Paso Robles Planning Commission
April 22, 2025
📌 Public Hearing: Thorndike Industrial Project (PD24-05)
A development plan for a light industrial project on a 2.5-acre site at Wisteria and Germaine Lane was presented. The plan reduces 8 parcels to 4 and includes:
- Parcel 1: A 10,000 sq. ft. multi-tenant metal building with landscaping and site details.
- Parcels 2–4: Reserved for future development. Architectural style, access, and landscaping standards will follow Parcel 1’s master plan to maintain design consistency.
Key commissioner clarifications included:
- Access easements between parcels
- Required parkway landscaping and long-term maintenance agreements
- Concerns over stormwater drainage, driveway widths, and visual aesthetics
✅ Motion Passed: Approval of PD24-05 (6–0 vote, with Commissioner Neel abstaining due to conflict)
📊 Annual General Plan Report (2024)
Associate Planner Darcy Delgado delivered the annual General Plan report, highlighting:
- 310 housing units were under construction in 2024—a 35% increase from 2023
- 525 units in plan check, 147 units received certificates of occupancy
- Paso Robles is trending above its goal of 250 units/year
- Major projects: River Oaks II, Olsen Ranch, Red Tail Apartments, Sunrise Villas, and Riverwalk Terrace
⚠️ Staff Concerns:
- Only 28 multifamily units currently entitled—a sharp decline from 800+ last year
- This low entitlement pipeline may threaten future housing production goals
- A need to accelerate affordable and multifamily housing applications
🏠 Commissioner Discussion:
- Strong concern about affordability and lack of housing for first-time buyers
- Acknowledgment that ADUs and single-family home construction are performing well
- Suggestion for further city support and incentives to boost multifamily development
✅ Motion Passed: Recommend General Plan Report to City Council for state submission (7–0)
📝 Planning Commission Bylaws Amendments
Reviewed updates to commission bylaws, including:
- Formal inclusion of the Housing Constraints and Opportunities Committee (HCOC) as a permanent committee with up to two Planning Commissioners as members
- Clarified residency rules: Commissioners expressed concern about the existing allowance for up to three non-resident members
- Suggested reducing that to one non-resident with a “vested interest” in Paso Robles
- Clean-up of advisory language and punctuation, and clarifying compatibility of service on other city bodies
✅ Motion Passed: Recommend bylaw changes with amendments (7–0)
🗂 Consent Calendar
Approved past meeting minutes for:
- February 11 & 25, March 11 & 25, 2025
✅ Motion passed unanimously.
📣 Staff & Committee Updates
- Boy School Landing Project: In development agreement phase
- Niblick Bikeway Ad Hoc Committee: Follow-up meeting planned for May
- Spring Street Apartment Project: Still under code enforcement; city conducted inspection
- Zoning Code Update: Workshop on Home Occupation standards scheduled for May
- Creston Road Auto Repair: Will return to Commission soon as part of enforcement
🗨 Closing Comments
- Appreciation for non-resident Commissioner Marlow’s contributions, though several commissioners supported capping non-residents to one
- Shared concern about the affordability crisis impacting local families
- Ongoing efforts to refine commissioner service guidelines, transparency, and future readiness