Napa Planning Commission Regular Meeting – January 5, 2023
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Napa Planning Commission Regular Meeting – January 5, 2023
The Planning Commission of the City of Napa held a regular meeting on January 5, 2023, at 5:30 PM in City Hall. Due to a light agenda, the meeting focused primarily on the review of the Draft 2023–2031 Housing Element, a staff presentation with no formal action required. Commissioners attended: Gordon Huether (Chair), Paul Kelley, and Alexander Myers. Vice Chair Bob Massaro and Commissioner Beverly Shotwell were absent.
Consent Calendar
- The Commission unanimously approved the Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes for November 17, 2022, and December 15, 2022.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public provided comment.
Discussion Items
- Review of the Draft Housing Element (2023–2031) – Staff presented an overview of the update process, including the city’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) of 2,669 units for the sixth cycle (2023–2031), a significant increase from the previous cycle. The presentation covered community engagement efforts (e.g., Housing Week, surveys, interactive site inventory map), the sites inventory (pipeline projects, vacant/underutilized sites, projected ADUs), and the document’s structure. Commissioners asked questions about the RHNA methodology, income categories (very low, low, moderate, above moderate, based on area median income of $119,400 for a four-person household), displacement risk, ADU counting, and the role of the Planning Commission in shaping the document. Commissioner Huether raised the possibility of including language on architectural quality in the housing element’s goals. Staff noted that such language would need to be carefully worded to avoid being seen as an impediment to housing production. Commissioner Kelley suggested that design quality might be better addressed in the city’s residential design guidelines. No formal action was taken; the item was for information and feedback only.
Key Outcomes
- The Commission received the staff report and provided informal feedback. Staff will consider comments during the public review period and before submitting the Draft Housing Element to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) by the end of January 2023. No vote was taken.
Meeting Transcript
Let's see. Good evening. Welcome to the January 5th, 2023 City of Napa regular meeting for the Planning Commission. Calling this meeting to order, and we're going to do roll call, but I'll point out that already can tell you that Vice Chair Masaro and Commissioner Shot will have let us know in advance that they wouldn't be here. So let's do the other three. Commissioner Tellow. Here. Commissioner Kelly. Here. And Chair Heather. President. Let's do the Pledge of Allegiance after you've turned off your pagers, your rigors. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Something to aspire to see. Planning commission conducts all meetings in accordance with the Ralph Brown Act and pursuant to the city's rules of order for planning commission meetings. And are there any changes to this evening's very light agenda? There are no changes. No changes. Okay. Commissioners. Nope. Okay. We're going to do public comment, although I'm not sure there's going to be much. There's not very much from the public here, but public comment does provide 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. No, no comment. Perfect. Get used to that one. Okay, so let's see. Now we're on the consent calendar. These are routine items, may be approved by a single vote. Wait a minute. Are there any? There are none tonight, so may I skip that? Yes. On the consent count. Oh, I'm on the calendar though. Yeah. There is on the calendar? Okay. Well, then let me do continue. However, any member of the public or commission may remove an item for consideration during the public hearing portion of the agenda. Oh, right, you are. Okay. This evening we are reviewing the planning commission regular meeting minutes for November 17th and December 15th. Is there a motion to approve the consent calendar as submitted? So move. Second.
openpublica.com