Commission recommends zoning amendments to implement housing element and SB 9 rules

The Redlands Planning Commission voted on May 27, 2025 to recommend City Council adoption of a package of zoning text and specific-plan amendments aimed at implementing the City’s 2021–2029 Housing Element and aligning local rules with recent state law (including SB 9).

Planning staff presented a broad set of changes: updated definitions (supportive housing, transitional housing, employee housing), a new single-room-occupancy section for multifamily zones, formalized agricultural worker housing standards, and implementation provisions for SB 9 (administrative “urban lot splits” and two-unit developments in single-family zones). Staff also proposed removing a conditional-use permit requirement that applied to multifamily housing in some cases and adding clearer development standards for accessory buildings and minor exceptions.

Staff said the SB 9 provisions would require an applicant to be a real person (with limited exceptions for community land trusts or nonprofits), require an affidavit of intent to occupy one unit as a principal residence for three years, and provide an administrative review/approval path to avoid protracted discretionary hearings. Staff explained SB 9 and related amendments are intended to preserve single-family neighborhood character while allowing limited, state-authorized infill housing types.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about wildfire, flood risk and lot-size constraints; staff answered that projects in hazard areas must still meet applicable building and safety standards and that SB 9 and other provisions include site-development standards to address those issues. Several written comments and public speakers raised concerns about infrastructure, wildfire risk, and the potential effect of SB 9 in rural/agricultural areas; staff noted the housing element had been certified and that the proposed language is intended to conform with state law and HCD guidance.

Commissioner Stanson moved and Commissioner Smith seconded a recommendation to the City Council to adopt the ordinance text amendment and associated specific-plan amendments. The commission voted in favor.

Why it matters: These amendments implement state housing law and the city’s housing element, streamline approvals for certain affordable and supportive housing projects, and change how the city processes requests such as urban lot splits. If adopted by the City Council, the changes will alter local review pathways for a range of housing types and should be considered alongside infrastructure and public-safety planning.