City Council to Discuss Changes to Resilient City Ordinances During Nov. 12 Public Hearing

The City Council will be holding a public hearing on Tuesday, November 12, at or after 5:00 p.m. for the proposed changes to the Resilient City Combining District and the Resilient City Development Measures. The proposed changes incorporated comments from a public survey conducted in July 2023, developer outreach, feedback from City departments, and recommendations from the City's Planning Commission. The proposed amendments include, but are not limited to, new citywide rebuilding measures following natural disasters, mobile food facility updates, and modifications to the Design Review process.

The Resilient City (-RC) Combining District was adopted by the City Council on October 24, 2017, to facilitate and expedite the rebuild process in those areas of the City that were impacted by the 2017 Tubbs and Nuns wildfires (Fires), with subsequent amendments adopted in 2018, 2019 and 2020 to address technical issues, impacts related to the Glass Fire, and to extend the life of the Ordinance. The Resilient City Development Measures ordinance was adopted by Council on April 10, 2018, to address housing needs and economic development within the City following the 2017 fires, with subsequent amendments adopted in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023 to address technical updates, impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to extend the life of the Ordinance.

The proposed ordinance includes four categories of changes to the City's Zoning Code, which are as follows: Resilient City Standards, Process Streamlining, Economic Vitality, and Zoning Code Consistency.

Resilient City Standards

The Resilient City Standards will be added as Chapter 20-35 to the Zoning Code, replacing and updating the existing Resilient City (-RC) Combining District, that was created for the rebuilding of Santa Rosa after the 2017 and 2020 wildfires. Updates include a new process for responding to potential hazards and streamlining measures for properties affected by hazards within Preservation Districts and adjacent to creeks. A period of 6 years is proposed for the period of time an affected property can benefit from the new rebuilding standards after a natural disaster.

This change also includes the removal of the Resilient City Combining District and rezoning of 8,383 parcels to remove the -RC district from the Zoning Map. As of the effective date of the proposed ordinance, the Tubbs/Nuns fire affected parcels would no longer qualify for the streamlined rebuilding measures. Glass Fire affected properties would qualify for the updated standards until October 2026. The Temporary Housing Use also has proposed updates to be limited to individuals affected by a natural disaster.

Process Streamlining

Process Streamlining changes include modifications to the permitting process for design review and land use approval for specified projects. This includes Director level design review for Half-Plex and Duplex units, codifying the existing Streamlined Design Review process for Major Design Review projects that are for Residential, Childcare, or Lodging uses in a Priority Development Area, as well as adding Streamlined Design Review for 100% Affordable Housing projects. Additional proposed amendments address the process for "Changes to an approved project" and reduced permitting requirements for the following land uses: Child Day Care, Duplex, Half-plex, Single Family Attached, Multifamily, Residential Small Lot Subdivisions, Single Room Occupancy Facility, Emergency Shelter - 10 or fewer beds.

Economic Vitality

Economic Vitality changes include increasing the length of approval for certain land uses and events through a Temporary Use Permit. Mobile Food Vending changes include updated permitting requirements, ease of permit transfer between operators, standards for multiple facilities, updates to comply with state law, and the removal of the 200-foot buffer between facilities.

Zoning Code Consistency

Zoning Code Consistency changes are to ensure all modifications are correctly updated throughout the various chapters of the Zoning Code. These changes include new definitions to update housing type classifications, new terms for the Resilient City Standards, updating Mobile Food Vending terms for consistency with state law, and defining the City's Priority Development Areas. Additional changes for consistency include the removal of the Resilient City Development Measures, the removal of the Resilient City Combining District, and updates to Landscaping, Parking, and Setbacks. Consistency changes related to process streamlining include updates to the Land Use Tables and Standards for Specific Land Uses including Emergency Shelters, Day Care Facilities, Residential Small Lot Subdivisions, and Single Room Occupancy Facilities.

Contact:

For questions and comments, please contact Christian Candelaria, City Planner.

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