City of Sacramento
City Council - 5PM Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2024-00576 3/12/2024 Consent Item 7.
Planning and Design Commission Annual Report
File ID: 2024-00576
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Receive and file.
Contact: Stacia Cosgrove, Principal Planner, (916) 808-7110, [email protected], Community Development Department
Presenter: None.
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Annual Report
3-Exhibit A: 2024 Planning and Zoning Work Program
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: Advisory bodies of the City are required to provide an annual report for review by the Personnel and Public Employees (P&PE) Committee as outlined in the City Council Rules of Procedure, Chapter 17. The P&PE Committee shall review advisory body annual reports and give staff direction on those reports’ stated projects, priorities, and recommendations.
On February 13, 2024, the Personnel and Public Employees Committee passed a motion forwarding the Planning and Design Commission Annual Report and Recommendations to the City Council.
Policy Considerations: Chapter 17 of the Council Rules of Procedure outlines the Advisory Body reporting process.
Economic Impacts: Not Applicable.
Environmental Considerations:
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): This action is not a project that is subject to CEQA because it is an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. (CEQA Guidelines §15378(b)(5)).
File ID: 2024-00576 3/12/2024 Consent Item 7.
Sustainability: Not Applicable.
Commission/Committee Action: On February 13, 2024, the Personnel and Public Employees Committee passed a motion forwarding the Planning and Design Commission Annual Report and Recommendations to the City Council.
Rationale for Recommendation: Annual Reports by city advisory bodies ensure they effectively incorporate their important role, voice, and work and provide thoughtful community recommendations to the City Council on a consistent basis.
Financial Considerations: Not Applicable.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not Applicable.
SACRAMENTO PLANNING & DESIGN COMMISSION
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
2 Sacramento Planning and Design Commission
The Sacramento Planning and Design Commission was established in 2012 by ordinance 2012- 004 § 2 and is codified in Sacramento City Code Section 2.60
Sacramento Planning and Design Commissioners
Nicolina Hernandez – Chair
Maya Wallace – Vice Chair
Julian Andrade
Barry Boyd
Tyrone Buckley
Robert Chase
Dov Kadin
Julio Lamas
Kendra Macias Reed
Ginger Thompson
Lee Xiong
Enoch Yeung
Sacramento Planning and Design Commission Staff
Greg Sandlund, Planning Director
Stacia Cosgrove, Principal Planner
Bruce Monighan, AIA, Urban Design Manager
Kevin Colin, Principal Planner
Kourtney Burdick, Senior Deputy City Attorney
Leslie Walker, Senior Deputy City Attorney
City of Sacramento – Community Development Department
300 Richards Blvd. – Sacramento, CA 95811
[email protected]
www.commissions.cityofsacramento.org
3 Purpose of the Sacramento Planning and Design Commission
The Commission is a 13-member commission appointed by the City Council.
The Commission has the authority to carry out the State Planning and Zoning Law (Government Code Sec�on 65000 et seq.), subject to the provisions of the Sacramento City Code, as follows:
• Implement the Planning and Development Code rela�ng to zoning and design review (Title 17 of the City Code). This includes the authority to approve, condi�onally approve, or deny an applica�on for a Condi�onal Use Permit, Variance, or Site Plan and Design Review;
• Approve, condi�onally approve, or deny a tenta�ve map for subdivision; • Recommend to the City Council policies and programs in support of the urban design program established under the Planning and Development Code, including urban design policies appropriate for inclusion in the General Plan and other regulatory plans and programs of the city;
• The Commission also hears appeals of projects decided at the Director Level.
Powers and Duties of the Sacramento Planning Commission
The Planning and Design Commission shall have the necessary powers and duties to carry out the State Planning and Zoning Law (Government Code Section 65000 et seq.), subject to the provisions of this code, including, but not limited to, the following:
A. Title 17 relating to subdivisions;
B. Planning and Development Code relating to zoning and design review; C. Recommend to the city council policies and programs in support of the urban design program established under the Planning and Development Code, including, but not limited to, urban design policies appropriate for inclusion in the general plan and other regulatory plans and programs of the city;
D. Evaluate and submit comments and recommendations on proposed plans, public and private development projects, and environmental reviews that are not subject to review under Chapter 17.808 and that may affect the physical development of and urban design in the city, in coordination with the review and action by the city council, or other public agencies on the plan, project or environmental review. (Ord. 2020-0021 § 2; Ord. 2013-0021 § 3; Ord. 2012-004 § 2)
4 Annual Planning and Zoning Work Program
At the end of each calendar year, Planning staff bring forward a draft Planning and Zoning Work Program to be reviewed and updated by the Planning and Design Commission and the City’s Law and Legislation Committee. The work program is then adopted by the City Council each year in January/February. The development of the annual work program helps Staff, the Commission, and City Council to collectively prioritize initiatives in light of competing interests and limited staff resources. The annual work program also helps to inform the public and decision makers about the work that is being done by City Planning Staff in furtherance of General Plan goals and objectives.
The draft Work Program is first discussed at a review and comment session before the Planning and Design Commission. Commissioners make comments and recommend policy initiatives to be incorporated into the program.
Planning staff then returns to a Commission meeting the following month to present an updated Work Program with additional analysis on any Commissioner-recommended policy initiatives. The staff report indicates whether the work program:
1. Already encompasses the Commissioner-recommended policy initiatives;
2. Adds the recommended policy initiative(s); or
3. Does not include the recommended policy initiative for the coming year.
The Commission is asked to vote to forward its recommendations to the City Council.
The recommended work program is then presented by Planning staff to the Law and Legislation Committee and City Council. The adopted 2024 work program is included in this report as Exhibit A.
2023 Highlights and Accomplishments
In 2023, the Sacramento Planning and Design Commission held nineteen (19) regularly scheduled meetings and one special meeting. The Planning and Design Commission’s work centers on both planning policy items and private development project entitlements.
Highlights for both areas are listed below.
Private Development Project Applications:
The Planning and Design Commission took action on approximately 27 private development projects, either rendering the final decision or recommending approval to City Council. Projects predominantly consisted of requests for conditional use permits (CUP) related to cannabis, alcohol sales, or to construct a telecommunication facility (monopole). There were also seven (7) requests to rezone property, for which the Commission made a recommendation to Council. 5 The Commission heard one (1) appeal of a project decision from the Director level. (The Director denied a request to install an electric fence along Florin Road at an auto dealership; the applicant appealed the decision.)
Projects of note this year included establishment of the Stone Beetland Planned Unit Development (P21-042), Sacramento Music Hall (P20-041), Dry Creek Estates (P20-040), and The Grace Mixed Use project (P21-032).
In 2023, consistent with the intentions of the Title 17, Planning and Development Code streamlining efforts undertaken in 2020, the Commission’s agendas were predominantly focused on providing input and action on policy matters, recommendations to Council on private development projects with legislative entitlements, and decisions on more controversial CUPs. Projects consistent with zoning and other City policies have been largely delegated to the Staff and Director level, including numerous residential projects and tentative maps to subdivide property.
There are currently 10 FTE (full time equivalent) staff positions assigned to process private development applications (at any level of review); the project scope varies widely, including new or remodeled residential projects, commercial development, tentative maps, site plan and design review, rezone requests, conditional use permits, annexations, or density bonus requests. Commission level projects typically take 6-8 months to process but can take over a year. Typically fewer than 10% of planning applications require Commission and/or Council level approval.
2023 Work Program Highlights/Policy Items:
Adopted by City Council on March 7, 2023, the 2023 Planning and Zoning Work Program contained thirty-four (34) projects assigned to 15.25 FTE (full time equivalent) long range and zoning staff.
The Planning and Design Commission conducted public hearings and/or participated on working groups on the following projects on Table 1, in furtherance of the Work Program priorities. The activities are arranged in chronological order.
Table 1: 2023 Work Program Activities
Project Activity Date
1. 2023 Planning and
Zoning Work Program
Final review and recommendation to Council. 1/12/2023
2. Healthy Places Index Provided review and comment on staff presentation regarding the use of the Healthy Places Index when
reviewing Condition Use Permits for alcohol sales citywide. 1/26/2023
6 Project Activity Date
3. 2023 Planning Academy Chair Nicolina Hernandez presented at the first session of the new academy to welcome participants.
3/6/2023
4. 2022 Housing Element
Annual Report
Receive and file the 2022 Housing Element Annual Report.
The Annual Progress Report details the progress made
during the prior year in meeting Housing Element goals. 4/13/2023
5. Review of City FY 2023-
2028 Capital
Improvement Program
(CIP) for consistency
with the 2035 General
Plan
Recommendation to Council. City of Sacramento Code
Section 17.912.010 requires the Planning and Design
Commission to review CIP projects for consistency with
the General Plan at least once every five years. Since new projects are added to the City’s CIP every year, an annual review of these new projects for conformity with the
General Plan is necessary.
5/25/2023
6. 2040 General Plan
Update
Conducted a public hearing to review the progress of the draft 2040 General Plan Update. The General Plan Update focuses on addressing new state laws, updating goals,
policies, and actions to reflect changed conditions and priorities, and managing growth sustainably and equitably in ways that benefit the whole community, increasing
opportunity and prosperity for all.
6/8/2023
7. Revisions to Vehicle and
Bicycle Parking
Requirements
Project status update and request for nominees to
working groups. Commission nominated Commissioner
Kadin to the working group focused on parking in
residential areas, and Commissioner Chase to the working group focused on commercial, industrial, and mixed use
areas.
6/8/2023 and
6/22/2023
8. Climate Action and
Adaptation Plan
Conducted a public hearing to discuss the public review draft of the Sacramento Climate Action and Adaptation
Plan. Public hearings for the adoption of the 2040 General Plan, Climate Action & Adaptation Plan and MEIR are
anticipated to take place in early 2024.
6/22/2023
9. Mixed Income Housing
Ordinance Review
Workshop
Conducted a public hearing to provide input on the draft policy objectives and potential program requirements for an update to the City’s Mixed Income Housing Ordinance
(MIHO). Program H1 of the Housing Element commits the
City to evaluating the effectiveness of the MIHO and
considering amendments to the ordinance with the goal of increasing the amount of affordable housing built in the City while ensuring the requirements do not pose a
constraint to overall housing production.
8/24/2023
10. Existing Building
Electrification Ordinance
Conducted a public hearing to provide input and hear
public comments on the draft ordinance to establish long- term policies and actions supporting the transition of
Sacramento’s existing buildings to carbon free electricity by 2045.
8/24/2023
11. Missing Middle Housing
Study
Discussed the preliminary recommendations from the
Missing Middle Housing Study, currently underway.
10/12/2023
7 Project Activity Date
12. Revisions to Vehicle and
Bicycle Parking
Requirements
Heard an update regarding the status of the project.
Provided review and comment.
11/9/2023
13. Mixed Income Housing
Ordinance (Preliminary
Recommendations)
Provide review and comment and forward preliminary
recommenda�ons to Council re: the proposed Mixed
Income Housing Ordinance update.
11/9/2023
14. 2040 General Plan,
Climate Action and
Adaptation Plan, and
Master Environmental
Impact Report (MEIR)
Provided review and comment regarding the dra� 2040
General Plan update and Climate Ac�on and Adapta�on
Plan.
11/29/2023
2023 Commission Resources
In 2023, the Sacramento Planning and Design Commission held nineteen (19) regularly scheduled meetings and one (1) special meeting. The meeting durations are typically 1 ½ hours and in 2023 added up to almost 35 hours of meeting time.
A typical Planning and Design Commission meeting is staffed as follows:
1. Community Development Department, Planning Division staff, including the Planning Director, a Principal Planner acting as staff to the Commission, a Senior Planner and Assistant/Associate Planner for each hearing item on the agenda. The Urban Design Manager and Preservation Director attend as needed.
2. Staff from other development related departments attend as needed, for example staff from Public Works, Utilities, and the Police Department;
3. City Attorney;
4. City Clerk Support Staff;
5. IT Support Staff.
It takes approximately 23 staff hours for a typical 1 ½ hour meeting.
Commissioners receive a stipend of $100 per meeting for a total cost of up to $27,300.
2024 Projects, Priorities, and Objectives for Consideration
In addition to reviewing and taking action on development applications as required by City Code, the 2024 Planning and Zoning Work Program identifies the policy projects, priorities, and staffing requirements anticipated for the next year in order to implement elements of the General Plan. Please see Exhibit A.
2024 Planning and Zoning Work Program
1 Total Full Time Equivalent Staff (FTE) Available: 13 FTE Long Range (22,750 work hours per year)
2.25 FTE Zoning (3,938 work hours per year)
(1 FTE = 1750 work hours per year) Q1: January – March ‘24; Q2: April – June ‘24; Q3: July – September ‘24; Q4: October – December ‘24
Project Estimated
Hours (Within
Time Period)
Reason for Being
in the Work
Program
Level of Outreach
(High/Med/Low)
Commission/Council Milestones
Citywide Policy Initiatives
2040 General Plan
Climate Action &
Adaptation Plan
o Vulnerability
Assessment
Environmental Justice
Land Use
Mobility
10 Community Plans
Master Environmental Impact
Report
1,750
City Policy to
update the General
Plan every five
years.
High Adoption Hearings – Q1
Ordinance Updates to Comply
with State Legislation from
2023 Session
680 State Mandated Medium Commission Hearing – Q2
Council Hearing – Q3
City Code Ch. 17.616 Updates
to Address SB 1383 (Organic
Waste)
320 State Mandated High Commission – Q3
Council – Q4
Age-Friendly Action Plan 500 Council Directed Medium Completion of Plan – Q1
Implementation of Plan – Ongoing
2040 General Plan
Implementation and Annual
Report
Implementing Action
LUP-
A.8: Planning and
875 Council Directed Medium TBD
2024 Planning and Zoning Work Program
2 Development Code
Update
Citywide Rezone Program for
consistency with General Plan
and Housing Element
1,300 2040 GPU &
Housing Element
Implementation
Program
High Initiated and Conduct Consistency
Analysis– Q3
Community Outreach – Q4
Cannabis Code Amendments
based on Office of Cannabis
Management Study
1,200 Council Directed High Preliminary Analysis and
Community Engagement - Q1
PDC Workshop - Q2
Code Amendments – Q3
2023 Title 17 Omnibus
Amendments
260 Staff Initiated Low Council Hearing – 2024 Q1
2024 Title 17 Omnibus
Amendments
320 Staff Initiated Low Commission Hearing – 2024 Q3
Council Hearing
– 2024 Q4
Housing Policy Initiatives
Mixed Income Housing
Ordinance Review
600 Housing Element
Implementation
Program
High Stakeholder Engagement – Q1 & Q2
Final Report – Q1
Adoption Hearings – Q2
Permitting Requirements for
Special Needs Housing –
Housing Element Program
H15: Title 17
Amendments
400 Housing Element
Implementation
Program
Medium PDC & L&L Workshop – Q1
Adoption Hearings – Q2
Density/Floor Area Ratio Bonus
Ordinance Update
320 State Mandated &
Housing Element
Implementation
Program
Medium Review comment on Public Review Draft –
Q3
Adoption Hearings – Q4
Affordable Housing & Infill
Development Educational
Campaign (Housing Element
Program H19)
240 Housing Element
Implementation
Program
High Commission Update on Housing Element
Implementation Program – Q3
Review and Update Universal
Design Ordinance (Housing
Element Program H20)
240 Housing Element
Implementation
Program
Medium Community Engagement – Q3
2024 Planning and Zoning Work Program
3 Mid-Term Evaluation of
Housing Element
Implementation Programs
(H22)
500 Housing Element
Implementation
Program
High City Council Workshop – Q2
Program Adjustments (as needed) – Q4
Movable Tiny Homes as ADUs
(Housing Element Program
H23)
240 Housing Element
Implementation
Program
Medium Research and Preliminary
Recommendations – Q3
Ordinance Amendment (as needed)
– Q4
Updates to Sacramento Tenant
Protection Act (Housing
Element Program H25)
875 Housing Element
Implementation
Program
High Outreach and Data Collection – Q2 – Q3
Revisions to be considered prior to sunset
date of 12/31/24
– Q4
2021-2029 Housing Element
Program Implementation,
Housing Policy Working Group
& Annual Report
575 Council
Directed/State
Mandated
Medium Program Implementation – Q1 – Q4
Report submitted to State – Q2
Missing Middle Housing Study
and Updates to Planning and
Development Code
1,280 Grant Funded &
2040 GPU Key
Strategy
High Outreach & Analysis – Q1
Updates to Title 17 & Design Standards –
Q3
Adoption Hearings – Q4
Neighborhood/Community Planning Initiatives
Update Specific Plans for
Consistency with adopted 2040
General Plan
575
State Mandated Medium City Council Amendments – Q4
Stockton Blvd Specific Plan
Adoption and Action Plan
Implementation
1,750
Council Directed High
Adoption – Q2
Implementation – Ongoing
River District Specific Plan
Update
1,750 Council Directed Medium Project Initiation – Q1
Draft Plan – TBD
Forward Together –
Marysville/Del Paso Blvd
Action Plan
1,500 Council Directed High
Implementation – Ongoing
2024 Planning and Zoning Work Program
4 City-owned 102 Acre Site 875 Council Directed High Council Direction for the Approach to Site Development – Q1
Site Development - TBD
Other Neighborhood
Development Action Team
(NDAT) Plans and Initiatives
Update to On-Call
Consultant List
Implementation Grant
Program
West Broadway
Specific Plan
Implementation
Community Education &
Training
Community
Ambassador Program
Other NDAT Plans &
Initiatives
1,750
Council Directed High Ongoing
Climate Policy Initiatives
Existing Building Electrification
Strategy
875 Council Directed &
2040 GPU Key
Strategy
High City Council Approval – Q2
Strategy Implementation
– Ongoing
Revisions to Vehicle and
Bicycle Parking Requirements
955 Planning and
Design Commission
Directed; Housing
Element/CAAP
Implementation
Program; 2040
GPU Key Strategy
High Preliminary Recommendations – Q2
Final Recommendations – Q3
Planning and Development Code
Amendments – Q4
CAAP Implementation,
Monitoring and Annual Report
1,750 Council Directed Medium TBD
2024 Planning and Zoning Work Program
5 CAAP Measure/General
Plan Implementing
Actions:
ERC-A.4 Heat
Reduction in the Public
Realm
EJ-A.10 Healthy Food
Initiatives Partnership
Ongoing Programmatic Work
Planning Counter Support by
Long Range/Zoning Staff
820 Operational
Requirement
Low N/A
Planning Academy 580 Council Directed Medium Q1 – Q2
Fee Management (HIF, HTF,
CCIF, Zero Dollar Fee for
Affordable Housing)
340 Council Directed Low N/A
Other Ongoing Tasks (i.e.
Floodplain Management, CIP
Consistency, etc.)
240 Council Directed Low Annual Staff Reports to Commission and City Council
Total Long Range Hours 20,330 (11.61
FTE)
Total Zoning Hours 4,155 (2.3 FTE)
Total FTE Required 13.91
Potential or Future Initiatives
Project Estimated
Hours (Within
Time Period)
Reason for Being
in the Work
Program
Level of Outreach
(High/Med/Low)
Commission/Council Milestones
Entertainment Overlay/District 250 Staff Initiated Medium TBD 2024 Planning and Zoning Work Program
6 Sound attenuation
standards
Standard conditions
Lighting Standards for
Buildings
TBD
Staff Initiated
Review of CPTED design
review and conditions to
address privacy and profiling
concerns.
TBD
Commissioner
Initiated
Updates to New Building
Electrification Ordinance’s
Infeasibility Waiver Guidance
Document
500
Council Directed High Council workshop in early 2025 and an update to Infeasibility Waiver Guidance
Document by December 2025
Central City Specific Plan TBD City Policy to
update the Specific
Plan every five
years.
High 2025
65th Street Specific Plan TBD High 2026