Minutes Planning Commission – October 26, 2023 PAGE 1
DRAFT MINUTES
FREMONT PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER 26, 2023
Timestamps from the video webcast are listed below each Public Hearing Item Number and are in hours format, as follows: (hours:minutes:seconds). Video webcasts of Planning Commission meetings can be found at: https://fremontca.viebit.com/#
PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
Item 3. 2023 CODE UPDATES – HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRAM IMPLEMENTA- (01:02:25) TION – Citywide – PLN2023-00213 – To consider text amendments to various chapters of Fremont Municipal Code Title 17 (Subdivisions) and Title 18 (Planning and Zoning), as well as a resolution amending the City’s various design guidelines to include, confirm, and/or clarify objective standards for design review permit approvals pertaining to housing developments, to comply with State law and implement various programs of the City’s 2023 -2031 Housing Element; and to consider exemptions for the proposed amendments from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), each on a separate and independent basis, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15061 (Review for Exemption), §15183 (Projects Consistent with a Community Plan, General Plan, or Zoning), §15262 (Feasibility and Planning Studies), §15268 (Ministerial Projects), §15305 (Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations), §15311 (Accessory Structures), and §15378 (Project).
Planning Manager Joel Pullen introduced the item, and Associate Planner Mayank Patel gave a comprehensive presentation.
Chairperson Liu opened the public hearing on this item.
Lisa Danz spoke in favor of the project, echoing the email she sent earlier in the day.
Chairperson Liu closed the public hearing on this item.
IT WAS MOVED (YEE/RAMAMURTHI) AND CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE (6-0-0-1-0) THE PLANNING COMMISSION – HELD PUBLIC HEARING; AND
RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
CONSIDER A FINDING THAT THE PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENTS ARE
EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA), EACH ON A SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT BASIS, PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINES §15061 (REVIEW FOR EXEMPTION), §15183 (PROJECTS CONSISTENT WITH A COMMUNITY
Minutes Planning Commission – October 26, 2023 PAGE 2
PLAN, GENERAL PLAN, OR ZONING), §15262 (FEASIBILITY AND PLANNING STUDIES), §15268 (MINISTERIAL PROJECTS), §15305 (MINOR ALTERATIONS IN LAND USE LIMITATIONS), §15311 (ACCESSORY STR UCTURES), AND §15378 (PROJECT);
AND
FIND THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN;
AND
FIND THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS FURTHER THE PUBLIC
INTEREST, CONVENIENCE, AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THE CITY BY ENSURING CONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE FMC AND THE CITY’S GENERAL
PLAN WITH STATE LAW AND PROVIDE FOR ZONING DISTRICT USES AND
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO CURRENT
DEVELOPMENT TRENDS, EASY TO USE, FLEXIBLE AND EQUITABLE, AND ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF FREMONT RESIDENTS;
AND
INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO FMC TITLE 17 (SUBDIVISIONS) AND TITLE 18 (PLANNING AND ZONING);
AND
ADOPT A RESOLUTION IMPLEMENTING PROGRAM 17 OF THE CITY’S 2023- 2031 HOUSING ELEMENT TO REVISE THE CITY’S ADOPTED DESIGN
GUIDELINES AND TO IDENTIFY OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS;
AND
DIRECT STAFF TO DOCUMENT THE ABOVE WRITTEN FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO THE CITY
COUNCIL AND TO PREPARE, AND THE CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH, A SUMMARY OF THE ORDINANCE.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 6 – Liu, Ramamurthi, Rao, Steckler, Yee, Zhang
NOES: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 1 – Basrai
RECUSE: 0