Santa Paula Planning Commission recommends ordinance to update development code, align impact-fee timing with state law

The Santa Paula Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council adopt an ordinance updating the city's development code and related definitions, including changes to how and when development impact fees can be collected under state law. The commission moved adoption of Resolution No. 3865 and found the proposed ordinance exempt from, or not a project under, the California Environmental Quality Act as part of the motion.

Planning staff told the commission the items before them are the second set of development-code updates in an ongoing municipal-code revision. "SB 937 passed last year and [is] effective 01/01/2025," the presenter said, and the proposed changes are intended "to bring alignment to the new Chapter 16, with state law." The presentation said the principal concrete change from state law affects…