CITY OF SAN MATEO
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CITY OF SAN MATEO
Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: 6 Section Name: {{section.name}} Account Number: 25-3112 File ID: {{item.tracking_number}} TO: City Council
FROM: Alex Khojikian, City Manager
PREPARED BY: City Clerk's Office
MEETING DATE: April 07, 2025
SUBJECT:
Zoning Code Amendments to Implement General Plan Ballot Measure T — Ordinance Adoptions RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt two Ordinances that amend the San Mateo Municipal Code Title 27, Zoning. to: 1) implement various programs and policies established in San Mateo’s 2023-2031 Housing Element, and 2) implement General Plan 2040 Ballot Measure T, approved by voters on November 5, 2024; and find that the Ordinances are exempt from further environmental review pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Section 15183 (Projects Consistent With a Community Plan, General Plan, or Zoning).
BACKGROUND:
On March 17, 2025, the City Council introduced two Ordinances to amend Title 27 (Zoning) of the San Mateo Municipal Code to: 1) implement various programs and policies established in San Mateo’s 2023–2031 Housing Element, and 2) implement General Plan 2040 Ballot Measure T, approved by voters on November 5, 2024. The City Council also found that the Ordinances are exempt from further environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Section 15183 (Projects Consistent with a Community Plan, General Plan, or Zoning). The proposed Ordinances are attached. If adopted, the Ordinances will become effective 30 days after adoption.
BUDGET IMPACT:
The Zoning Code Amendments to implement the Housing Element and General Plan are fully funded in the Community Development Department’s annual operating budget, utilizing the Advanced Planning Fund, and do not impact the City’s General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for General Plan 2040 analyzed new residential development of up to 19,764 new housing units and growth around the City through 2040. On March 18, 2024, the City Council certified the EIR.
In accordance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15183, the zoning amendment to modify housing development provisions and development standards (“Project”) is exempt from further environmental review because the Project, which generally allows for more housing types to be permitted uses in specific zoning districts and remove regulatory barriers from the zoning code, is consistent with the anticipated land uses under the land use designations adopted as part of General Plan 2040 for which an EIR was certified. There are no specific proposed changes to residential development densities, and it is consistent with the development densities established by General Plan 2040.
The Project is also consistent with the implementation policies of the adopted and certified Housing Element and pursuant to certain mandates in state law.
CITY OF SAN MATEO
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Applying Section 15183, there are no project specific effects that are peculiar to the project; there are no project specific impacts that the General Plan EIR failed to analyze as significant effects; there are no potentially significant off-site and cumulative impacts that the EIR failed to evaluate; there is no substantial new information which results in more severe impacts than anticipated by the EIR; and projects will be required to comply with mitigation measures contained in the EIR.
Furthermore, any future development of sites where these code amendments would apply would be evaluated as a potential “Project” under CEQA and if necessary, be further assessed for their potential environmental impacts prior to City entitlement.
NOTICE PROVIDED
All meeting noticing requirements were met, including the publishing of a public notice in a newspaper of general circulation at least 20 days in advance of the public meeting in compliance with Assembly Bill (AB) 2904 and Government Code Section 65854.
ATTACHMENTS
Att 1 – Draft Ordinance – Zoning Code Amendments to Implement Housing Element Policies Att 2 – Draft Ordinance – Zoning Code Amendments to Implement General Plan Ballot Measure T
STAFF CONTACT
Chantal Eaton, Deputy City Clerk
[email protected]
(650) 522-7044