RESOLUTION NO. PC - 2022 - 3
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF COTATI
RECOMMENDING CITY COUNCIL ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 17.24.020 (ALLOWABLE LAND USES) AND SECTION 17.24.030 (STANDARDS FOR ALL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND USES) OF THE COTATI
LAND USE CODE TO STREAMLINE THE REVIEW OF CERTAIN MULTIFAMILY
HOUSING PROJECTS AND REMOVE BARRIERS TO MULTIFAMILY HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT
WHEREAS, the availability and affordability of housing is a substantial concern for individuals of all demographics, ages, and economic backgrounds in communities throughout California; and
WHEREAS, over the last several years the State of California has adopted numerous legislative bills intended to increase the supply of housing in California, including the Building Jobs and Homs Act (SB 2, 2017) which supports development of this Ordinance through its SB 2 Planning Grants program; and
WHEREAS, on March 24, 2015, the City Council adopted the updated Cotati General Plan, and on May 19, 2015, the City Council adopted the Housing Element, which sets forth policies and programs intended to remove constraints and promote the development of additional affordable housing in Cotati; and
WHEREAS, adoption of changes to Land Use Code are necessary to implement the objectives of the General Plan and Housing Element; and
WHEREAS, on March 7, 2022, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing to consider the proposed Land Use Code amendments and recommended City Council approval of the implementing draft ordinance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning Commission of the City of Cotati does hereby find and resolve as follows:
Recitals
The foregoing recitals are true and correct and are incorporated into the findings herein.
Record
The Record of Proceedings ("Record") upon which the Planning Commission makes its recommendation includes, but is not limited to: 1) the General Plan and Housing Element adopted by the City Council in 2015, 2) the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) certified for the 2015 General Plan, and 3) all staff reports, City files, records, and other documents prepared for and/or submitted to the Planning Commission related to the adoption of the zoning amendments.
3. General Plan Consistency
The Planning Commission of the City of Cotati does hereby find that the proposed Land Use Code amendments to streamline the review of certain multifamily housing projects and remove barriers to multifamily housing development, as shown in the attachment to this Resolution, are in the best interest of the City because it furthers established General Plan goals and programs to promote housing opportunities and remove unnecessary barriers to multifamily development.
The amendments are consistent with and implement the following specific General Plan and Housing Element policies and programs:
Land Use Element
Action LU 1b: Review the standards provided in the Land Use Code and amend as necessary for consistency with General Plan policies and allowed uses, including:
• Increase maximum building height in the Neighborhood, Urban zone to 35 feet, without the requirement for a use permit.
• Increase the maximum site coverage to 55% in the Neighborhood, Medium Density zone and to 75% in the Neighborhood, Urban zone.
Action LU 4a: Review and update the City's development permitting process to provide a streamlined and straightforward process. At a minimum, the review may consider:
• Methods to streamline and simplify the process, including the process for review by City staff as well as various committees and commissions.
• Opportunities to reduce redundancies and delays.
Housing Element
Policy H-3-1: Ensure that the City's development standards encourage development of a range of housing types, including multifamily, mixed use, high density residential, second units, and single-family units, and incentivize production of lower income housing.
Policy H-3-2: Provide incentives for affordable housing development, including density bonuses, expedited processing, relaxation in development standards, and either reduction, delay, or waiver of fees when financially feasible.
Program 2-6: Barrier Removals for Multi-Family Development • The Land Use Code will be amended to remove two potential barriers to the provision of multi-family housing. One amendment will be to remove the Conditional Use Permit requirement for multi-family development of five or more units in the NU Zone, and the second is to reduce the parking requirements for studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units (currently 2.25 spaces) to one space for studio and one-bedroom units and no more than two spaces for two- and three-bedroom units.
Program 3-9: Monitor Use Permit Requirements for Affordable Housing • Monitor the requirement for a Use Permit for multi-family projects larger than 4 units in the NU Zone to ensure that affordable housing projects are being accommodated. If the requirement for a Use Permit is shown to be an impediment to the development of affordable housing projects in the NU Zone, review the feasibility of allowing multi- family projects larger than 4 units in the NU Zone as a Permitted Use.
4. Compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) The Planning Commission finds that the proposed Ordinance to amend the Land Use Code to streamline the review of certain multifamily housing projects and remove barriers to multifamily housing development fulfills certain policies and objectives identified in the 2015 General Plan and Housing Element and is consistent with the program level Final Environmental Impact Report (SCH# 2013082037) for the Cotati General Plan Update (certified on March 24, 2015 (Resolution No. 2015-11)). The Planning Commission recommends that no further environmental review is required in accordance with Section 15168 of the CEOA Guidelines.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Cotati Planning Commission forwards its recommendation to the City Council to adopt the Land Use Code amendments listed in the draft Ordinance attached to this Resolution (Exhibit A).
IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Cotati held on the March 7th, 2022, by the following vote, to wit:
RESULT: ADOPTED [3 TO 1]
MOVER: Lisa Moore, Commissioner
SECONDER: Neil Hancock, Vice Chair
AYES: Sylvia Lemus, Neil Hancock, Lisa Moore
NAYS: Brittany Murphy
ABSENT: Jonathan Rodriguez
Approved:
Chair
Attest:
Leri L. Pajon, Admin. Secretary