Citywide
Senior Community Care Facility
Zoning Code Text Amendment
1 February 13, 2024 Kristinae Toomians
Senior Planner
Planning and Economic Development
Project Description
• Amend City Code Section 20-42.060 to exempt senior
care facilities from the spacing and overconcentration
requirements for Community Care Facilities.
• Amend City Code Section 20-70.020 to modify the
definition of Community Care Facility to allow palliative care and end of life medical treatments for senior care facilities.
2 Project History
• August 3, 2023 – The applicant submitted project
applications and plans.
• January 11, 2024 – The Planning Commission approved a resolution recommending the City Council adopt the
Zoning Code text amendment.
• In addition, the project includes an application for a Minor Use Permit (MUP) for a senior memory care
facility at 6575 Oakmont Drive.
• Pending the outcome of the Council action, the MUP will be considered by the Zoning Administrator.
3 Analysis
• City Code Section 20-42.060 requires that all Community Care Facilities that serve 7 or more clients be located no closer than 300 feet from another facility.
• “Overconcentration" arises when two or more
community care facilities are proposed within 1,000 feet from each other and may trigger additional conditions to mitigate potential impacts.
• The overconcentration and spacing requirement applies to all community care facilities, including senior care. 4 Zoning Code Amendment
5 • The California Health & Safety Code (enforced by the Department of Social Services) aims to prevent
overconcentration of residential facilities that, “impair the integrity of residential neighborhoods,” and defines
“overconcentration” as:
➢Residential facilities that are 300 feet or less apart. • Based on local needs and conditions, the Department of Social Services may approve less than 300 feet with the approval of the city or county.
Zoning Code Amendment
6 • Health & Safety Code Section 1520.5(f) states: “Foster family homes and residential facilities for the elderly shall not be considered in determining overconcentration of
residential facilities, and license applications for those facilities shall not be denied upon the basis of
overconcentration.”
• Amending City Code Section 20-42-060 to exempt senior care facilities would be consistent with the Health & Safety Code.
Zoning Code Amendment
7 • City Code Section 20-70.020 defines Community Care
Facility and limits them to provide only non-medical care. • Because senior care facilities often include palliative or end of life care, the recommendation includes a request to
modify the definition to include this type of care for senior care facilities.
Findings
8 • Zoning Code Section 20-64.050(B) requires the following findings for a text amendment:
➢ The proposed amendment is consistent with the goals and policies of all elements of the General Plan, and any
applicable specific plan.
➢ The proposed amendment would not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience, or welfare of the City.
➢ The proposed project has been reviewed in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
➢ The proposed amendment is internally consistent with other applicable provisions of this Zoning Code.
9 Environmental Review
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
• The proposed project has been reviewed in compliance
with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Because the proposed Zoning Code text amendment is
consistent with General Plan 2035, the project relies
upon the General Plan 2035 Environmental Impact
Report and is consistent with CEQA Section 15183
(Projects Consistent with a Community Plan, General
Plan, or Zoning).
Recommendation
10 • It is recommended by the Planning Commission and the Planning and Economic Development Department that
the Council, by motion, introduce an ordinance
amending the text of Title 20 of the Santa Rosa City
Code, Section 20-42.060, Community Care and Health
Care Facilities, to exempt senior care facilities from the Community Care Facility overconcentration limitation
and spacing requirement, and Section 20-70.020,
Definitions of Specialized Terms and Phrases, to modify the definition of Community Care Facility to allow
palliative care and end of life medical treatments for
senior care facilities.
Questions
11 Kristinae Toomians
Senior Planner
Planning and Economic Development
[email protected]
(707) 543-4692