Director of Community & Economic Development:
H. Brent Sinclair, AICP
Chief Building Official:
Will Crew
Business Development Manager:
Linda Boston
Planning Manager:
Patrick Kelly
City Engineer:
Bill Sandhu
Development Related Department Contacts
- Community & Economic Development (209) 571-5566
- Fire Prevention (209) 571-5553
- Parks, Recreation & Neighborhoods (209) 571-5573
- Public Works (209) 342-2284
- 24 Hour Inspection Request Line (209) 571-5881
Community & Economic Development
www.modestogov.com/ced
Fire Department
www.modestofire.com
Parks, Recreation & Neighborhoods
www.modestogov.com/prnd
Public Works
www.modestogov.com/pwd
.
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Archway Commons Affordable Housing
On October 9, 2007, the Redevelopment Agency adopted an
update to the Redevelopment Master Plan. Shortly thereafter,
the City received an application to develop a 150-unit
affordable housing project in a County island located on the
northwest corner of North 9th Street and Carver Road, within
the Redevelopment Plan Area. The application included the
annexation of the 8.3-acre project site in addition to 23.9
acres necessary to facilitate the logical extension of City
boundary lines by including the entire County island on the
east side of North Ninth Street and SR99.
The two-story, 150-unit affordable housing development
contains two distinct unit-development patterns. The
northern portion of the site is the larger of the two and is
predominantly comprised of units clustered around common
open-space areas, each containing a tot-lot. The design is
intended to promote defensibility and a safe play area for
the children of the tenants of each respective unit-cluster.
The southern portion of the site contains smaller
unit-clusters and does not include tot-lots. These units are
intended more for tenants without children. To provide the
tenants with recreational and social amenities, the
development includes a community center, which contains a
community building, pool, BBQ area and open-space area. The
community center is located between the units designed for
families and those designed for tenants without children. A
common open-space area is included just to the north of the
community building, providing more recreation opportunities
for the residents.
The development is proposed to be funded, in part,
through Redevelopment Set-Aside and HOME Funds. The project
was approved by the City Council on December 2, 2008. The
project applicant is preparing to bring the application
before the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) for
approval of the annexation, the final step in the
entitlement process. It is expected that the application
will go before the LAFCO within the next 3-4 months.
Urban Growth Review Update
On September 8, 2008, the City Council directed staff to
prepare the 2009 Urban Growth Review Update. The purpose of
this study is to inventory vacant land and available
infrastructure in Modesto to assist in determining the
timing and direction of
future growth. As a result, the City Council may determine
if any sewer trunk extensions as defined by Measure M are
warranted for an advisory election in November 2009. The
Economic Development Committee (EDC) is overseeing the Urban
Growth Review Update, hosting a series of workshops from
January through May 2009. The first public workshop was held
on January 12, 2009, to discuss the vacant land survey and
absorption rates for residential, commercial and industrial
land uses. The second public workshop was held on February
9, 2009, to conclude review of the vacant land survey and
absorption analysis, and to review infrastructure
constraints and opportunities. The next public workshop will
occur at the March 9, 2009, EDC meeting. This workshop will
include initial discussions regarding areas for
consideration of potential Measure M ballot measures and
appropriate sites to facilitate economic development. The
study is tentatively scheduled to be considered by the
Planning Commission in May 2009 and by the City Council by
June 2009.
Housing Element Update:
Work is underway to update the Housing Element for the
next five-year cycle. The housing element is one of the
seven mandated elements of the local general plan. Housing
element law, enacted in 1969, mandates that local
governments adequately plan to meet the existing and
projected housing needs of all economic segments of the
community. The law acknowledges that, in order for the
private market to adequately address housing needs and
demand, local governments must adopt land use plans and
regulatory systems which provide opportunities for, and do
not unduly constrain, housing development. The housing
element is the mechanism to accomplish this state
requirement.
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Standard Specifications
In our ongoing effort to make our process more
user-friendly and provide updated information on a
continuing basis, the Land Development Engineering division
took the Storm Drain Infill Policy to City Council, and it
was adopted on September 23, 2008. It is also time for a
complete update of the City Standard Specifications.The
current standard specifications were updated May 9, 2006. We
will be initiating an update to the City Standards beginning
late January 2009. We expect this update to be completed by
July 2009. The process will involve dividing the standards
into different sections and assigning each section to
experts in that area. We are actively looking for
participation from members of the Development Community and
local engineers to serve on these committees. The goal is to
make the standards a valuable tool to the Development
Community, Construction Industries, and the citizens of
Modesto, improve overall user-friendliness, and provide
efficiency and consistency in design of public improvements.
If you are interested in being a part of these
committees, and participating in the update of the City
Standard Specifications, please contact: Dan England in Land
Development Engineering via email dengland@modestogov.com or
571-5589.
SR 99/Pelandale Inter-change Reconstruction Project
Land Development has been working on the Project Approval
and Environmental Document (PA&ED) for SR99/Pelandale
Inter-change reconstruction project. The project proposes to
reconstruct the SR 99 IC at Pelandale Avenue in and near the
City of Modesto in Stanislaus County to reduce congestion.
In 2006, the City of Modesto made a request to Cal Trans
for the City to be the lead agency for the PA & ED phase,
and Cal Trans granted City of Modesto lead agency status for
this phase of the project. Since then, City staff and its
consultant have been working with Cal Trans and the County
to agree upon viable alternatives to address traffic
congestion at the inter-change. This project is a
challenging project with very high traffic volumes and
right-of-way constraints on both sides of the inter-change.
The team studied several alternatives, and two alternatives
met the design criteria. The estimated cost for design,
right-of-way, and construction for both alternatives are in
the vicinity of 50 million dollars. The draft project report
is in for Cal Trans review before it can be released for
public review and comments in late January or early February
2009. We expect to finalize the PA & ED phase in March of
2009.
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New Payment Option for Single-Family Residential
Building Permits
On March 14, 2009, building permit applicants will have
an option to pay development
impact fees, also known as Capital Facilities Fees (CFF),
for single-family residential units at the time of building
permit issuance OR defer payment of CFF until issuance of a
Certificate of Occupancy. On January 13, 2009, the City
Council approved a change to Modesto Municipal Code Section
8-1.206 to defer the payment of Capital Facilities Fees
(CFF) for single family residential permits until issuance
of the Certificate of Occupancy. The new ordinance will
become effective in 60 days and will be in effect for a
period of one year.
Property Owners choosing to defer the payment of CFF will
be required to enter into a
“CFF Deferral Agreement and Notice of Lien” with the City,
provide a recent title report and pay a total of $262.50 in
administration and recording fees. The payment of CFF will
be due prior to the close of escrow on the property or prior
to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, whichever occurs
first.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Amy Gedney or Tina Rocha at 209-577-5211.
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What’s the Big Idea? Getting an idea for
your business: It’s not as hard as you think!
The Business Development Division staff is in the process of
creating an “Entrepreneurs’ Workshop” to provide information
and assistance to new business ventures, inventors and other
cutting edge business enterprises to help diversify and
expand Modesto’s economy. The City staff’s objective is to
initiate a Workshop to provide business information, advice
on financial options, business plans, patents, workforce
recruitment, leasing of business space, marketing and other
related business issues. Maybe your first question is: “Why
focus on entrepreneurs in this economy?” Financial and
economic experts confirm that the key to diversifying and
expanding our local economy ~~ especially in these difficult
times ~~ is to encourage fledgling businesses, including
home-based businesses. The goal is to encourage the folks in
and around Modesto who have a great idea, a new product or
an exciting service to jump into the business world. While
not everyone can be a Bill Gates building a computer in his
garage, there are many products and services out there that
can provide the spark for a new business.
So, what’s YOUR big idea? People are
overwhelmed by the belief that they have to start from
scratch. They think, “What can I do that no one has ever
done before?” In other words, they think they have to
reinvent the wheel. To help start you on the path to a new
business, here’s an excerpt from Entrepreneur Magazine on
how easy it is to come up with that BIG IDEA:
"Get the Juices Flowing…….. How do you
start the idea process?
First, take out a sheet of paper, and
list five to seven things you like to do or that you are
really good at, such as I am really good with people, I love
kids, I love computers and numbers or I’m good at coming up
with marketing concepts. Just write down whatever comes to
mind; it doesn’t have to make sense.
Next, list things that you don’t think
you are good at or you don’t like to do. Maybe you are
really good at marketing concepts, but you don’t like to do
public speaking or you don’t want to travel. When you are
finished with both lists, ask yourself, “If there were three
to five products or services that would make my personal
life better, what would they be?” This is your personal life
as a man, woman, father, husband, mother, wife, son,
daughter, whatever your situation may be. Determine what
products or services would make your life easier or happier,
make you more productive or efficient, or simply give you
more time. Next, on the other side of the paper ask yourself
the same questions about your business life. Now, examine
what you like and dislike about your work life as well as
what traits people like and dislike about you.
Finally, ask yourself why you’re seeking
to start a business in the first place. Then, when you are
done, look for a pattern to emerge (i.e. is there a need for
a business doing one of the things you like or that you are
good at?)
Here’s another way to get that big idea
~~ listen to the frustrations of your friends and families.
If your brain is always set in idea mode, then ideas may
come to you from just looking around, reading or listening
to others. For instance, if you heard your co-workers
complaining about how their lunch hour is shrinking down to
only 30 minutes ~~ and if you were thinking like an
entrepreneur ~~ you would say, “Wow, maybe there is an
opportunity there for me to provide a service within a
30-minute timeframe!”
So, do you have a big idea? A great twist
on an old product? An exciting new personal service? Then,
keep watching this website and the Modesto Bee for the
announcement of the Entrepreneurs’ Workshop. It might just
be your golden opportunity to embark on your great business
adventure!
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Latest Activity Statistics for Oct. –
Dec. 2008
Residential Permits
Single-Family: 17
Multi-Family: 0
Remodels: 591
Commercial Permits
New: 5
Remodels: 90
Misc: 72
Total Permits: 775
Inspections: 8280
Zoning Applications: 7
Plan Reviews: 9
Tentative Subdivision/Parcel Maps
# of Maps: 0
# of Lots: 0
Encroachment Permits
Encroachment: 68
Subdivision: 0
Well: 4
Outdoor Dining: 0
Transportation: 41
This page was updated on: Sunday, March 01, 2009 5:22:36 PM
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Modesto, CA 95354
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