Commissioners review public-review draft of comprehensive zoning ordinance update; staff outlines streamlined permits and parking policy changes

Milpitas planning staff presented the public-review draft of a comprehensive zoning ordinance update at a Planning Commission study session, outlining reorganized code structure, clarified land-use tables, modest parking reductions tied to alternative-transportation measures and new objective design standards for newly constructed single-family homes.

Holly Pearson, project manager for the zoning update, said the second phase of the two-phase project delivers a full public-review draft and that staff and consultants prepared the 430-page draft to modernize, simplify and align the municipal code with the General Plan. Consultant Jen Murillo of Lisa Wise Consulting reviewed key changes, including moving zoning regulations into a new Title 13 to allow clearer numbering and modular amendments.

Murillo said the draft consolidates and modernizes land-use categories, lowers permit-review levels for certain uses in appropriate zones and introduces calculated, moderate reductions in parking…