To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Molly Rattigan, Interim Community Development Director
Prepared By: Michael Walker, Senior Planner
TITLE:
Title
2024 General Plan Annual Progress Report
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
Accept the 2024 General Plan Annual Progress Report and authorize Staff to file the report with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI), formerly known as the Office of Planning and Research.
Body
DISCUSSION:
A. Annual Progress Reports
Government Code Sections 65400 and 65700 mandates that all cities and counties submit an annual report on the status of the General Plan and progress in its implementation to their legislative bodies, the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR), and the Housing and Community Development (HCD) by April 1 of each year. The guidance provided by OPR is more general in nature to allow jurisdictions flexibility in the form and content of General Plan APRs, which may need to vary based on individual circumstances, resources, and constraints.
The Annual Progress Report (“APR” or “Report”) provides the Planning Commission, City Council, and the public with information regarding the implementation of the City’s General Plan. The Report also informs the public on the progress in meeting the community’s goals. Accordingly, OPR requires that the Report be presented to the local legislative body for its review and acceptance prior to submittal to OPR and HCD, similar to the process for the Housing Element Annual Progress Report.
B. Report Format
Unlike the Housing Element APR, there is no standardized format for the preparation of the General Plan APR. The Office of Planning and Research encourages jurisdictions to include any activities that specifically address the implementation of the General Plan.
As only the second reporting year following adoption of the Napa 2040 General Plan in October 2022, it is anticipated that the organization of this Report will continue to evolve over the course of the General Plan horizon (2040). At a minimum, the Report will include the City’s efforts in implementing the Goals & Policies of the General Plan, including each of the nine General Plan Elements.
C. General Plan Implementation
Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Update
A major step in implementing the General Plan is a comprehensive update to the City’s Zoning Ordinance and Municipal Code. After receiving six submittals from qualified planning firms in response to the Request for Proposals, the City selected Lisa Wise Consulting to assist in the efforts to update the Zoning Ordinance. Work began in the second half of 2024 and included interviews with key staff, Stakeholder interviews, and preparation of a Technical Consistency Memo and an Analysis of the City’s residential design guidelines.
D. Actions in the Coming Year
In addition to the comprehensive Zoning Ordinance update, Staff intends to bring additional amendments to the Zoning Ordinance in response to changes in State Law.
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
The Planning Commission received the report on February 20, 2025. No public comment was received. The Commission unanimously recommended that the City Council accept the 2024 General Plan Annual Progress Report.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
No direct financial impact to the City has been identified with this agenda item.
CEQA:
The Community Development Director has determined that the Recommended Action described in this Agenda Report is not subject to CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Division 15060(c), as the activity in question, a progress report on implementation of adopted programs in the City’s 2040 General Plan, will not result in a physical change in the environment.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
ATCH 1 - 2024 General Plan Annual Progress Report
NOTIFICATION:
None.