Title
2024 Title 17 Omnibus Ordinance (Bundle): An Ordinance Amending Section 15.148.920, Various Provisions of Title 17, and Sections 18.52.010, 18.56.810, and 18.56.830 of the Sacramento City Code Relating to Planning and Development (M23-002)
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FileID
File ID: 2024-01088
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Location
Location: Citywide
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Recommendation
Recommendation: Conduct a public hearing and upon conclusion pass a Motion: 1) determining the ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guideline Sections 15060(c)(3), 15061(b)(3), and 15378(b)(5); and 2) adopting an Ordinance amending section 15.148.920, various provisions of Title 17, and sections 18.52.010, 18.56.810, and 18.56.830 relating to planning and development.
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Contact
Contact: Kevin Colin, Zoning Administrator, 916-808-5260, kcolin@cityofsacramento.org; Jamie Mosler, Associate Planner, 916-808-7875, jmosler@cityofsacramento.org; Community Development Department
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Presenter
Presenter: Kevin Colin, Zoning Administrator, 916-808-5260, kcolin@cityofsacramento.org, Community Development Department
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Attachments
Attachments:
1-Background
2-Ordinance (Redline)
3-Ordinance (Clean)
4-Ordinance (Figures)
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Description/Analysis
IssueDetail
Issue Detail: Staff has prepared an omnibus ordinance that proposes many different amendments related to development. The Planning and Development Code (Title 17 of the City Code) is the primary means by which the City’s land use policy is implemented. Pursuant to the City Council’s Rules of Procedure, the Council is to consider two findings when considering amendments to Title 17 of the City Code:
1. As amended, this title complements, supports, and facilitates the implementation of the goals, policies, and other provisions of the general plan and the City’s specific plans and transit village plans; and
2. The amendment promotes the public health, safety, convenience, and welfare of the City.
The proposed amendments set forth in the ordinance fall into three categories:
1. State Law Consistency: These amendments respond to planning and zoning laws passed during the 2022 state legislative session.
2. Streamlining: These amendments refine existing regulations without establishing a fundamental new policy.
3. Administrative Cleanup: These amendments correct typographical errors.
A detailed explanation of proposed amendments is provided in the Background section of this report. Amendments to portions of the City Code outside Title 17 also concern planning and development topics. Amendments to Title 15 concern sign standards, and amendments to Title 18 concern clarifying development impact mitigation fees that may be deferred.
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PolicyConsiderations
Policy Considerations: The proposed ordinance was drafted prior to adoption of the 2040 General Plan and is mindful of its policy changes. The ordinance is not a replacement for future work (in 2024 and 2025) to fully align Title 17 of the City Code with the 2040 General Plan. Also, the ordinance is not intended to specifically implement any particular 2040 General Plan policy. Rather, this ordinance seeks to make pragmatic change that results in a Planning and Development Code that is accurate (e.g., no typographical errors), consistent with State law (e.g., passed in 2022), and one that refines the implementation of certain policies in a manner that is both consistent with the 2035 General Plan and not in conflict with the 2040 General Plan.
The ordinance includes amendments that advance the following goals and policies of the 2040 General Plan:
Land Use Element
Goal LUP-1: A compact urban footprint and sustainable development pattern with infrastructure that supports efficient delivery of public services while protecting surrounding open space lands.
Goal LUP-2: Balanced and connected community with thriving neighborhoods and centers and development intensities linked to transit.
Goal LUP-3: Flexible development standards to promote revitalization in corridors and centers.
Staff Analysis: Orderly and well-planned development cannot be easily achieved without accurate and clear regulations. The ordinance provides for clearer regulations, consistency with new state laws, corrects typographical errors, and streamlines existing rules to better implement existing policies. In doing so, the ordinance helps staff and code users maintain focus on achieving the policy goal rather than be distracted by questions about inaccuracies, inconsistencies (e.g., with state law), or burdened with cumbersome processes that achieve the same goal with more effort and cost.
Housing Element
Goal 1: Increase Overall Housing Production. Facilitate the construction of 45,580 new housing units by 2029.
Goal 2: Increase Affordable and Workforce Housing Production. Support the production of 16,769 new lower-income housing units by 2029 and increase other affordable housing opportunities within the existing housing stock.
Goal 3: Promoting Accessory Dwelling Units. Facilitate the construction of at least 600 dwelling units by 2029.
Staff Analysis: For the reasons stated in the staff analysis above, the ordinance advances these goals. The ordinance includes important clarifications (e.g., accessory dwelling units) and streamlining changes (e.g., open space for housing in Central City Special Planning District, tandem parking for multi-unit dwellings) in furtherance of housing production.
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EconomicImpacts
Economic Impacts: None.
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EnvironmentalConsiderations
Environmental Considerations: The Community Development Department, Environmental Planning Services Section has determined, pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15060(c)(3), 15061(b)(3), and 15378(b)(5), that the proposed ordinance is exempt from CEQA. The ordinance consists of amendments to Title 17 to conform to existing state law, streamline the development process, and fix typographical errors. None of these amendments will result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment and as such the ordinance is exempt from CEQA review.
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Sustainability
Sustainability: The proposed ordinance includes amendments that help to make zoning standards easier to understand and implement. This will help facilitate development in the City in a manner consistent with existing policy, including that relating to sustainability.
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Commission/Committee Action
Commission/Committee Action: On May 8, 2023, the Planning Director initiated, pursuant to City Code Section 17.916-010(A), the proposed ordinance. On April 11, 2024, the Planning & Design Commission conducted a public hearing on the ordinance and, with a unanimous vote, forwarded the ordinance, as presented, to the City Council for consideration.
Most recently, on May 21, 2024, the Law & Legislation Committee considered the ordinance and, with a unanimous vote, forwarded it to the City Council for consideration. The Committee’s action included amendments to City Code section 17.228.230 which removed the limitation on the number of home occupation permits per dwelling and an obsolete reference to residential parking. The ordinance accompanying this staff report includes two additional staff-initiated changes: (1) to correct a typographical error in section 75 of the ordinance; and (2) to remove the 10% limitation on floor area per dwelling that may be devoted to a home occupation.
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RationaleforRecommendation
Rationale for Recommendation: Staff recommends the City Council pass a motion determining the ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guideline Sections 15060(c)(3), 15061(b)(3), and 15378(b)(5), and also adopting an Ordinance amending various provisions of Title 15, 17, and 18 relating to planning and development. The amendments contained in the proposed ordinance help to refine the City’s Planning and Development Code to make implementation easier and more streamlined, which supports several goals and policies of the General Plan.
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FinancialConsiderations
Financial Considerations: Not applicable.
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LocalBusinessEnterprise
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
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