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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
City of Anaheim
PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT
DATE: DECEMBER 17, 2024
FROM: PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: ANNUAL UPDATE ANAHEIM MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE 18
(ZONING) RELATED TO CODE STREAMLINING AND
IMPROVEMENTS (INTRODUCTION)
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): YES ITEM # 30
GOVERNMENT CODE § 84308 APPLIES: NO
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council, by Ordinance, amend Title 18 (Zoning) of the Anaheim Municipal Code to provide clarity, create consistency of terms and definitions, streamline approval processes, comply with changes in State law to existing regulations, amend Code requirements to reflect current market trends and support City Council Strategic Plan priorities and determine that the proposed amendments are not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines under Section 15061(b)(3) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations (Introduction).
DISCUSSION:
In 2004, the City of Anaheim (City) comprehensively updated its Zoning Code.
Since that time, the City has amended the Zoning Code (Code) on an as-needed basis as the result of staff’s periodic review. These amendments have evolved into the Planning and Building Department’s award-winning annual code update to provide clarity, create consistency with terms and definitions, streamline approval processes, comply with changes in State law to existing regulations, amend Code requirements to reflect current market trends and support City Council Strategic Plan priorities. This program annually evaluates existing requirements and review processes to identify potential changes to increase efficiency, improve service delivery, and respond to changing regulatory and market demands.
Similar to previous amendments, this request includes modifications to permitted land uses, development standards, procedures, and definitions contained in Title 18 (Zoning). Because the Code includes the Zoning and Development Standards for the City’s specific plans, the request includes the Zoning Code Amendment and corresponding Specific Plan Adjustments. A summary and analysis of the amendments is provided in Attachment 3.
Annual Update Anaheim Municipal Code Title 18 (Zoning) related to code streamlining and improvements (Introduction) December 17, 2024
A few notable changes in the proposed amendment include:
• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU):
o Provides consistency with State Law which permits ADUs both within and detached from multi-family dwellings and increases the maximum detached ADUs from two (2) to eight (8) for existing multi-family dwellings so long as the number of detached ADUs do not exceed the number of existing multiple-family residential units.
• Alcoholic Beverage Manufacturing:
o Provides regulatory relief by allowing food sales from vehicles (food trucks or trailers licensed by the Orange County Health Care Agency) to be a permitted temporary use in conjunction with an alcoholic beverage manufacturing business, while adhering to operational requirements, including additional requirements when located within 150 feet from a residential use.
• Commercial Centers:
o Provides clarification to existing regulations on trash generated from a commercial center to include requirements for bin lid closure and cleaning and adds a prohibition on donation bins in addition to outdoor storage. • Fences and Walls:
o Provides regulatory relief by increasing the maximum height of fencing allowed within the required side, rear, or interior setbacks from 6 feet to 8 feet in all zones. o Provides regulatory relief by establishing an Administrative Adjustment process, rather than a Variance, to review walls in non-residential zones meeting certain development standards and findings.
• Outdoor Displays:
o Provides regulatory relief by allowing Markets-Large to have an outdoor display area while adhering to operational requirements consistent with those already provided for home-improvement stores.
Planning Commission: On November 18, 2024, the Planning Commission unanimously recommended City Council approval of the Zoning Code amendments, 6-0. Commissioner Tran- Martin was absent. There were no public comments. The Draft Planning Commission minutes are provided as Attachment 4.
Environmental Impact Analysis: Staff recommends that the City Council find that the proposed Ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This determination is pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines. Pursuant to this section, the proposed amendments and adjustments fit within the general rule that CEQA only applies to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. In that the proposed amendments and adjustments would provide clarity, create consistency of terms and definitions, streamline approval processes, and amend Zoning Code requirements to reflect Annual Update Anaheim Municipal Code Title 18 (Zoning) related to code streamlining and improvements (Introduction) December 17, 2024
current market trends, the proposed adjustments and amendments will not have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
The costs to process and implement this Code amendment are included in the Planning and Building Department’s FY 2024/25 General Fund budget.
Respectfully submitted,
Heather Allen
Acting Director of Planning and Building
Attachments:
1. Ordinance - Title 18 (Zoning)
2. Ordinance - Title 18 (Zoning) (Redline)
3. Summary of Amendments
4. Draft November 18, 2024 Planning Commission Minutes