CITY OF SAN MATEO
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: 5 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: July 28, 2025
SUBJECT:
Zoning Code Amendments and Below Market Rate Program Update — Ordinance Adoption RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt an Ordinance amending the Zoning Code (Title 27) to address affordable housing compliance options, planning application procedures, and set minimum densities for residential mixed-use development projects; and find that the Ordinance is exempt from further environmental review pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Section 15183.
BACKGROUND:
On June 16, 2025, City Council introduced the attached proposed Ordinance (Attachment 1) to amend several chapters of Title 27 (Zoning) of the San Mateo Municipal Code (SMMC) to implement programs to support the goal of housing production within the Housing Element. These updates include the following:
Allow for alternative compliance options for required onsite affordable dwelling units in housing development projects (Policy H1.3)
Add provisions for appeal procedures for processing planning applications (Policy H1.6) Modify provisions for approved planning application expiration and extensions (Policy H1.6) Modify language for approval authority of development projects that exceed height thresholds (Policy H1.6) Set minimum densities for residential mixed-use development projects (Policy H1.9) If adopted, this Ordinance will be effective 30 days after its 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 (Fund 225), and does 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
CITY OF SAN MATEO
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.
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.
ATTACHMENTS
Att 1 – Proposed Ordinance
STAFF CONTACT
Chantal Eaton, Deputy City Clerk
[email protected]
(650) 522-7044