Buellton council amends housing element and introduces zoning and specific-plan ordinances to align emergency-shelter rules

The Buellton City Council on April 24 adopted a resolution amending the housing element of the General Plan to reflect a previously adopted urgency ordinance on emergency shelters, and introduced two ordinances to update the zoning code and the Avenue of the Flags Specific Plan to implement housing-element programs.

Planners told the council the package consists of three linked actions: Resolution 25-11 to revise housing element background and justification language related to emergency shelters; Ordinance 25‑02 to amend Title 19 (zoning) to codify the earlier urgency ordinance and implement adopted housing programs; and Ordinance 25‑03 to amend the Avenue of the Flags Specific Plan for consistency with the proposed housing and zoning changes.

Associate Planner Tara Morales summarized the proposals as housekeeping and implementation measures. The zoning ordinance amendments would: codify the urgency ordinance that allows emergency shelters by right in the industrial zone and removes that…