title
CC - Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Title 17, Zoning, of the Culver City Municipal Code, Section 17.210.020 Table 2-3 - Residential Districts Development Standards and Section 17.700.010 - Definitions, Zoning Code Amendment P-2015-0103-ZCA.
body
Contact Person/Dept: Sol Blumenfeld / Community Development
Thomas Gorham / Planning
Phone Number: 310-253-5700
310-253-5727
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Commission Action Required: Yes [X] No [X] Dates: 07/22/15; 08/26/15; 09/15/15; 10/21/15; 11/16/15
Commission Name: Planning Commission
Public Notification: E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (12/30/15); Ongoing Topics - Planning and Zoning “Mansionization” (12/30/15)
Department Approval: Sol Blumenfeld, Director of Community Development
(12/23/15)
______________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council adopt the proposed ordinance (Attachment No. 1) approving Zoning Code Amendment P-2015-0103-ZCA, amending Title 17, Zoning (Zoning Code) of the Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC), Section 17.210.020 Residential Zoning Districts Development Standards, Table 2-3 concerning R-1 properties; and Section 1.700.010 Definitions of Terms - Adding terms: “Basement” and “Floor Area Ratio (FAR)”.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
Ordinance
From July 8, 2015 through September 16, 2015 the Planning Commission conducted three Study Sessions totaling approximately nine hours and including public comments from approximately 20-25 speakers at each study session and approximately 100 written comments; and reviewed in depth 25 potential regulations related to oversized single family development in established neighborhoods. Following the Planning Commission study sessions and public hearing, the City Council and the Planning Commission held a joint study session on November 16, 2015 to discuss suggested potential changes to the Zoning Code and/or permit and construction process. The areas of concern included privacy, building massing, building height, building size, and the construction process. In evaluating potential Zoning Code changes, the City Council and Planning Commission sought to balance the rights of property owners to improve and develop their properties to meet family needs and personal preferences while protecting the character of established neighborhoods and limiting the impacts of new development on adjacent properties. The recommended Zoning Code amendments contained in the proposed ordinance serve to achieve these objectives and further study and recommendations by the Planning Commission on additional methods to address the issue of oversized single family development in established neighborhoods will be brought back to the City Council over the coming months.
At the City Council meeting of December 14, 2015, the City Council unanimously introduced the proposed ordinance approving Zoning Code Amendment, P-2015-0103-ZCA. The proposed ordinance is brought back tonight for adoption by the City Council.
Pending Project Applications
At the December 14, 2015 City Council meeting, there was also City Council discussion on how projects that are in process will be affected by the new regulations once the ordinance is adopted and takes effect. Staff indicated it would report back on the matter at the time the ordinance was brought back for adoption.
The Zoning Code provides that all “completed” applications that are in process prior to the effective date of any amendment to the Zoning Code are subject to the development standards in effect at that time. Specifically, Zoning Code Section 17.100.020.E states:
E. Effect of Zoning Code Amendments on Projects in Progress. All land use permit applications that have been determined by the Division to be complete before the effective date of this Title, or any amendment to this Title, will be processed in compliance with the requirements in effect when the application was accepted as complete.
For a ministerial (by right) project, such as a single-family home remodel or new construction, a complete application is generally one where all required plans have been submitted and all required fees have been paid.
Further Study of Specific Neighborhoods
The City Council also requested that staff follow up the proposed code amendment with specific nuanced standards for particular neighborhoods and provide a list of surrounding cities using consultants for recent larger single family development code revisions and include a summary of their scope of work. Staff will provide that summary at the January 25, 2016 City Council meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the adoption of the proposed ordinance.
ATTACHMENTS:
Proposed Ordinance, including Exhibit A- Proposed Text Amendments
RECOMMENDED MOTION(S):
That the City Council:
Adopt an ordinance amending Title 17, Zoning, of the Culver City Municipal Code, Section 17.210.020 Residential Zoning Districts Development Standards, Table 2-3 concerning R-1 properties; and Section 1.700.010 Definitions of Terms - Adding terms: “Basement” and “Floor Area Ratio (FAR)”.