Napa Planning Commission Meeting August 20, 2026: Pinball Use Permits, Vacancy Rate, Development Report
Napa Planning Commission Meeting August 20, 2026: Pinball Use Permits, Vacancy Rate, Development Report
The Napa Planning Commission held its regular meeting on August 20, 2026, at 5:30 PM in City Hall, Council Chambers. Commissioners approved two pinball arcade use permits and a parcel map extension, adopted the annual multifamily vacancy rate of 4.4%, and received the Q2 2026 development report. No public hearings were held. Commissioner Ebach was absent.
Consent Calendar
- Special Meeting Minutes (June 30, 2026): Approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke on non-agenda items or during the consent hearings.
Consent Hearings (Approved Unanimously)
- 1311 First Street Pinball Use Permit (PL26-0064): Approved a use permit for a pinball arcade with accessory beer and wine service, limited to guests 21+.
- 1030 Clinton Street Pinball Use Permit (PL26-0065): Approved a use permit for a pinball arcade with accessory beer service, open to all ages.
- 1130 Partrick Road Parcel Map Extension (PL26-0053): Approved a two-year extension for a tentative parcel map to subdivide the 1.4-acre property into two single-family lots.
Administrative Reports
- Vacancy Rate Determination (Item 8A): Staff reported a 4.4% multifamily rental vacancy rate based on a survey of 59 apartment communities with 20+ units (92% response rate). The rate increased 0.1% from the prior year, still indicating a rental housing shortage. The Commission adopted a resolution determining the 2026 vacancy rate at 4.4% and that the action is exempt from CEQA. Motion passed unanimously.
- Quarterly Development Report (Item 8B): Staff presented the Q2 2026 development activity, noting overall lower permit volumes compared to Q1 due to a large number of permits issued for Napa Pipe in Q1. Most residential building permits in Q2 were for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). No formal action was required.
Staff and Commissioner Comments
- Zoning Ordinance Update: Staff announced that the public comment period for the draft zoning ordinance has closed. An errata document will be prepared, and a first hearing before the Planning Commission is tentatively scheduled for late October 2026, with City Council consideration in November–December and potential effective date in January 2027.
- APA Conference: Two commissioners and three staff members will attend the American Planning Association conference in Los Angeles.
- New Staff: Laura Solomon was introduced as the new Associate Planner, formerly with the City of Vallejo.
- Harvest Middle School Site Update: Staff reported on the public outreach plan for the former Harvest Middle School site. Three community workshops are scheduled: an online session on August 26, 2026, an in-person English session with Spanish translation on September 2, 2026, and a Spanish-language town hall on September 3, 2026. The General Plan requires 2–2.5 acres for housing (likely affordable) on the site.
- Row Housing Discussion: A commissioner noted potential changes by the Department of Real Estate to allow row houses (detached but closely spaced) as single-family units. Staff committed to monitoring and updating zoning accordingly.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar minutes approved unanimously.
- All three consent hearing items (pinball arcades and parcel map extension) approved unanimously.
- Vacancy rate resolution adopted unanimously (4.4%).
- Q2 development report received; no action taken.
- Next regular Planning Commission meeting scheduled for September 17, 2026; the September 3, 2026 meeting is cancelled.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the August 20th, 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, please. Commissioner Masaro. Present. Commissioner Shotwell, present. Vice Chair Myers. Present. Chair Owen here. And then I have Commissioner Ebach noted as absent. Thank you. We will now rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. The Planning Commission conducts all meetings in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act in pursuant to the city's rules of order for Planning Commission meetings, policy resolution 10. Staff, are there any changes to the evening's agenda or any supplemental reports? No changes. Commissioners, are there any other proposed changes to this evening's agenda? 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 a commissioner may remove an item for discussion during the public hearing portion of the agenda. This evening we are reviewing the Planning Commission special meeting minutes for June 30th, 2026. Is there a motion to approve the meeting minutes for the June 30th, 2026 Planning Commission special meeting? Motion made. Second. All those 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 a 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 three items. Item 6A, 1311, First Street pinball use permit, item 6B, 1030, Clinton Street pinball use permit, and item 6C, 1130, Partrick Road Parcel Map Extension. Is there a request from a commissioner or a member of the public to pull one of these items from the consent hearings? Is there are we able to approve all three at the same time? Is there a motion to approve all three consent hearings as submitted? So moved. A second? Second. All those in favor? Aye. All of them pass. Congratulations. I look forward to more pinball with my children. It's been fun in downtown Napa. There are no public hearings today, so we're moving on to administrative reports. Administrative report items include reports and recommendations from city staff that do not require a public hearing prior to action by the commission.
openpublica.com