3150 DUTTON AVENUE; AND 2) HOUSING ELEMENT AMENDMENT
(THIS ITEM IS CONTINUED TO THE JUNE 3, 2025, REGULAR
MEETING)
BACKGROUND: General Plan Amendments are considered three times
per year in accordance with General Plan policy. This General Plan
Amendment package includes two projects described below. On March
13, 2025, the Planning Commission held public hearings for these same
items during a regularly scheduled public meeting. During public
hearings, the Planning Commission passed resolutions recommending
approval to City Council.
1. Dutton Avenue. The Dutton Avenue Development Project is a
proposal to amend the General Plan land use designation for the
property at 3150 Dutton Avenue from Medium Density Residential
(8-18 units per acre) to General Industry and rezone the property
from the R-3-18 (Multifamily Residential) to IG (General Industrial)
to align with surrounding land use patterns, supporting future
industrial development. The project includes an Addendum to the
Dutton Avenue Residences Mitigated Negative Declaration,
adopted in 2018, in accordance with the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA).
2. Housing Element Amendment. On August 7, 2024, the Local
Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) approved the
annexation of 34.93 acres, in northwest Santa Rosa, which was
recorded by the Sonoma County Clerk’s Office on September 25,
2024. Following annexation, and pursuant to Government Code
Section 65584.07(d), the City received a request from the County
of Sonoma to initiate a transfer of Regional Housing Needs
Allocation (RHNA) units from the County to the City related to the
annexation. On March 4, 2025, the City Council adopted a
resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign a joint agreement letter
with the County outlining the agreed upon RHNA transfer. On
March 20, 2025, the Association of Bay Area Governments
(ABAG) Executive Board approved the transfer agreement. As
part of the transfer, the City is required to amend its 2023-2031
Housing Element to reflect the new RHNA units. In reviewing the
Housing Element, staff identified two minor clerical errors related
to the title of Table 5-2 and a mathematical error in Table 5-11,
which will also be addressed. On March 13, 2025, the Planning
Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Council