Moraga council moves to introduce scenic-corridor amendments aimed at easing housing constraints

The Town of Moraga on Nov. 12 introduced for first reading an ordinance amending the town’s scenic-corridor regulations as an implementing action of the 2023–2031 housing element, following a multi-hour presentation and debate.

Planning staff recommended several changes they said were intended to reduce regulatory constraints on eight housing-opportunity sites in the Moraga Center specific plan (MCSP): shrinking the scenic-corridor buffer from 500 feet to 200 feet measured from the right-of-way; reducing the MCSP frontage setback from 40 feet to 25 feet; and eliminating an 8-foot upper-story stepback requirement for floors above the first story. Staff told the council these changes would align standards with the Rheem Center area and reduce costs and grading impacts on smaller sites.

"We looked at court and municipal scenic-corridor ordinances elsewhere, and most jurisdictions regulate frontage rather than a 500-foot buffer," planning staff said, recommending the 200-foot right-of-way approach as more consistent…