Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Planning Process topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
San Ramon commission forwards CityWalk streamlining amendment with conditions, asks staff to separate streamlining from site DAs and improve transparency
Summary
The commission voted to forward an amendment that would allow zoning‑administrator review for some CityWalk housing entitlements but asked staff to separate the streamlining provision into a standalone amendment, to document the state housing element basis and to change ZA meeting timing so public attendance is easier.
On July 15 the San Ramon Planning Commission recommended that the City Council consider amendments that would permit streamlined zoning‑administrator review of certain housing entitlements within the CityWalk master plan area, but the commission attached a set of conditions and requested clarifying changes before council action.
The amendment would allow the zoning administrator to implement the CityWalk master plan’s approved framework for future housing development plans without requiring every implementing development plan to return to the planning commission. Staff and the applicant said the mechanism is intended to satisfy a housing‑element commitment (Program 22) that asked the city to reduce duplicative review for projects already approved at the master‑plan level.
Commissioners supported the general goal of streamlining but expressed a series of procedural and transparency concerns. The commission asked staff and the applicant to separate the CityWalk streamlining language from the two site‑specific development‑agreement amendments under review, creating a distinct fourth amendment that addresses CityWalk review rules. Commissioners also requested that staff strengthen the council packet by documenting the state housing‑element and HCD context that prompted Program 22 and to revise timing so zoning‑administrator hearings are scheduled at times when the public can attend.
The commission’s action A motion to forward the amendment(s) to council with the commission’s recommended changes passed with a 3‑0 vote and one abstention. The recommendation asked council to: (1) treat streamlining for CityWalk as a separate amendment, (2) limit the streamlining language to housing development plan applications consistent with the CityWalk master plan, (3) require staff to expand the council packet with HCD/housing‑element background, and (4) explore moving zoning‑administrator hearings to more accessible times.
Why commissioners raised concerns Public commenters and several commissioners argued that city code already gives the zoning administrator authority for many approvals, and they worried that moving routine actions away from the planning commission could reduce transparency and public participation. Several speakers asked that the zoning administrator retain discretion to refer any matter to the planning commission; staff confirmed the proposed language does not eliminate that ability.
Next steps Staff will draft the standalone CityWalk streamlining amendment and incorporate the commission’s requested exhibit and explanatory materials for the City Council agenda. The City Council will make the final decision on whether to adopt the development‑agreement amendments and any streamlining mechanism.
