Logo courtesy of the City of Biggs

BIGGS, CA (MPG) - The Biggs City Council has resolved a months-long procedural impasse surrounding the proposed Hamman Subdivision and Apartment Project, approving a series of development applications that had stalled since June. The approvals include a General Plan amendment, a rezone ordinance, a revised vesting tentative subdivision map and a site plan review for a 42-unit apartment complex.

City Planner Bob Summerville explained during the Oct. 28 meeting that the council’s previous review of the project on June 24 ended without formal action. That lack of action, he said, prompted the California Department of Housing and Community Development to flag the absence of legal findings as a procedural error rather than a denial of the project.

“We had to come back and do it right,” Summerville said.

The Hamman project, located on a 7.55-acre site at 2859 Sixth Street, includes 18 single-family lots, a two-acre parcel for multifamily housing, a three-acre parcel for public mini-storage, and a stormwater detention facility. The apartment component, proposed by AMG Land Development in partnership with the Butte County Housing Authority, is designed to meet state affordability targets and secure tax credit financing.

Although the project in June drew opposition from both council members and the public, Summerville noted that it qualifies for ministerial approval under Assembly Bill 430, the Camp Fire Housing Assistance Act, which compels approval if a project complies with objective development standards. He said the development meets density thresholds, avoids environmental constraints and aligns with zoning requirements.

Summerville also clarified that the four development actions must be considered in strict sequence - with each dependent on the prior approval. 

“The project won’t work without all four,” Summerville said. “They’re set up in a hierarchy. The first one is the General Plan amendment. The second one is the rezone. The third one is the tentative map. And the last, which is the end goal, is the site plan for the affordable housing project.”

Summerville added that if any item fails, the rest are nullified. 

During public comment at the Oct. 28 meeting, resident John Crawford urged the council to support the project, describing it as a rare opportunity to address housing needs while strengthening the city’s financial future.

“The cost of housing is pretty high, and there are a lot of people in this area who can’t afford a home,” Crawford said. “This is a great tool to help people who need a leg up in this world.”

Crawford also pointed to the city’s existing infrastructure investments, including sewer, water and copper lines, as assets that should be leveraged to avoid future rate increases.

“We built that over the course of years,” Crawford said. “The more head count in the city, the more likely you may help the revenue base that you’re missing out on.”

Crawford said the city had missed opportunities in the past and encouraged the council not to let this one slip away.

“You’ve got an investor willing to invest in our town,” Crawford said. “This is an opportunity. We don’t always have opportunities.”

Another speaker raised concerns about outreach to Spanish-speaking residents, asking whether notices had been translated and distributed equitably.

While not a unanimous vote, with two members present but not casting votes, the council approved each item individually in a 3-0 vote, citing consistency with the city’s General Plan and zoning ordinance. With the approvals in place, officials said the city is positioned to move forward with a mixed-use development that supports housing diversity, fulfills state mandates, and utilizes existing infrastructure.