Planning Commission backs zoning-code changes to implement housing element, recommends 50-unit administrative threshold with supplemental options

The San Mateo Planning Commission on Tuesday recommended that City Council adopt two zoning-code ordinances to implement the city's recently adopted housing element and to align the zoning code with the General Plan and Measure T.

Staff planning manager Anira Sandhir told the commission the amendments are intended to implement policies in the 2023'024 housing element and to carry out General Plan 2040 and Measure T, which the city says created additional capacity in study areas. "Staff recommends that the planning commission recommend to the city council that the ordinances are exempt from further environmental review under section 15183," Sandhir said, referring to the California Environmental Quality Act guideline staff cited.

The proposed package includes a bundle of code changes to permit residential uses in certain commercial and office districts, align local definitions with state law for housing types such as single-room occupancy and supportive housing, clarify standards for manufactured homes and accessory dwelling units, and remove special-use-permit requirements for multifamily housing in…