Planning commission backs Phase 1 zoning updates to align Salinas code with state housing laws

The Salinas Planning Commission voted on July 15 to recommend that the City Council adopt Zoning Code Amendment 2026-001, the first phase of a multi-year overhaul that staff said mainly brings the municipal code into compliance with recent state and federal housing laws.

Senior planner Jonathan Moore framed the package as a response to the city’s housing challenges, citing the housing element’s figures: “just over 3% of our housing units are vacant, while nearly 20% are overcrowded,” and “over 40% of renters in Salinas are cost burdened,” and noting an average home price this year “around $750,000.” He described Phase 1 as focused on legal compliance and removing potentially subjective findings from conditional-use sections to increase objectivity in housing decisions.

Moore said changes include updated ADU and junior-ADU sections and allowances that can permit detached ADUs and certain front-yard ADUs consistent with state law and SB 9 combinations. He said the amendments are not intended to increase density beyond what state law allows but to simplify permit processing so eligible housing can move forward more predictably.

The commission discussed the measures before voting to forward the package to council with a recommendation, including an additional instruction to align the temporary Christmas-tree sales language with Monterey County’s dates if the county maintains any. Staff will schedule the ordinance for City Council consideration; if council adopts the ordinance it would become effective 30 days later.