County adopts 2025 zoning cleanup package; Montecito growth management ordinance repealed to comply with state law
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Summary
Planning staff presented a general ordinance amendment package to clarify and correct multiple land‑use codes, implement state density‑bonus changes for student housing and repeal the Montecito Growth Management Ordinance; the Board unanimously adopted the package as revised.
Planning staff presented a consolidated package of Land Use and Development Code, Coastal Zoning Ordinance and related amendments intended to clarify, correct and simplify existing zoning provisions and to align local code with recent state law changes.
Karina Martin, planner for the department, told the Board the package includes minor revisions to the agricultural enterprise ordinance, adds an exemption for certain art, garden and architecture tours in the coastal zone, updates density bonus provisions to reflect Assembly Bill 3116 for student housing, and proposes repeal of the Montecito Growth Management Ordinance (MGMO) because it conflicts with State law (SB 330).
"The MGMO currently is a restriction and limitation on housing development, so it does not comply with state law," staff said, explaining the repeal would implement a housing element program and align the code with the Coastal Zone and state density bonus statutes.
The package was revised at the hearing to remove proposed edits to ADU and junior ADU rules so those changes can be folded into a broader ADU update later this year. The Board voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance amendments and to submit required Local Coastal Program materials to the California Coastal Commission for review and certification.
Why it matters: the amendments aim to reduce inconsistencies in county land‑use code, to carry forward prior planning commission recommendations and to ensure county ordinances conform with current state housing law. Repealing the MGMO was explicitly linked to SB 330’s prohibition on moratoria and similar limits on housing production.
Next steps: staff will file the local coastal program amendment with the Coastal Commission and return with any further ADU-specific updates later this year.
