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AN ORDINANCE OF CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CATHEDRAL CITY, CALIFORNIA ADOPTING CHANGE OF ZONE 25-0001 TO REZONE
APPROXIMATELY 10 ACRES LOCATED ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF
RAMON ROAD AND DA VALL DRIVE FROM PLANNED COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL
TO NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS PARK
WHEREAS, the current Zoning Map was adopted by City Council by Ordinance 861 on September 14, 2021; and
WHEREAS, on February 6, 2025, T&B Planning, representing Forest Lawn Memorial Park Association, (“Applicant”) submitted applications to amend the General Plan (General Plan Amendment 25-0001), change the official zoning map (Change of Zone 25-0001) and establish the Forest Lawn Cathedral City Specific Plan (Specific Plan 25-0001) (“Project”); and
WHEREAS, Change of Zone 25-0001 proposes to change to Official Zoning Map so that the zoning district of approximately 10 acres located at the southwest corner of Ramon Road and Da Vall Drive is changed from Planned Community Commercial (PCC) to Neighborhood Business Park (NBP); and
WHEREAS, an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration were prepared for the Project subject to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15074; and
WHEREAS, on March 18, 2026, and April 15, 2026, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing on the Project, including Change of Zone 25- 0001, at the City of Cathedral City Council Chambers, and adopted a Resolution recommending that the City Council adopt an Ordinance approving Change of Zone 25- 0001; and
WHEREAS, on May 13, 2026 the City Council conducted a duly noticed public hearing to consider the Planning Commission’s recommendation on the Project.
WHEREAS, all legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Resolution have occurred.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CATHEDRAL CITY DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. CITY COUNCIL RECORD. The City Council has considered all of the evidence, including written and oral communications submitted into the administrative record, including, but not limited to, the following:
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1. Cathedral City Municipal Code and Cathedral City General Plan;
2. The Staff Report prepared by Acting Director Sandra Molina, including all Exhibits attached thereto;
3. Staff’s presentation at the public hearing conducted at the City Council meeting held on May 13, 2026;
4. Planning Commission Resolution No. 2026-002, A Resolution of the Planning Commission of the City of Cathedral City, California Recommending City Council Action on the Project; and
5. Testimony and/or comments on the Project from interested parties including the Applicant and its representatives submitted to the City in both written and oral form at, or prior to, the public hearing conducted at the City Council hearing held on May 13, 2026, and
6. Public comments on the Project, both written and oral, received and/or submitted at, or prior to, the public hearing conducted at the City Council meeting held on May 13, 2026.
SECTION 2. CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT. The City Council adopts the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15074, and finds as follows:
1. Based on the Initial Study and Mitigated Negative prepared for the Project, including comments received, that there is no substantial evidence that the project will have a significant effect on the environment; and
2. The Mitigated Negative Declaration reflects the City Council’s independent judgment and analysis; and
3. In accordance with Section 15074, Chapter 3, Title 14, of the California Code of Regulations (State CEQA Guidelines), the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program contained in the Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration, dated January 2026, shall serve as the City’s reporting program for monitoring the mitigation measures specified in the Mitigated Negative Declaration; and
4. The Cathedral City Planning Department is the custodian of the documents or other material that constitute the record of proceedings upon which this decision is based.
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SECTION 3. ZONING MAP AMENDED.
A.The City Council hereby amends the Official Zoning Map based on the following findings:
1. The City Council considered all of the evidence submitted into the administrative record, which includes, but is not limited to: a) the Staff Report prepared for the Project; b) the staff presentation; c) public comments, both oral and written, received and/or submitted at, or prior to, the public hearing supporting and/or opposing the staff recommendation; and d) testimony and/or comments from the applicant and its representatives submitted to the City in both written and oral form at, or prior to, the public hearing; and
2. The proposed change of zone is in conformity with the General Plan land use designation of Neighborhood Commercial (CN), as amended, and the proposed NBP zone district, is identified as an implementing zone district of for the proposed CN land use designation and the lot area development standard for the proposed zone is the same as the lot area designated on the General Plan Map for the property, subject to the general plan amendment; and
3. The subject property is suitable for the uses permitted in terms of access, size and shape of parcel, relationship to similar or related uses, and other considerations deemed relevant by the Commission and Council as the project is consistent with applicable zoning standards. The NBP district specifically allows for cemeteries, mortuaries, crematorium, and columbaria and ancillary office and retail uses; and
4. The proposed change of zone to permit the Project is desirable for the development of the community in that it allows the Applicant to meet the long term needs of the community, conforms with applicable policies of the General Plan, and is not detrimental to existing uses or to uses specifically permitted in the NBP Zoning District.
B.The official Zoning Map of the City of Cathedral City is hereby amended pursuant to Change of Zone No. 25-0001, attached hereto as Exhibit A.
SECTION 4. REPEAL OF CONFLICTING PROVISIONS. All of the provisions of the Cathedral City Municipal Code as heretofore adopted by the City of Cathedral City that are in conflict with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION 5. SEVERABILITY. If any chapter, section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this ordinance, is for any reason held to be invalid Ordinance No. _____
or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision will not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this ordinance, and each chapter, section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its second reading by the City Council.
SECTION 7. POSTING. The City Clerk shall, within fifteen (15) days after passage of this Ordinance, cause it to be posted in at least three (3) designated public places; shall certify to the adoption and posting of this Ordinance; and shall cause this Ordinance and its certification, together with proof of posting, to be entered in the Book of Ordinances of this City.
SECTION 8. CERTIFICATION
The foregoing Ordinance was approved and adopted at a meeting of the City Council held on the 27 th of May 2026 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
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Raymond Gregory, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Christina Burton, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
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Eric S. Vail, City Attorney
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Exhibit 1
Change of Zone 25-0001
Changing the Zone District of 10 acres located on the southwest corner of Ramon Road and Da Vall Drive from Planned Community Commercial (PCC) to Neighborhood Business Park (NBP)