Planning Commission recommends City Council approve Title 19 zoning and subdivision updates tied to recent state housing laws

The Roseville Planning Commission on May 8 voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council approve a package of zoning ordinance and subdivision ordinance amendments to Title 19 (zoning) and to review related Title 18 changes. The proposals include staff-recommended housekeeping updates, new local standards for emerging uses and revisions required by state housing laws passed in 2024.

What staff proposed Staff said the update contains several elements: a new definition for microbreweries, revisions to use classifications (amusement centers, personal services, eating and drinking establishments), allowing veterinary clinics in the regional commercial zone with a conditional use permit, and allowing microbreweries in industrial zones. The amendment would also formalize standards for temporary “pod” storage on residential property and add shipping containers to the list of prohibited accessory structures in residential zones.

Staff also proposed procedural changes intended to streamline low‑impact requests: parking-reduction requests for restaurants that seek 15% or less reduction of cumulative center parking would be approved by the planning manager rather than by the commission; requests greater than 15% would remain before the commission. The planning manager also would become the approving authority for routine extensions of major project permits in specified circumstances.

State law-driven changes Staff summarized amendments required by state legislation: AB 1801 (limits administrative/office area in supportive housing), AB 2694 and AB 3116 (changes to density bonus provisions and other housing-related updates), SB 1211 (changes to accessory dwelling unit rules, including increases to ADU allowances on multifamily sites) and SB 1123 (updates to the ministerial 10-lot multifamily mapping process). Staff said the city will add a footnote to corridor plan permitted-use tables to set a 20‑units-per-acre minimum where HCD requested higher density to avoid underbuilding in corridor areas (with exceptions for parcels under 0.5 acres that have existing single-family structures built before 2025).

Subdivision ordinance changes To comply with SB 1123, staff proposed updates to the ministerial multifamily mapping process, including clarifications that preclude imposing a lower height limit than what already exists in the zoning district, refine minimum density assumptions to 66% of the maximum allowed density for qualifying lots, and add eligibility criteria for small vacant single-family parcels (size limits, recent occupancy rules and minimum new lot size of 1,200 square feet). Staff said the changes are likely to affect a relatively small number of infill sites citywide.

Public comment and commission action Staff said the amendments had been discussed at the Roseville Coalition of Neighborhood Associations and at the commission’s March 13 meeting (which had requested a staff threshold for parking-reduction authority). There were no public speakers on the ordinance amendments at the May 8 hearing. Commissioner Randolph moved to recommend approval to the City Council and to review Title 18 changes; the commission voted unanimously in favor. Staff said the project is categorically exempt from CEQA under CEQA Guideline 15061(b)(3) (no potential to cause significant effects on the environment).

Next steps The Planning Commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to the City Council for final action. Staff said additional outreach materials and the redlined ordinance text are available in the staff report and exhibits.