Grass Valley planning commission recommends SB 10 ordinance to allow up to 10 dwelling units in town core

The Grass Valley Planning Commission on Jan. 21 voted to recommend that the City Council adopt an ordinance, pursuant to California Senate Bill 10 (SB 10), to allow up to 10 dwelling units per parcel in the city’s town core zoning district. The motion passed with three votes in favor and one commissioner recused.

City planner Amy Wilson told the commission the draft ordinance would use SB 10 to enable conversions of underused upper‑level and basement spaces to residences. She said the proposal would cap residential density at 10 dwelling units per parcel, require a recorded restrictive covenant preventing conversion of those new units to short‑term rentals, and require an off‑street parking agreement providing one parking space per unit located within 1,300 feet of the parcel. Wilson also said the ordinance would prohibit conversion of ground‑floor street‑fronting storefronts to residential use and must designate at least two‑thirds of the parcel for residential use to qualify…