Commission pauses trail changes, signals comprehensive general‑plan rewrite and further work on moderate‑income housing ideas

The Planning Commission voted to delay any piecemeal removal of trails from the general plan and to allow a full general‑plan rewrite to address trails, land‑use mapping and housing strategy in one comprehensive process. City staff said bids for a complete general‑plan update are under review and the work will include public outreach and multiple opportunities for commission and council input.

Commissioners and staff also discussed a menu of moderate‑income housing (MIH) strategies they have been evaluating. Staff and developers flagged tradeoffs between density, price and deed‑restricted affordability; one developer indicated a willingness to deed‑restrict two units out of a 20‑unit project, which staff noted would equate to 10% of the project. Staff emphasized that statutory definitions and local price levels complicate achieving state‑defined affordability without density or subsidy. The commission asked staff to prioritize MIH work in coming weeks and to integrate those discussions into the general‑plan update process.