DRAFT CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION
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Packet Pg. 252 Attachment: CC Resolution Draft (MC26-038 Santa Clarita - Multifamily and Mixed-Use Residential Objective Design Standards)
RESOLUTION NO. 26-__
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA,
CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING CITY-WIDE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS (ODS)
FOR QUALIFIED MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED-USE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CALIFORNIA LAW
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita (City) periodically prepares updates to the Santa Clarita Municipal Code (SCMC), including the subdivision regulations (Title 16) and zoning regulations (Title 17), as well as amendments to various City Council-approved guidelines and policies;
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted the Community Character and Design Guidelines (CCDG) in 2002 and updated them in 2009 to provide direction for site planning and building design for new developments;
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted the 6th Cycle Housing Element on June 27, 2023, and the Department of Housing and Community Development certified the Housing Element on August 22, 2023. The Housing Element included Program HP-2.1: Zoning Code Changes for Consistency with state Law and Program HP-2.2: Updates to Administrative Procedures; WHEREAS, various California legislation, including Senate Bill (SB) 330, SB 35, and Assembly Bill (AB) 2011, prevents the City from enforcing subjective design guidelines on qualifying multifamily and mixed-use housing projects;
WHEREAS, to implement the Housing Element’s Program HP-2.1, the City seeks to amend the CCDG to convert multifamily and mixed-use design guidelines to Objective Design Standards (ODS) (Project);
WHEREAS, to accommodate changes to the CCDG and design process, as well as to implement HE Program HP-2.2, SCMC §§ 17.06.130, 17.11.020, 17.23.100, and 17.37.030 must be amended;
WHEREAS, the Project was duly noticed in accordance with the public hearing noticing requirements of the SCMC, and a one-eighth page advertisement was placed in The Signal Newspaper on May 26, 2026;
WHEREAS, the City reviewed the Project’s environmental impacts pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code §§ 21000, et seq.) and the CEQA Guidelines (14 California Code of Regulations §§15000, et seq.; collectively, “CEQA”);
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission meeting on June 16, 2026 was cancelled due to a lack of Quorum;
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Packet Pg. 253 Attachment: CC Resolution Draft (MC26-038 Santa Clarita - Multifamily and Mixed-Use Residential Objective Design Standards)
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on the Project commencing on July 7, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., or later, at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, California;
WHEREAS, at the public hearing, the Planning Commission considered the entire administrative record, including, without limitation, the staff presentation, staff report, and public testimony. This Resolution, and its findings, are made based upon the evidence presented to the Commission at its July 7, 2026 hearing, including, without limitation, the staff report submitted by the Community Development Director;
WHEREAS, the Project was duly noticed in accordance with the public hearing noticing requirements of the SCMC, and a one-eighth page advertisement was placed in The Signal Newspaper on August 4, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the City Council held a duly noticed hearing on Master Case 26-038 on August 25, 2026. This resolution, and its findings, are made based upon the evidence presented to the City Council at its August 25, 2026, hearing including, without limitation, the staff report submitted by the Community Development Director.
THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: Purpose. This Resolution is intended to implement California law and the Santa Clarita Municipal Code (SCMC), as amended by Ordinance No. ___, by establishing Objective Design Standards (ODS) for qualified multifamily and mixed-use residential development projects throughout the City of Santa Clarita (City).
SECTION 2: Definitions. Unless the contrary is stated or clearly appears from the context, the definitions in the SCMC, as amended, and within the ODS govern the construction of the words and phrases used in this Resolution.
SECTION 3: Environmental Assessment. Based upon the foregoing facts and findings, the Planning Commission finds, and recommends the City Council find, that the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines § 15061(b)(3), the common-sense exemption. The activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. A Notice of Exemption for this project was prepared in compliance with the CEQA.
SECTION 4: The ODS attached as Exhibit “A,” and incorporated by reference, are established as the ODS for the City. They may be amended by subsequent City Council resolution.
SECTION 5: Delegation of Authority; Ratification of Previous Actions. The City Manager, or designee, is authorized to promulgate administrative policies and procedures (AP&P) that implement this Resolution and Ordinance No. __. Nothing in such AP&P can substantively alter this Resolution; the AP&P must be reconciled with the intent of Ordinance No.
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Packet Pg. 254 Attachment: CC Resolution Draft (MC26-038 Santa Clarita - Multifamily and Mixed-Use Residential Objective Design Standards)
___ and this Resolution. All previous actions exercised by the City Manager, or designee, to implement the ODS as set forth in this Resolution are ratified by the City Council.
SECTION 6: Severability. If any part of this Resolution or its application is deemed invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the City Council intends that such invalidity will not affect the effectiveness of the remaining provision or application, and, to this end, the provisions of this Resolution are severable.
SECTION 7: Electronic Signatures. This Resolution may be executed with electronic signatures in accordance with Government Code §16.5. Such electronic signatures will be treated in all respects as having the same effect as an original signature.
SECTION 8: The Mayor, or presiding officer, is authorized to sign this Resolution signifying its adoption by the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita and the City Clerk, or her duly appointed deputy, may attest thereto.
SECTION 9: This Resolution will become effective immediately upon adoption and will remain effective unless repealed or superseded.
SECTION 10. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution.
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Packet Pg. 255 Attachment: CC Resolution Draft (MC26-038 Santa Clarita - Multifamily and Mixed-Use Residential Objective Design Standards)
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this __ day of ________ 2026. ______________________________
MAYOR
ATTEST:
_______________________________
CITY CLERK
DATE:__________________________
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
I, Melody Bartlette, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 26-__ was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita at a regular meeting thereof, held on the __ day of ________ 2026, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
______________________________
CITY CLERK
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Packet Pg. 256 Attachment: CC Resolution Draft (MC26-038 Santa Clarita - Multifamily and Mixed-Use Residential Objective Design Standards) 1 DRAFT CITY COUNCIL
ORDINANCE
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Packet Pg. 257 Attachment: CC Ordinance Draft (MC26-038 Santa Clarita - Multifamily and Mixed-Use Residential Objective Design Standards) 2 ORDINANCE NO. 26-__
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SANTA CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE SECTIONS 17.06.130,
17.11.020, 17.23.100, AND 17.37.030 TO IMPLEMENT REGULATIONS GOVERNING
OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
THE CITY COUNCIL DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT. This Ordinance is a part of the Project contemplated by Resolution No. P26-04. Accordingly, Section 2 of Resolution No. P26- 04 is incorporated by reference regarding the California Environmental Quality Act. The Community Development Director, or designee, is authorized to include this Ordinance as part of the Notice of Exemption for the project.
SECTION 2. GENERAL FINDINGS FOR MASTER CASE 26-038. The Findings and Conclusions set forth in Sections 3 and 4 of Resolution No. P26-04 are incorporated by reference. Accordingly, this Ordinance is found to be consistent with the Santa Clarita General Plan.
SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE SCMC. The Santa Clarita Municipal Code (SCMC) is amended as set forth in Exhibit “A,” which is incorporated by reference. New language is underlined; deleted language is identified by strikethrough; unchanged language is plain text; ellipses changes within a SCMC section are identified by “* * *.” SECTION 6: RELIANCE ON RECORD. Each and every one of the findings and determinations in this ordinance is based on the competent and substantial evidence, both oral and written, contained in the entire record relating to the project. The findings and determinations constitute the independent findings and determinations of the City Council in all respects and are fully and completely supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole.
SECTION 7: SUMMARIES OF INFORMATION. All summaries of information in the findings, which precede this section, are based on the substantial evidence in the record. The absence of any particular fact from any such summary is not an indication that a particular finding is not based in part on that fact.
SECTION 8. This ordinance becomes effective 30 days after its passage and adoption.
SECTION 9. The City Clerk will certify to the passage of this ordinance and cause it to be published as required by law.
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Packet Pg. 258 Attachment: CC Ordinance Draft (MC26-038 Santa Clarita - Multifamily and Mixed-Use Residential Objective Design Standards) 3 PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this ___th day of ______, 2026. ______________________________
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
DATE:________________________
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
I, Melody Bartlette, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. 26- ___was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a regular meeting of the City Council on the __th day of _______ 2026. That thereafter, said ordinance was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the __th day of _____2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
AND I FURTHER CERTIFY that the foregoing is the original of Ordinance No. 26-__ and was published in The Signal newspaper in accordance with State Law (G.C. 40806). ______________________________
CITY CLERK
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Packet Pg. 259 Attachment: CC Ordinance Draft (MC26-038 Santa Clarita - Multifamily and Mixed-Use Residential Objective Design Standards) Exhibit A
17.06.130 Findings and Decision.
* * *
B. Required Findings. The review authority may approve the application only after the applicant substantiates the following required findings:
1. The proposal is consistent with the General Plan;
2. The proposal is allowed within the applicable underlying zone and complies with all other applicable provisions of this code;
3. The proposal will not endanger, jeopardize, or otherwise constitute a hazard to the public convenience, health, interest, safety, or general welfare, or be materially detrimental or injurious to the improvements, persons, property, or uses in the vicinity and zone in which the property is located; and
4. The proposal is physically suitable for the site. The factors related to the proposal’s physical suitability for the site include, without limitation, the following:
a. For projects that are not multi-family or mixed-use housing, the design, location, shape, size, and operating characteristics are suitable for the proposed use.
i. Multi‑family and mixed‑use housing projects must comply with Objective Design Standards;
b. The highways or streets that provide access to the site are of sufficient width and are improved as necessary to carry the kind and quantity of traffic such proposal would generate;
c. Public protection services (e.g., Fire protection, Sheriff protection) are readily available; and
d. Providing utilities (e.g., potable water, schools, solid waste collection and disposal, storm drainage, wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal) is adequate to serve the site.
* * *
§ 17.11.020 Definitions.
* * *
“Objective Design Standards” are zoning, subdivision, and design review standards that regulate the location, form, site layout, and appearance of multifamily and mixed-use residential development that are verifiable by reference to a uniform benchmark.
Objective design standards may be contained in this code, specific plans, overlay
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Packet Pg. 260 Attachment: CC Ordinance Draft (MC26-038 Santa Clarita - Multifamily and Mixed-Use Residential Objective Design Standards) zones, subdivision and landscaping requirements, or other applicable land development regulations adopted by the City Council, and apply only to the extent they are stated with sufficient clarity that compliance can be determined in a purely ministerial manner. * * *
17.23.100 Administrative Permit.
* * *
B. Applicability.
1. To safeguard and enhance the appearance and quality of development in the City, administrative permit approval is required before the building official issues any building permit for new single-family homes, additions, and activities or construction of improvements which are permitted at the discretion of the Director. An administrative permit shall be filed as a Class II application, subject to this chapter.
2. An administrative permit is required for any multi-family or mixed-use housing project that does not fully comply with the Objective Design Standards.
3. Requests for an administrative permit are filed as a Class II application, subject to this chapter.
* * *
17.37.030 Specific Plan (SP) Zone.
The specific plan zoning designation identifies lands in the planning area that are governed by an adopted specific plan. Specific allowable uses, maximum intensity standards, and development standards are determined by the adopted specific plan.
Development within a specific plan that includes multi-family or mixed-use housing must comply with the Objective Design Standards. Where a specific plan established design requirements more restrictive than the Objective Design Standards, the more restrictive standards apply.
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Packet Pg. 261 Attachment: CC Ordinance Draft (MC26-038 Santa Clarita - Multifamily and Mixed-Use Residential Objective Design Standards)