any future development on the annexed parcels would require its own entitlements and environmental review and could require General Plan amendments if necessary.

The motion before the commission asked it to: adopt a resolution recommending City Council authorize the city manager to submit a petition to LAFCO to annex the described parcels; find the annexation consistent with the environmental impacts identified in the city's General Plan EIR under CEQA Guidelines section 15183 (and thus require no further CEQA review for this action); and introduce an ordinance approving prezoning of the annexation area to light industrial and agriculture (AP26-0002). Commissioner Chavez moved the recommendation; Vice Chair Schrowl seconded.

On a roll-call vote the motion carried with Commissioners Atwal, Boishe Boateng, Vice Chair Schrowl and Chair Penning recorded as voting yes. The Planning Commission’s recommendation will next go to City Council; if the council approves, the city will submit the annexation petition to LAFCO for final action.

Next steps: City Council consideration followed by an application to San Joaquin LAFCO; any future development proposals on the annexed parcels would require separate environmental review and entitlements.