OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

City of Napa Planning Commission Regular Meeting - April 16, 2026

City Council — Thursday, April 16, 2026
BodyNapa, California
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, April 16, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 25:02

Transcript — Verbatim
0:08

Good evening.

0:09

Welcome to the April 16th, 2026 City of Napa regular meeting for the Planning Commission.

0:14

I would like to call this meeting to order and ask Myra to conduct a roll call.

0:19

Commissioner Ebach present.

0:21

Commissioner Masaro.

0:22

Here.

0:23

Commissioner Shotwell.

0:24

Present.

0:25

Vice Chair Myers.

0:26

Present.

0:27

And Chair Owen.

0:28

Present.

0:28

We will now rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:38

And to the Republic for which it stands one nation undervisible liberty and justice for all.

0:49

The Planning Commission conducts all meetings in accordance with the Ralph M.

0:53

Brown Act and pursuant to the city's rules of order for Planning Commission meetings.

0:58

Staff, are there any changes to this evening's agenda or any supplemental reports?

1:02

No updates.

1:03

Commissioners, are there any proposed changes to this evening's agenda?

1:09

All right, public comment.

1:11

Public comment provides an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the planning commission on items of interest not otherwise noted on the agenda.

1:20

Each speaker's comments will be limited to three minutes and will comply with the rules of order for planning commission meetings.

1:26

Do we have any members of the public who wish to provide public comments on non-agenda items?

1:34

Consent calendar.

1:36

These routine items may be approved by a single vote.

1:39

However, any member of the public or commissioner may remove an item for consideration during the public hearing portion of the agenda.

1:46

This evening we are reviewing the Planning Commission regular meeting minutes for March 19th, 2026.

1:53

Is there a motion to approve the meeting minutes for March 19th, 2026 Planning Commission regular meeting?

2:00

So moved.

2:01

And a second?

2:02

Second.

2:03

All in favor?

2:05

Aye.

2:05

Motion passes.

2:07

Consent hearings.

2:09

These are items that are required to be noticed as a public hearing, but the city is not aware of any interest from the members of the public to comment on the items.

2:18

However, any members of the public or commissioner may remove an item from the consent hearing calendar, and the item will be considered during the public hearing portion of the agenda.

2:27

Tonight we have item 6A, El Rancho Grande, liquor service use permit at 891 Silverado Trail.

2:35

Is there a request from a commissioner or member of the public to pull this item from the consent hearing?

2:42

Is there a motion to approve the consent hearing as submitted?

2:46

So moved.

2:48

Is there a second?

2:49

Second.

2:49

All in favor?

2:51

Aye.

2:51

Aye.

2:51

Motion passes.

2:54

Public hearings and appeals.

2:56

These are items that are formally presented to the planning commission and provide an opportunity for members of the public to comment.

3:03

Applicants or appellants are allowed 10 minutes to present testimony at the beginning of the public hearing.

3:08

And if needed, five minutes to present rebuttal at the end of the public hearing.

3:13

All other speakers will be limited to three minutes.

3:16

Tonight we have the following item.

3:18

Item 7A, Phoenix Ultra Lounge Use Permit at 1000 Main Street Suite 20.

3:25

We may start with Commissioner Disclosures.

3:31

No disclosures.

3:32

No disclosures.

3:34

I met with staff.

3:36

No disclosures.

3:38

I'm familiar with the space and I met with staff as well.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Housing██████████████████████████████████████████42%
Cannabis Regulation███████████████████████████████████████39%
Procedural█████████████13%
Animal Welfare██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

City of Napa Planning Commission Regular Meeting - April 16, 2026

The City of Napa Planning Commission held its regular meeting on April 16, 2026, at 1:30 PM. The meeting included approval of consent items, a public hearing for a use permit for a new cocktail lounge, and administrative reports on quarterly development activity. All commissioners were present: Chair Owen, Vice Chair Myers, and Commissioners Ebach, Masaro, and Shotwell.

Consent Calendar

  • The Planning Commission approved the regular meeting minutes from March 19, 2026, by a unanimous vote.

Consent Hearings

  • Item 6A: El Rancho Grande, liquor service use permit at 891 Silverado Trail – This item was noticed as a public hearing, but no commissioner or member of the public requested to pull it. The commission approved the consent hearing as submitted by a unanimous vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public provided comments on non-agenda items.
  • During the public hearing for Item 7A, no public comment cards were received, and no one requested to speak.

Discussion Items

  • Item 7A: Phoenix Ultra Lounge Use Permit at 1000 Main Street Suite 20 – Staff presented the request for a use permit to operate a cocktail lounge (Type 47 on-site license for beer, wine, and spirits) with proposed hours of operation: Sunday–Thursday 4 PM–12 AM, Friday–Saturday 4 PM–2 AM. The applicant, speaking on behalf of the project, expressed excitement and noted a 12-year lease, aiming to bring an upscale establishment to Napa. In response to a commissioner's question, the applicant clarified that a kitchen would be added in the storage area to serve tapas and small appetizers, aligning with the cocktail lounge concept. Staff recommended approval, finding the project exempt from CEQA under Section 15301. The commission deliberated briefly and unanimously approved the resolution.

  • Items 8A & 8B: Quarterly Development Reports for Q4 2025 and Q1 2026 – Staff provided a presentation summarizing planning applications and residential building permits issued. For Q4 2025, a slowdown was noted, with mostly smaller projects. For Q1 2026, residential permits were high, largely from the Napa Pipe (River Sound) subdivision. Staff noted that ADU permits were lower in Q1 but expected to increase. Commissioner Masaro asked about the housing element progress and sales at River Sound. Community Resources and Development Director Molly Radigan reported that Catellus is transferring ownership and that all built lots have been sold, with deposits on many dirt lots. No formal action was taken on the reports; the commission received them as information.

Staff Updates & Other Business

  • Staff shared updates on the recent Housing 101 workshop co-hosted by Generation Housing and Redwood Credit Union, which Commissioner Shotwell and Masaro attended.
  • A ministerial application from Jamboree for a revised project at 515 Silverado Trail has been received.
  • Updates to the California Green Building Code for bicycle parking requirements for multifamily projects were noted, subject to the code in effect at plan submission.
  • The draft comprehensive zoning ordinance update is expected to be published in mid-May.
  • An ADU informational meeting with Napa County staff will be held on April 30, 2026, from 6:00–7:30 PM in the council chambers. Staff clarified that the city's ADU loan program is limited to junior ADUs (conversions, up to 500 sq ft, with a 20-year deed restriction), while the county's program covers all ADU types with a five-year renewable deed restriction but is competitive countywide.
  • The next regular Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for May 7, 2026.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: Consent calendar minutes for March 19, 2026 (unanimous).
  • Approved: Consent hearing Item 6A (El Rancho Grande liquor use permit) (unanimous).
  • Approved: Resolution approving a use permit for Phoenix Ultra Lounge at 1000 Main Street Suite 20, with a CEQA exemption (unanimous).
  • Received: Quarterly development reports for Q4 2025 and Q1 2026 (no formal action).
  • Noted: Upcoming ADU meeting on April 30, 2026, and the next regular meeting on May 7, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Welcome to the April 16th, 2026 City of Napa regular meeting for the Planning Commission. I would like to call this meeting to order and ask Myra to conduct a roll call. Commissioner Ebach present. Commissioner Masaro. Here. Commissioner Shotwell. Present. Vice Chair Myers. Present. And Chair Owen. Present. We will now rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation undervisible liberty and justice for all. The Planning Commission conducts all meetings in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and pursuant to the city's rules of order for Planning Commission meetings. Staff, are there any changes to this evening's agenda or any supplemental reports? No updates. Commissioners, are there any proposed changes to this evening's agenda? All right, public comment. Public comment provides an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the planning commission on items of interest not otherwise noted on the agenda. Each speaker's comments will be limited to three minutes and will comply with the rules of order for planning commission meetings. Do we have any members of the public who wish to provide public comments on non-agenda items? Consent calendar. These routine items may be approved by a single vote. However, any member of the public or commissioner may remove an item for consideration during the public hearing portion of the agenda. This evening we are reviewing the Planning Commission regular meeting minutes for March 19th, 2026. Is there a motion to approve the meeting minutes for March 19th, 2026 Planning Commission regular meeting? So moved. And a second? Second. All in favor? Aye. Motion passes. Consent hearings. These are items that are required to be noticed as a public hearing, but the city is not aware of any interest from the members of the public to comment on the items. However, any members of the public or commissioner may remove an item from the consent hearing calendar, and the item will be considered during the public hearing portion of the agenda. Tonight we have item 6A, El Rancho Grande, liquor service use permit at 891 Silverado Trail. Is there a request from a commissioner or member of the public to pull this item from the consent hearing? Is there a motion to approve the consent hearing as submitted? So moved. Is there a second? Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Motion passes. Public hearings and appeals. These are items that are formally presented to the planning commission and provide an opportunity for members of the public to comment. Applicants or appellants are allowed 10 minutes to present testimony at the beginning of the public hearing.

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