REPORT TO PLANNING COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Study Session on the Zoning Code Update
Report
BACKGROUND
The Community Development Department has been working since late 2017 with Mintier-Harnish, the City's Zoning Code Update consultant, to prepare a comprehensive update to the City of Santa Clara Zoning Code. This is the first comprehensive update of the current Zoning Code since it first came into effect in 1969. The goal of the Zoning Code Update process is to develop a more up-to-date, readable and relevant Zoning Code that better aligns with the City's General Plan and fully aligns with recent changes in State law.
Overarching goals of the Zoning Code Update include:
* Simplification and modernization
* Implementation of and consistency with the City's General Plan
* Creation of new mixed-use zoning districts for commercial corridors
* Creation of new Office/R+D districts that support employment uses
* Implementing specific actions called out in the City's Housing Element
* Integrating changes as required by State law
DISCUSSION
The following discussion summarizes the key changes and concepts being brought forward through the Zoning Code Update.
Organization of the Code
The draft updated Zoning Code has been organized and formatted for clarity and ease of use. One significant change in organizational structure is to move from a nested or cumulative approach to zoning districts to an organization where the contents of each zoning district is self-contained. In the 1969 Zoning Code, uses were listed out within each zoning district, and the zoning code was cumulative in nature, meaning that uses in less intense zoning districts were included by reference in the more intense districts of the same type. For example, all of the uses allowed in the CN Neighborhood Commercial district are also allowed in the CC Community Commercial zoning district, and the uses of both zoning districts are allowed in the CT Commercial Thoroughfare zoning district with each dis...
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