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Commission votes to forward housing-element ordinance with clarifying language to city council
Summary
Monte Sereno's Site and Architectural Commission voted to recommend a municipal code update implementing parts of the certified housing element, asking council to add clarifying language on residential care definitions and development standards before the November 19 council hearing.
The Monte Sereno Site and Architectural Commission voted on Oct. 9 to forward a draft ordinance updating the municipal code to align with the city's recently certified housing element, with recommended clarifications for council review. The commission's recommendation asks council to consider referencing Health and Safety Code section 1502 for residential care homes and to clarify that transitional, employee and supportive housing remain subject to the city's land-use and development standards.
Staff presented the proposal as a package of changes required by the state and initiated by staff, covering employee housing, reasonable accommodation procedures, group-home definitions, low-barrier navigation centers, single-room occupancy allowances and technical zoning edits. "The draft ordinance would amend all residential zoning districts to allow employee housing as well as include the definition of employee housing from the state codes," the staff member explained. Chair Seidler moved that the commission recommend approval to council with the suggested language changes; the motion was seconded and carried by roll call.
Why it matters: the changes implement state-mandated items of the housing element and lower discretionary review for some housing types while leaving development standards intact, which can affect where supportive or employee housing may locate in Monte Sereno. The commission asked staff to review suggested statutory citations and bring refined language to the city attorney and then to city council; staff confirmed the ordinance will be scheduled for the Nov. 19 city-council agenda.
