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PLANNING COMMISSION STUDY SESSION ON PHASE-2 AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 16 OF THE STOCKTON MUNICIPAL CODE
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Planning Commission receive a presentation from staff and provide direction to staff for the criteria for the second phase (hereafter “Phase-2”) of multiple amendments Title 16 (Development Code) of the Stockton Municipal Code
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Summary
The first phase (hereafter “Phase-1”) was approved by the City Council on June 23, 2020. Phase-2 includes additional changes for consistency and clarity, and could possibly add additional incentives, exemptions for streamlining, and best practice standards for housing and commercial uses. The final phase of the amendments will align the land-use zoning map with the General Plan land use map, is anticipated to proceed in late 2020, and may require additional environmental analysis.
To help review the proposed Phase-2 criteria, Table 1 below provides a summary listed by subject matter and reason for the proposed amendment.
|
Topic |
Possible Action |
Reason for Amendment |
|
Affordable Housing |
Provide additional Density Bonus incentives and regulatory streamlining for Affordable Housing. |
Streamline, State Law |
|
Tiny Homes |
Phase-1 included definitions and process. Phase-2 would expand on this and possibly include design standards and other possible zones. |
Clarity, Streamline |
|
Solar Panels |
Exemption to align with state law. |
State Law |
|
Supportive Housing |
Allow Supportive Housing by right in zones where multifamily and mixed-use development is permitted per state law. |
Consistency with General Plan, State Law |
|
Housing typology and standards |
Clarify housing typology definitions and standards for consistency per state law, including potential clarifications for Sober Living homes, Group Housing, Rooming and Boarding Houses, Transitional Housing, and Residential Care Facilities. |
Consistency with General Plan, State Law, Clarity |
|
Parking |
Provisions for ministerial deviations and standards related to Parking, in addition to parking reductions in furtherance of transit oriented and affordable housing development. |
Clarity, Streamline, Consistency with General Plan |
|
Deviations |
Provide clarifications on deviation criteria, waivers, and variances to align allowance with General Plan policies. |
Streamline, Clarity |
|
Definitions and standards |
Establish definitions and standards for additional land uses, including urban breweries and wineries, outdoor dining, and urban agriculture. |
Streamline, Clarity |
|
Cannabis |
Clarify ambiguous language concerning Cannabis wavier parameters. |
Clarity |
|
Fence |
Align allowable fence heights of development code with building code. |
Clarity |
DISCUSSION
Background
In 2016 the Stockton City Council directed City staff to overhaul the 2035 General Plan to better align the community vision with expected growth patterns within the next 20-years. After years of effort, the City Council adopted the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan on December 4, 2018. As required by State Law (Government Code Section 65860), the City must amend its zoning development standards and map to be consistent with the General Plan. While efforts are underway to evaluate the existing zoning map to determine property zoning changes needed to match with the General Plan map, amendments to the Development Code standards is occurring in three phases. The recently completed phase one consisted of clean ups to the code to comply with State law and align development standards with General Plan policies. This second phase includes less complex development code changes. The third and final phase will align the land-use zoning map with the General Plan land use map and is anticipated to proceed in late 2020 and may require additional environmental analysis.
Present Situation
Staff will make a make a presentation on the subject matter areas and proposed possible actions for the Phase - 2 amendment. Staff recommends the Planning Commission consider the possible actions and provide direction/feedback to staff on whether the proposal is sufficient or if additional topics should be explored. Staff will use the feedback to finalize the Phase-2 amendments. Should the Planning Commission agree with the Phase-2 outline, staff anticipates the matter will be presented to the Commission in Fall 2020 for a recommendation to the City Council.
Environmental Analysis
Direction to staff of the Phase-2 amendments are not considered a discretionary “project” under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and therefore will not require analysis.
Public Comment
The input received at this study session will be used by staff to perform further analysis and to develop recommendations for the second phase of amending Title 16 (Development Code) of the Stockton Municipal Code.
This staff report was prepared by Planning Manager Matt Diaz, (209) 937-8598; Matt.Diaz@stocktonca.gov.