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CC - CONSENT ITEM: Adoption of an Ordinance Approving City-Initiated Zoning Code Amendment P2026-0066-ZCA to Amend the Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) to Implement California State Senate Bill 79, the Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act.
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Meeting Date: May 26, 2026
Contact Person/Dept: Lauren Wrenn / Planning & Development Department
Troy Evangelho / Planning & Development Department
Phone Number: (310) 253-5766 / (310) 253-5744
Fiscal Impact: Yes [ ] No [X] General Fund: Yes [ ] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (05/21/2026)
Department Approval: Mark E. Muenzer, Planning and Development Director (5/19/2026) _____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt an ordinance approving Zoning Code Amendment P2026-0066-ZCA to implement interim standards for California State Senate Bill 79, the Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act as stated in Exhibit A of the Ordinance (Attachment 1), with a condition that this ordinance does not become effective until SB 79 becomes effective.
BACKGROUND
The proposed Zoning Code Amendment was presented to the Planning Commission on April 22, 2026. Following the public hearing, discussion, and deliberation, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution No. 2026-P001 by a vote of 4 to 0, recommending to the City Council approval of the amendments with a condition that the ordinance does not take effect until SB 79 becomes effective, and finding this amendment exempt from CEQA pursuant to Government Code Section 65912.160(c).
The City Council public hearing was held on May 11, 2026. The City Council voted unanimously to introduce the ordinance approving the amendments and adopting the CEQA exemption, as shown in Attachment 1, with the condition that the ordinance will not become effective until SB 79 becomes effective.
DISCUSSION
The proposed ordinance implements Senate Bill 79, the Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act, sets multifamily standards for the R1 and R2 zones, and defers effectuation for designated historic properties.
Staff will also complete a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Alternative Plan, including outreach and community input, in order to shift the residential densities set by SB 79. Work on the TOD Alternative Plan will begin after the final SB 79 maps are published by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) in July, and is anticipated to take 6 to 10 months, depending on project scope.
The proposed ordinance and Zoning Code Amendment is presented for adoption by the City Council.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
California Government Code §65912.160(c) states:
“(1) A local government may enact an ordinance to make its zoning code consistent with the provisions of this chapter, subject to review by the department pursuant to subdivision (d). This ordinance may include objective development standards, conditions, and policies, applying to transit-oriented housing developments, that are demonstrated by a preponderance of evidence to not physically preclude, alone or in concert, the applicable housing development standards of Section 65912.157.
(2) The ordinance described in paragraph (1) shall not be considered a project under Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.”
Pursuant to the above, the ordinance is not considered a project under CEQA.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There are no direct financial impacts from the recommended Zoning Code Amendment. Implementation of the amendment will create additional opportunities for housing applications and housing production, which may in turn lead to higher volumes of development applications and corresponding entitlement, permit, and development impact fees.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2026-05-11_ATT1_Proposed City Council Ordinance including Exhibit A: Proposed Zoning Code Text Changes in “strikethrough/underline” format
recommended action
MOTION(S)
That the City Council:
Adopt an ordinance approving Zoning Code Amendment P2026-0066-ZCA to implement interim standards for California State Senate Bill 79, the Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act as stated in Exhibit A of the Ordinance (Attachment 1), with a condition that this ordinance does not become effective until SB 79 becomes effective.