Department of Community Development August 25, 2014
Tricia Stevens
Planning and Environmental Review
Zoning Code and Design
Guidelines Workshop
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 2
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Workshop Agenda
Staff presentation of Zoning Code Second Public
Review Draft and Design Guidelines
Commission questions and comments
Public comments
No formal action - provide direction to staff
Determine if September 4 Hearing is needed
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 3
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
DEVELOPMENT CODE
PACKAGE
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 4
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
• Urban Farming; Raising of Chickens
• Parking of RVs, Boats and Trailers
• Major Revisions to Sign Requirements
• Shopping Cart Retrieval Program
Amendments Deferred Until After Adoption
Amendments on a Separate Path
• Recycling
• Alcohol Sales
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 5
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
OBJECTIVES
Provide business and user friendly practices that
promote economic development and streamline the
entitlement process, providing flexibility while
insuring appropriate community review.
Achieve higher standards for the quality of the built
environment through enhanced Design Guidelines
and Development Standards.
Promote sustainable development practices through
enhanced Design Guidelines and Development
Standards that promote low-impact development,
active design, walkable communities, energy
efficiency, and water conservation.
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 6
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Zoning Code Update
• First major update in 30+
Years
• Initiated in 2007 and
re-Initiated in 2013
• Zoning Code is the
regulatory document with
definitive standards:
“shall”
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 7
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Design Guidelines
• Consolidates existing
and new Guidelines
• New Single-Family and
“New Communities”
Chapters
• New Single-Family
Design Review Program
• Design Guidelines are desired objectives: “should”
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 8
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
User Guide
• Case Studies
• Guide to using
the Zoning Code
• Guide to the
development
process
• Links to different
regulations
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 9
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Outreach:
Board of Supervisors workshop
Planning Commission workshop
Community Planning Advisory Councils (CPAC)
External Stakeholder Group – business and
developer interests
Internal stakeholders
Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS)
California Grocers Association
County Disability Advisory Committee
Chamber of Commerce
Other groups
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 10
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Overall Organization
• Collapse uses into
more general
categories
• Add “Use Standards”
to replace footnotes
• Consolidate multiple
Use Tables into a
single table
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 11
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Streamline Entitlement Process and Promote
Economic Development
• Lower hearing authority levels reducing timelines and cost
• Add a new staff-level administrative minor use permit
• Special Development Permit to replace prior variances,
exceptions, lot reduction permits, and review of parking
• Protect the Community Planning Advisory Council process
– Denials bump project to Planning Commission (no change)
– Appeals to the Board of Supervisors with a finding of community-
wide concern by the CPAC (changes explained later)
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 12
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Outreach Comments:
• Some uses are highly controversial and the
hearing authority should not be lowered
• Development interests think Zoning Code
should be more aggressive on reducing
hearing authority
• Minor use permits need clear criteria and
County needs to be careful to balance public
input and streamlining
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 13
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Responses and Changes:
• Staff proposals strike a balance
• Lowering of hearing authority from Board to Planning
Commission are for local uses; regional uses stay at
Board
• Many uses lowered to ZA; controversial items with
CPAC denial automatically heard by Planning
Commission
• Added criteria to minor use permits
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 14
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
• Greater Mix of Uses Without
Barriers
• Higher Intensities/Densities
• Options for Shared or Reduced
Parking
• Place Making Opportunities
• Enhanced Pedestrian Circulation
New Mixed-Use Zones
Santana Row
San Jose, CA
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 15
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Outreach and Responses
• Overwhelming support for creation of Mixed Use Zones
• Added Design Guidelines and Zoning Code standards
to address internal protection of residential uses from
utility areas
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 16
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Landscaping
• Focus on low impact
development practices,
drought tolerant plantings,
and water conservation
• Commercial and industrial areas - Increase in the size of
planters and number of trees
• Residential areas
o Require at least one street tree
o Maintenance and irrigation required
o Waiver for lawns during drought; not trees and shrubs
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 17
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 18
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Outreach Comments and Responses:
• Residential:
o Number of street trees changed to one tree for lots
under 7,500 sq. ft.; two trees if greater than 7,500
square feet
o Applies to new construction
o Alternative landscaping materials allowed
• Landscaping plans to comprehensively address
stormwater quality design, water conservation,
shading, and screening
o Maximum use of sustainable landscaping practices
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 19
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Parking
• Evaluated minimum parking requirements to ensure
consistency with adjacent jurisdictions
• Provides greater options for shared parking
• Reduced parking for many uses
• Reduction for proximity to transit
• Alternatives to satisfy shading requirements – solar
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 20
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Decrease in Minimum Number of Spaces
• Churches: from 1/3 Seats to 1/4 Seats
• Bank/S&L: from 5.0/1,000 to 3.0/1,000
• Office: from 4.5/1,000 to 3.5/1,000
• Medical/Dental: from 6.5/1,000 to 4.5/1,000
• General Retail: from 4.5/1,000 to 4.0/1,000
• Multi-Family: from 2.0 to 1.5 per unit
Increase in Minimum Number of Spaces • Hospital: from 2/Bed to 2/Bed, Plus 1/3 Employees
• Congregate Care: from 1/3 Beds to 1/3 Beds, Plus
1/3 Employees
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 21
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Outreach Comments and Responses:
• Justification for parking reductions requested
• County reductions are comparable to other
jurisdictions in Northern California
• Example: New standard for medical/dental
offices of 4.5/1,000 is more than the City of
Sacramento and close to the cities of Napa and
Rocklin
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 22
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Multi-Family Development Standards
• Form-based approach to multi-family standards by
reducing most definitive standards and relying on Design
Guidelines
• Setback for two-three story multi-family adjacent to single-
family reduced from 100 feet to 20/40/60 standard
• Multi-family Design Guidelines provide robust guidance for
privacy
• Projects up to 150 units are staff level review if all
standards and guidelines are met
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 23
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Outreach Comments and Response:
• Setbacks adjacent to single-family
o CPAC concern over reduced setback
o Development interests suggested further reductions and rely on
Design Guidelines
o Staff proposal streamlines approval of multi-family with appropriate
protections for adjacent uses
• Requirement for assigned parking eliminated
• Maintains requirement for covered parking
• Retail uses allowed with use permit in multi-family zones
• Allows for no upper limit on density with special development
permit in high density urban locations near transit
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 24
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Fencing
• Residential areas:
o Limit height of solid fencing to
36 inches to maintain an open
feeling
o Applies to RD, AR, and AG zones
o Allows up to seven feet on interior lot lines
• Commercial Areas:
o Non-conforming fences between commercial and
residential uses may remain if kept in good repair
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 25
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Outreach and Responses
• Added definition of solid fencing
• Some rural CPAC’s oppose 36 inch limitation in rural
areas; staff proposal to keep this requirement
• Criteria added for minor use permit for solid fences over
36 inches
• Added clarification on non-conforming fences and at
what point worn fences must be removed
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 26
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Billboards
• Only allowed along Freeways; eliminated other areas
• Requires 4:1 square footage removal ratio of existing
billboards
• 2,500 foot distance between digital billboards
• Requires Development Agreement
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 27
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Outreach and Responses:
• Increased setback from residential to 300 feet
• ECOS commented that requirements should be
more restrictive
• Fight the Light group suggested one mile
between digital billboards and 500 feet from
residential
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 28
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Lighting
• Request to research best practices on minimal light
trespass in commercial and industrial areas
• Added new language
on shielding, use of
recess lighting, and
prohibiting direct
illumination on
adjoining properties
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 29
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Noise
• First draft included restriction on loading/unloading
hours of operation
• Revised to rely on stronger
enforcement of the County
Noise Ordinance
o Acoustical study may be
required if non-compliance
is confirmed
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 30
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Solar Facilities and Wind Turbines
Use Permitted Zoning Districts
Entitlement/Process
Small Accessory (I) Solar
All Zoning Districts None: Permitted Accessory Use (A)
Large Accessory (II) Solar Small Wind Turbine
All Zoning Districts Minor Use Permit (MC)
Small Commercial (I) Solar All non-residential (i.e. Res, Ag-Res, UR & IR)
Minor Use Permit (MC) (except RR requires a Conditional Use Permit (CZ))
Large Commercial (II) Solar
RR + Ag & Industrial Conditional Use Permit (CP) (Planning Commission)
Large Wind Turbine Ag, Mixed Use, Commercial & Industrial
Conditional Use Permit (CP) (Planning Commission)
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 31
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Other Items:
• Rural Institutional Findings: Added findings related to
compatibility and intensity
• CPAC Appeals: Added to Zoning Code; CPAC to vote
on appeal after action
• Certain Commercial Uses: Requires minor use permit;
added findings
• Cargo containers: Provide for grandfathering of mini-
storage; clarifies when used in agricultural, residential
and commercial areas
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 32
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Other Items - continued:
• Room Rental and Vacation Rental: Needs administrative
approval
• Yard Parking: Changed to apply to entire front yard (not
setback only)
• Accessory Structures in Agricultural-Residential Areas:
Allows for greater size and maximum size of 5,000 sq ft
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 33
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Other Items - continued:
• Enlargements of Non-Conforming Buildings:
Permitted if addition conforms
• Shopping cart Retrieval Program: Deferred for
complete ordinance
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 34
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Design Review:
• Adds Single-Family and “New Communities” Design
Guidelines
• Provides for Single-Family Design Review Program
• Revised Multi-Family, Commercial, Employment Center,
Village Center/Mixed Use Design Guidelines’
• Adds technical review of staff level
design review of major projects
• Focus on “Active Design” practices
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 35
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Single-Family Design Review:
• New program to increase the livability of residential
neighborhoods
• Neighborhood Site Design Guidelines apply to all
projects
o Focus on walkability and neighborhood compatibility
• Building Design and Landscaping apply to subdivisions
over 20 lots, or optional on smaller projects
o Focus on building elevations, scale and massing,
garages, siding
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 36
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Single-Family Design Review:
• Design Review occurs with building permits for most
projects; with tentative map for projects of eight units per
acre or more
• Review of Single-Family Guidelines – comments to be
received at workshops and public hearing
• Concerns raised about too much focus on neighborhood
compatibility
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 37
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
New Communities Design Guidelines:
• Implement General Plan policy
for design of new communities
on a larger scale
• Design Guidelines focus on the
community’s special character,
theme and livability practices
• Applies to Master Plans in new growth areas and large
projects over 50 acres
• Revised based on input from sub-group; further comments
expected
August 25, 2014 Department of Community Development – Making It Happen! 38
Zoning Code and Design Guidelines Workshop
Summary and Next Steps
• Comprehensive and innovative revision to development
regulations
o Business and user friendly
o Quality design of the built environment
o Sustainable development practices
• Planning Commission to provide direction for public
hearings
• Determine if September 4 hearing is needed
• Board of Supervisors targeted for October
Top Related