Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Lemoore studies development standards, debates front-yard carports, sidewalks and park requirements
Summary
City planner Steve Brandt led a study-session July 1 to review Lemoore's development-review process, state constraints and local standards on parks, sidewalks, street widths, garage/carport placement and multifamily design. Council asked staff for follow-up examples and possible code amendments; no formal ordinance change was adopted.
Lemoore City officials reviewed the city’s development-review process and existing building and design standards during a study session at the Lemoore City Council meeting on July 1, 2025.
City Planner Steve Brandt told the council that state laws and recent changes have shifted many housing projects to “allowed by right” status, meaning developers meeting zoning and design standards can proceed without conditional-use hearings. “Used to be that a lot more projects would come to planning commission and city council and through the use permit process,” Brandt said, describing an evolution in how projects are reviewed.
The discussion covered how state planning law, CEQA, the Subdivision Map Act and court decisions shape what the city can require of developers, Brandt said, and he cited Nolan and Dolan as examples of cases that limit what local governments may demand from applicants. He summarized local rules such as a minimum 5,000-square-foot lot in the low-density residential zone, a requirement that “all new neighborhoods shall offer at least one…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
