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Planning commission recommends Benicia's 2024 General Plan and Housing Element progress report be sent to state
Summary
The Planning Commission reviewed staff's 2024 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Report, praised implementation progress, asked questions about ADU guidance and surplus‑land timelines, and voted to recommend transmittal to state agencies by the April 1 deadline.
The Benicia Planning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council accept the 2024 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Report and transmit it to the Governor's Office of Planning and Research and the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
"The item before you tonight is the 2024 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Report," said Vivian Togganon, Associate Planner in the Community Development Department, who told commissioners the city must submit the reports to the state no later than April 1 under state law. Togganon outlined 2024 milestones including the sixth‑cycle housing element adoption and multiple zoning updates.
Commissioners praised staff for advancing many programs on an accelerated schedule. Commissioner Gorman said staff was "ahead of schedule" compared with other jurisdictions. Commissioner Marshall asked how staff will keep local guidance and ordinances aligned with rapid state changes to accessory dwelling unit (ADU) law; staff said an ADU handbook update is programmed for this year and that some ordinance updates (including subdivision ordinance changes related to SB 9) have already been completed.
In the presentation, staff reported that 17 accessory dwelling units received building permits in 2024. Staff also noted an application for Rose Estates was recorded in the transcript as "10 80 units" submitted under state housing law; staff said that Rose Estates application is currently incomplete. The commission discussed next steps for implementing housing programs and voted on a motion to recommend council transmittal of the annual report.
