Loomis Planning Commission recommends general plan update, redesignates nine Brace Road parcels to rural residential

The Loomis Planning Commission on a unanimous vote recommended that the Town Council adopt the town's 02/1940 general plan update and certify the final environmental impact report, with one change: the commission directed staff to redesignate nine parcels near Brace Road from Tourist Destination commercial to rural residential.

The commission acted after a public hearing that reviewed a multi-year outreach and drafting process and a final EIR required under the California Environmental Quality Act. Planning staff and the commission described the package as the second comprehensive update since 2001 and said it incorporates extensive public workshops, subcommittee work and written comments gathered since 2020.

Christie, planning staff, told the commission the packet includes two resolutions: one recommending certification of the final EIR and associated CEQA findings and a second recommending adoption of the proposed general plan. AECOM consultant Matthew Gerken summarized substantive revisions since the draft, saying the update clarifies land-use guidance (including changes to Table 3.3-1), adds strategies to address urban heat islands, tightens guidance on oak woodland and archaeological mitigation, and makes air-quality mitigation more transparent. "The general plan itself is the mitigation monitoring program," Gerken told the commission during his presentation.

Residents who spoke during public comment urged changes on several fronts. Several speakers who live on or near Brace Road pressed the commission to revert their parcels from commercial to rural residential and to preserve the area's rural character. "We really wanna protect the rural nature of Brace Road," said resident Devin Prona, who asked the commission to include a group petition and maps showing property-owner support. Other residents cited traffic and safety concerns on nearby roads, limits to mailed notices, and difficulty locating the revised 700-plus–page materials online.

Commissioners and staff addressed process questions: Christie said the posted version of the draft materials had been on the town website for more than a week and that mailed notices were sent broadly. Staff explained that land-use change requests had been considered by subcommittees and that some requests could be grouped as part of this update rather than deferred to later amendments.

The commission debated whether to delay the recommendation for an additional month to allow more public review. Staff and the town attorney advised that the nine-owner redesignation could be incorporated now without triggering additional extensive environmental analyses, and that existing, legally established uses (for example, a school operating under a conditional use permit) would remain lawful even if a parcel's land-use designation changed.

During the discussion commissioners and the town attorney also cautioned against measures that would seek to physically block access to a neighboring parcel. Chairman Onderko warned that attempting to restrict another owner's access to their property could constitute a regulatory taking and would expose the town to litigation.

After discussion Commissioner [name not specified in the record who made the motion] moved to recommend that the Town Council adopt the general plan update with the modification to redesignate the nine parcels identified on staff's map to rural residential; the motion was seconded and carried on a 5–0 roll-call vote. The commission then voted 5–0 to recommend certification of the final EIR and adoption of the CEQA findings and the statement of overriding considerations.

Next steps: staff will post the revised materials and forward the commission's recommendation and the record to the Town Council, which is expected to consider the item at its next available hearing (staff indicated April as the earliest feasible council hearing date, subject to noticing requirements). If the council approves the update it will become the town's guiding policy; individual rezones or project approvals would follow separate review, noticing and, where required, environmental study.

The commission concluded with a planning director's report that listed several pending projects (Hidden Grove is on hold; applications are in review for QuickQuack, Creekstone senior living, Del Mar Farms and Harvest Oaks) and adjourned the meeting.