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San Dimas moves to streamline permitting, introduces zoning text amendments for minor conditional use permits
Summary
City planning staff asked the council to introduce two municipal code amendments to codify a minor conditional use permit process citywide and eliminate the 'unclassified uses' chapter to improve clarity and business friendliness; council introduced Ordinances 1337 and 1338 by unanimous vote.
The San Dimas City Council on June 9 introduced two connected municipal-code amendments intended to streamline permitting for lower-impact business uses and improve transparency about previously approved —unclassified— determinations. Planning staff said the amendments codify a minor conditional use permit (MCUP) process that will allow the Director of Community Development to review and approve less-intensive uses without the longer conditional-use-permit timeline.
Luis Turrico, Director of Community Development, told the council the amendments are designed to make the zoning code clearer for applicants and to codify processes already used in the Downtown Specific Plan. Assistant Planner Taylor Glindo explained minor conditional uses being codified include pet boarding, gyms and fitness facilities, freestanding ATMs and other similar lower-impact uses; the amendment shortens appeal periods and assigns some discretionary review to staff to expedite permitting.
A second amendment presented by Assistant Planner Yasmin Dubose eliminates the separate "unclassified uses" chapter, which staff said had produced inconsistent public access because approvals were stored in an internal binder. Staff recommended codifying 92 formally approved unclassified determinations into the code where appropriate so the public can find them online and staff can apply rules consistently.
Councilmembers supported the clean-up and the business-friendly approach. Motions to introduce Ordinance 1337 (MCTA 25-02) and Ordinance 1338 (MCTA 25-06) and to find both exempt under CEQA (Section 15061(b)(3)) carried 5–0. The introductions begin the formal ordinance process; final adoption will follow public hearing and any additional review required by law.
