Napa Planning Commission Meeting – February 15, 2024: Housing and General Plan Progress Reports
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Napa Planning Commission Regular Meeting – February 15, 2024
The Napa Planning Commission met on February 15, 2024, at 5:30 PM to consider two administrative reports: the 2023 Housing Element Annual Progress Report and the 2023 General Plan Annual Progress Report. Both reports were forwarded to the City Council with recommendations to accept and file with state agencies. No public comments were received, and the meeting adjourned after approximately seven minutes.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes for February 1, 2024 (motion carried unanimously; Commissioner Huether abstained).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke.
Discussion Items
- Housing Element Annual Progress Report (Item 8A): Michael Walker presented the first annual report of the sixth-cycle Housing Element (2023–2031). Key statistics: 132 residential building permits were issued in 2023 (61 of which were for ADUs), against an eight-year regional housing need allocation (RHNA) of 2,669 units (average 334/year). The city has initiated progress on 25 of 49 housing element programs. Commissioners questioned the pace: at 5.5% of the eight-year target (compared to an expected 12.5% after one year), the city is behind schedule. Staff noted that the city does not build housing and that external economic factors influence permit volume; the city's track record of approving housing projects is strong. Other discussion included the forgivable loan program for ADUs, rental assistance to 282 households, and emergency home repairs funded through various grants. The commission forwarded a recommendation to the City Council to accept the report and authorize filing with HCD and OPR (motion carried unanimously).
- General Plan Annual Progress Report (Item 8B): Michael Walker presented a concise report covering all other General Plan elements. Accomplishments in 2023 included adopting an interim zoning ordinance (IZO) for new mixed-use districts, establishing a temporary moratorium on new or expanded fossil-fuel service stations, and initiating a comprehensive zoning ordinance update. In response to a commissioner's question, staff clarified that converting an existing gas station to EV charging stations would not be subject to the moratorium, but adding new fossil-fuel pumps would be. The commission forwarded a recommendation to the City Council to accept the 2023 General Plan Annual Progress Report and authorize filing with HCD and OPR (motion carried unanimously).
Key Outcomes
- Motion 1 (Housing Element APR): Unanimously approved to forward a recommendation to the City Council to accept the 2023 Housing Element Annual Progress Report and direct staff to file with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the California Office of Planning and Research (OPR).
- Motion 2 (General Plan APR): Unanimously approved to forward a recommendation to the City Council to accept the 2023 General Plan Annual Progress Report and direct staff to file with HCD and OPR.
Meeting Transcript
For the plan of commission. Call to order and roll call, please. Commissioner Heuther. I'm present. Commissioner Masaro. Here. Commissioner Myers. Present. Vice Chair Kelly. Here. And Chair Shotwell. Present. And we stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag. For which it stands. One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Someday. Someday maybe. The planning commission can add all meetings in accordance with the round round act. And pursuant to the city's rules of order for planning commission meetings. Policy resolution. Yeah, are there any changes to this evening's agenda? There are none. Commissioners, any proposed changes to this evening's agenda? Okay. Public comment. We have no public. Do I still need to read through this? If there's no public. Okay. Moving on. Got a pass for Suprema. Oh, it is? Or do I need to read it? No, it's fine. Okay, here we are. Um sent 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 February 1st, 2024. Is there a motion to approve the consent calendar as submitted? So moved. Second. Second. I think I have to abstain. Isn't that the oh right? That is true. Yes. Okay. Any opposed?
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