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Council continues development-code updates to May 5 after staff outlines streamlining and objective-design work
Summary
Staff presented multiple development-code changes including typographical corrections, ADU/open-space clarifications, allowing certain service uses in mixed-use zones, reduced setbacks in medium-density zones and streamlined temporary-use permits; council voted to continue the item for a May 5 presentation on objective design standards.
City planning staff presented the latest round of development-code amendments and asked the council to continue the hearing to May 5 for a follow-up on objective site and architectural design standards.
Interim planning manager Salifu and interim director Elena Lee laid out three primary objectives for this round: (1) housekeeping corrections to align code references and ADU height/yard standards; (2) internal consistency changes including aligning curb-cut and backyard open‑space provisions (noting the council previously reduced some backyard requirements to 500 square feet for properties with ADUs); and (3) process streamlining measures such as allowing tire and related automotive service uses in designated mixed-use corridor sites on the US‑101 corridor (to enable improvements to a legal nonconforming tire shop), permitting public and private schools in mixed-use zones with conditional‑use review, reducing front and side setbacks in medium-density residential zones (example: front setback from 20 to 15 feet), revising tree-removal procedures for certain public-utility requests, permitting home occupations in accessory structures and consolidating temporary‑use permits from three tiers to two.
Staff said they will return May 5 with the fourth objective — objective design standards — and requested the council continue the hearing to that date for a fuller discussion. Council members asked for clearer crosswalks in the exhibit materials (for example, the ADU open-space provisions) and for examples of the medium-density categories (the staff noted medium-density 1 and 2 ranges and clarified the 12-to-22 dwelling‑units-per-acre categories). Members also asked about public-notice procedures and appeals for the reconfigured temporary‑use permit tiers.
Public comment included both support for streamlining and concerns about reducing setbacks and neighborhood character; staff said they had already solicited comments from architects and developers and will return with clarified language.
Motion and vote: Council moved and seconded to continue the item to the May 5 meeting per staff recommendation; the motion passed.
Next steps: staff to return May 5 with objective design standards and a redlined ordinance ready for potential adoption thereafter if the council approves.
