1 City Council Meeting: September 30, 2025 Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NUMBER (CCS)
(City Council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
AMENDING THE OFFICIAL DISTRICTING MAP OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA REGARDING TWO LOTS LOCATED WITHIN 2644 30TH STREET
WHEREAS, the Northwest 60 feet of lots 78 and 83 of Tract No. 1980 (the “Commercial Lots”, also shown on the map included in Attachment “A”) was developed in 1956 as a commercial office building, which includes approximately 35,000 square feet of leasable space; and
WHEREAS, historically, since at least 1961, this portion of the Commercial Lots was designated as C2 (Limited Commercial) on the City’s General Plan and Zoning Ordinance Districting Maps; and
WHEREAS, on July 6, 2010, the City Council adopted the Land Use and Circulation Element (“LUCE”) of the City’s General Plan, which included an amendment to the General Plan Use Map; and
WHEREAS, on June 23, 2015, the City adopted a revised Zoning Ordinance, which included a revised Official Districting Map; and
WHEREAS, when the General Plan Land Use and the Official Districting Maps were amended as part of the 2015 Zoning Ordinance update, the subject Commercial Lots were changed to Single Family Housing in the Land Use Map and Single-Unit Residential (R1) in the Official Districting Map, respectively; and WHEREAS, this rezoning to R1 appears to have been inadvertent given the longstanding use of the property and prior designation as C2; and 2 WHEREAS, during the public review process and in the course of analyzing the boundaries of the newly created zoning districts, inconsistencies between the adopted LUCE Land Use Designation Map and the then existing Official Districting Map were identified as reflected in the April 14, 2015, Staff Report to City Council; and WHEREAS, as a result of the identified inconsistencies, City Staff attempted to compare the LUCE Map with the existing Official Districting Map in the City, to generate a listing of inconsistent parcels, and
WHEREAS, a list of 115 parcels with such inconsistencies (“Inconsistent Parcel List”) was prepared and included with the Staff Report to the Planning Commission and were reviewed in detail on June 18, 2014 and October 1, 2014; and WHEREAS, the Inconsistent Parcel List was also included and discussed in the April 14, 2015, City Council Staff Report and reviewed by the City Council prior to their voting on the Zoning Ordinance Districting Map; and
WHEREAS, the majority of these inconsistent parcels were those in the City whose land designations were changed to a commercial designation with the adoption of the LUCE Land Use Designation Map and were inconsistent with their predominantly residential zoning or partial residential zoning; and
WHEREAS, however, a portion of the properties on the Inconsistent Parcel List were those designated commercial/industrial on the then-existing Official Districting Map and improved with commercial/industrial uses but had been designated residential on the 2010 LUCE map; and
WHEREAS, the subject Commercial Lots appear to be similarly situated to these previously identified formerly commercial/industrial parcels; however, the subject Commercial Lots were inadvertently not included on the Inconsistent Parcel List; and 3 WHEREAS, on May 5, 2015, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 10874 (CCS) amending the LUCE map to, among other things, change the LUCE designation for certain parcels that had been identified on the Inconsistent Parcel List as having inconsistent LUCE and then-existing Zoning Districting Map designations; and WHEREAS, on June 23, 2015, the City adopted a revised Zoning Ordinance, which included a revised Districting Map that designated the Commercial Lots as R1; and
WHEREAS, there are no permitted commercial uses in the R1 Zoning District; and
WHEREAS, the change of the Commercial Lots to the Single Family Housing designation and R1 zone has resulted in the existing building becoming a legal, nonconforming building and the existing uses becoming legal, nonconforming uses and, thus, creates impediments to future leasing opportunities and financing for the property given the limitations of the Single Family Housing designation and zoning of R1; and WHEREAS, on February 19, 2025, pursuant to Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 9.45.060(B), the Planning Commission adopted Resolution Number 25-003 (PCS), a Resolution of Intention, declaring its intention to consider recommending to the City Council that the Council, among other things, amend the General Plan Land Use Map and Official Districting Map of the City of Santa Monica for the Commercial Lots located at 2466 30th Street; and
WHEREAS, amending the Official Districting Map to zone the Commercial Lots located at 2644 30th Street as NC (Neighborhood Commercial) will correct the prior inadvertent designation and reflect the longstanding use of the Commercial Lots, 4 removing impediments to future leasing and changes of use of the Commercial Lots; and
WHEREAS, amending the Official Districting Map to zone Commercial Lots located at 2644 30th Street as NC will correct the prior inadvertent designation and reflect the longstanding use of the property, ensure consistency with the General Plan, and remove impediments to future leasing and changes of use of the Commercial Lots, including the existing building; and
WHEREAS, on March 19, 2025, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing, and, after considering oral and written testimony regarding the proposed amendments to the Official Districting Map, adopted Resolution Number 25- 008 (PCS), recommending that the City Council amend the Official Districting Map for the Commercial Lots located at 2644 30th Street based on the following findings:
1. The change in district boundaries is consistent in principle with the General Plan in that the proposed amendments will provide consistency between existing development and the Official Districting Map. Due to an inadvertent reclassification of the Commercial Lots during both the 2010 Land Use and Circulation Element update and the 2015 Zoning Ordinance update to Single Family Housing and R1 (Single-Unit Residential), respectively, the commercial use of the Commercial Lots established in 1956 is now a nonconforming land use and the existing building on the Commercial Lots is a legal, nonconforming building. This inconsistency between the use and Official District Map has created impediments to future development due to the land use limitations of the R1 zoning district, leasing/changes of use tenant space within the building, and financing the property. The proposed change will rectify this issue by aligning the Official Districting Map with the historic existing commercial use of the 5 Commercial Lots;
2. The change in district boundaries is consistent with the purpose of this Ordinance to promote the growth of the City in an orderly manner and to promote and protect the public health, safety, and general welfare in that the proposed change will align the Official Districting Map with the existing commercial development of the Commercial Lots. Since 1956 the Commercial Lots have been developed as a commercial use, but inadvertently during both the 2010 Land Use and Circulation Element update and 2015 Zoning Ordinance update was reclassified as Single Family Housing and R1 (Single-Unit Residential), respectively. This inconsistency between the use and zoning district has created impediments to future changes of use and development due to the land use limitations of the R1 zoning district, leasing tenant space within the building, and financing the property. The proposed change will rectify this issue by aligning the Official Districting Map with the historic existing use of the Commercial Lots; and
3. The change in district boundaries is necessary to achieve the balance of land uses desired by the City, consistent with the General Plan, and to increase the inventory of land within a given Zoning District in that the Commercial Lots have historically been developed with as a commercial use since 1956 and were zoned as such until it was inadvertently amended as part of both the 2010 Land Use and Circulation update and 2015 Zoning Ordinance update to Single Family Housing and R1 (Single-Unit Residential), respectively. This inadvertent reclassification has resulted in a nonconforming condition and impediments to future development due to land use limitations of the R1 zoning district, leasing tenant space with the building, and financing the property. The proposed change will align the Official District Map for the Commercial 6 Lots with existing development; and
WHEREAS, the adjacent parking lot that is designated in the Land Use Map as Single Family Residential and in the Official Districting Map as R-1 Single-Unit Residential will remain unchanged; and
WHEREAS, on May 13, 2024, the City Council conducted a duly noticed hearing, and, after considering all oral and written testimony, decided to table the adoption of the amendments to the Official Districting Map to a later date; and WHEREAS, after renewed requests from the property owner and new information submitted in support thereof, on September 30, 2025, the City Council conducted a duly noticed hearing, and, after considering all oral and written testimony, desires to amend the Official Districting Map for the Commercial Lots located at 2644 30th Street as set forth below.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Based upon the oral and written testimony presented to the City Council at the public hearing on September 30, 2025, regarding the proposed change to the Official Districting Map for the Commercial Lots located at 2644 30th Street, the City Council hereby makes the following findings:
1. The change in district boundaries is consistent in principle with the General Plan in that the proposed amendments will provide consistency between existing development and the Official Districting Map.
Due to an inadvertent reclassification of the Commercial Lots during both the 2010 Land Use and Circulation Element update and the 2015 Zoning Ordinance update to Single Family Housing and R1 (Single-Unit 7 Residential), respectively, the commercial use of the Commercial Lots established in 1956 is now a nonconforming land use. This inconsistency between the use and Official District Map has created impediments to future leasing of tenant space within the building and financing the property due to the land use limitations of the R1 zoning district . The proposed change will rectify this issue by aligning the Official Districting Map with the historic existing commercial use of the Commercial Lots.
2. The change in district boundaries is consistent with the purpose of this Ordinance to promote the growth of the City in an orderly manner and to promote and protect the public health, safety, and general welfare in that the proposed change will align the Official Districting Map with the existing commercial development of the Commercial Lots. Since 1956 the Commercial Lots have been developed as a commercial use, but inadvertently during both the 2010 Land Use and Circulation Element update and 2015 Zoning Ordinance update were reclassified as Single Family Housing and R1 (Single-Unit Residential), respectively. This inconsistency between the use and zoning district has created impediments to future leasing of tenant space within the building and financing the property due to the land use limitations of the R1 zoning district. The proposed change will rectify this issue by aligning the Official Districting Map with the historic existing use of the Commercial Lots.
3. The change in district boundaries is necessary to achieve the balance of land uses desired by the City, consistent with the General Plan, and to increase the inventory of land within a given Zoning District in that 8 the Commercial Lots have historically been developed with as a commercial use since 1956 and was zoned as such until it was inadvertently amended as part of both the 2010 Land Use and Circulation update and 2015 Zoning Ordinance update to Single Family Housing and R1 (Single-Unit Residential), respectively. This inadvertent reclassification has resulted in a nonconforming condition and impediments to future leasing of tenant space within the building and financing the property due to land use limitations of the R1 zoning district. The proposed change will align the Official District Map for the Commercial Lots with existing development.
Section 2. The City of Santa Monica Official Districting Map is hereby amended as set forth in Exhibit A, attached hereto.
SECTION 3. Any provision of the Municipal Code or appendices thereto inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such inconsistencies and no further, is hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary to effect the provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 4. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 5. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage of this Ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause the same to be published once in the official 9 newspaper within 15 days after its adoption. This Ordinance shall become effective 30 days from its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
HEIDI VON TONGELN
Interim City Attorney
10 EXHIBIT A
Amendment to the Zoning Designation in the Official Districting Map for the Commercial Lots Located within 2644 30th Street
Address APN Zoning
Classification
Proposed
Portion of 2644
30th St described
as Northwest 60
feet of lots 78 and
83 of Tract No.
1980 (see map
below)
Portion of
4270-016-
084
R1 (Single-Unit
Residential)
NC (Neighborhood
Commercial)