Meeting: September 22, 2026
16 ITEM BY COUNCILMEMBERS DAN HALL, ELLIS RASKIN, AND NATALYA
ZERNITSKAYA
Request of Councilmembers Hall, Raskin, and Zernitskaya that Council direct the City Manager and City Attorney to return no later than November 17 with options to implement technical clarifications and refinements in Chapter 9.46 of the Municipal Code concerning the procedures for Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and Map and other procedural clarifications.
The purpose of this 16-item is to explore minor procedural refinements to local zoning procedures that will allow Santa Monica to respond more rapidly when there is a need to update local zoning or business regulations in situations that do not otherwise meet the criteria for interim zoning ordinances (see Santa Monica Municipal Code §
9.46.090).
The procedures for amending the City’s Zoning Ordinance and Map are contained in Chapter 9.46 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code (SMMC). Those procedures are further governed by both the City Charter1 and California State Planning and Zoning Law.
2 Our City’s planning and zoning laws have evolved over more than a century, and they reflect procedures that may be either duplicative or in need of modernization.
In order to streamline and modernize the municipal code, WE THEREFORE MOVE THAT THE COUNCIL:
1. Direct the City Manager and City Attorney to return no later than November 17, 2026 with options regarding the following procedural amendments:
1.1. Zoning Ordinance and Map amendments may be initiated without first approving a resolution of intention pursuant to SMMC § 9.46.030, subdivisions (A) or (B).
1.2. Unless the need for a longer continuance is supported by written findings of a compelling need (e.g., a need for additional information), following a public hearing pursuant to SMMC § 9.46.050, a continuance longer than 90 days shall be automatically deemed a recommendation against adoption of the proposed Zoning Ordinance or Map amendment and the 2 See Gov. Code, § 65100 et seq. Government Code § 65853-65858 specify that a jurisdiction with a planning commission generally must refer proposed zoning amendments to a planning commission before they can be considered by the elected governing body. 1 The powers and duties of the Planning Commission are set forth in City Charter § 1007 and 1008.
Among other things, the Planning Commission may make recommendations to amend or repeal the Master Plan following a public hearing. It shall also exercise other zoning functions prescribed by ordinance.
16 ITEM BY COUNCILMEMBERS HALL, RASKIN, AND ZERNITSKAYA Modernizing Planning Procedures
matter may then proceed to a City Council hearing pursuant to SMMC §
9.46.060.
1.3. Establish additional procedures, consistent with City Charter § 1008, for the Planning Commission to make recommendations concerning public works plans which fall within the purview of urban planning and have cityor neighborhood-wide impact.
2. Direct the City Clerk to make any appropriate and necessary changes to comply with the above direction.
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