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Brea council introduces omnibus zoning update to align city code with state ADU rules
Summary
The City of Brea introduced Ordinance No. 1254 (ZOTA 2024-01), a multi-topic zoning code update that would codify Mills Act guidelines, align accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules with SB 9, revise parking and fence-height standards and centralize planning-entitlement language; the hearing closed with no public testimony and staff recommended scheduling adoption at a future meeting.
The City of Brea City Council on March 4 introduced an omnibus zoning text amendment, Ordinance No. 1254 (ZOTA 2024-01), intended to modernize multiple sections of the municipal code.
Assistant Planner Esteban Rubiano outlined seven topic areas in the package, saying the update would "codif[y] the Mills Act contract," align accessory dwelling unit and SB 9 provisions with recent state law and revise on-site parking, fence and wall height rules, planning-entitlement applicability, temporary use permits and several internal consistency and grammar corrections.
"As of 2023, the city has initiated an ongoing effort to update the code, and to modernize the language and, consistency," Rubiano said during the staff presentation, summarizing the update as the third round of omnibus changes.
City Planner Joanne Wong said the ADU changes reflect new state mandates and clarified how the city currently treats front-yard and detached ADUs. "So, yes, state as you mentioned, state has variety of, mandates that the city, has to allow certain types of ADUs at certain locations," Wong said, and she confirmed the city's existing code still requires detached ADUs on single-family lots to meet front-yard setback standards so they are not placed in front of the primary house.
The proposed amendments would also allow, on existing multifamily lots only, as many as eight detached ADUs in certain circumstances; staff said the city code caps detached ADUs at 1,200 square feet and retains a small minimum size for efficiency units. Staff also said parking exemptions that apply near transit stops (within roughly a half-mile) can limit local parking requirements in some ADU situations.
Rubiano told the council the project was noticed in accordance with the city's public-noticing requirements, the Planning Commission recommended approval and staff recommended waiving full reading and introducing the ordinance. The public hearing drew no public speakers and was closed with no oral testimony.
Council recorded a motion to introduce the ordinance, which passed 5-0 on the record. Rubiano asked the council to schedule adoption at a future regular meeting; the staff report referenced March dates for adoption scheduling.
What happens next: the council introduced the ordinance and will take a future agenda action to adopt or amend the ordinance after receiving any additional review or edits from the council or staff.
