G E N E R A L
P L A N 205 0
I M P L E M E N T A TIO N
P A C K A G E
City Council
November 4, 2025
Amy Nicholson, Supervising Planner
1 GENERAL
PLAN 2050
o Initiated in Spring of 2020
o Recommended for approval by
Planning Commission in April 2025
o Adopted by Council on June 3, 2025
2 Amendments to Title 19 – Park and Recreation Land
and Fees
Implement General Plan 2050 provisions for adequate parkland and recreation space Consistent with the Neighborhood Parks and Civic Spaces narrative and Action 6 -7.14 Park amenities elements table revised
Amendments to Title 21 – Growth Management
General Plan 2050 does not include a Growth Management Element - unlike previous versions Element eliminated due to conflicts with:
• City housing production goals
• Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) requirements Corresponding Municipal Code Chapter proposed for deletion 3 Amendments
to Implement
General Plan
Actions
Additional performance standards applied to
new developments:
- Biological Resource Assessment
- Health Impact Assessment
Electric vehicle charging review process
streamlined and use is allowed in more Zoning
Districts
Mid-point of residential density required in
R-3 (Multi -family) and TV-R (Transit Village
Residential) zoning districts
4 Clarifications to Implement the
General Plan
Classified as a commercial district – uses allowed broadened Description of Zoning District consistent with General Plan characterization Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations added
Adjustments to Implementing Zoning District Table to align with General Plan land uses
Neighborhood Mixed Use Zoning District
Definition of multi -family land use to be updated to reflect parcel use rather than structure type - allows detached units to qualify as multi-family if located on the same parcel
5 Government
Code requires
Consistency
between
General Plan
land use and
Zoning
Rezones 2,089 parcels to implement
existing General Plan land use
designation
6 Missing
Middle
Housing
House-scale buildings with multiple units in walkable
neighborhoods. “Middle” refers to the size and form of
buildings – not required affordability by income.
7 Local
Examples
of Missing
Middle
Housing
8 Shrinking household size —approximately, 30% of households are single person and approximately 85% of households do not have children
Less upkeep —many Millennials and Baby Boomers want to live in walkable neighborhoods with less upkeep of large houses and large yards
Retirees —10,000 Baby Boomers retire every day - many have limited or no savings and are looking for smaller, more affordable housing options Missing Middle Housing
addresses changing
demographics
9 Missing Middle Housing in Santa Rosa
10 Missing
Middle
Housing
Overlay
Areas
11 MMH in Historic Preservation Districts
12 Small, house scale buildings
13 Larger multi -unit buildings
14 Development
Form
Frontage Type
15 Add new Zoning Districts to Chapter 20-38 – Combining Districts MMH – S (Missing Middle Housing Small)
MMH – M (Missing Middle Housing Medium)
Regulations exclusively apply to new Missing Middle Housing developments
Zoning Map updated to apply new combining district to 1,991 parcels Exempt from Use Permit and Design Review
Landmark Alteration Permit required within City’s Preservation Districts Missing Middle Housing
Zoning Code Integration
16 Public Noticing
•Newspaper Ad: In compliance with Zoning Code §20-66.020(D) and state law, a 1/8-page ad was published in the Press Democrat as an alternative to mailing over 1,000 notices.
•Courtesy Mailing: Notices were mailed to property owners affected by proposed rezonings for General Plan consistency and the Missing Middle Housing Combining District.
•Additional Outreach: Notice distributed via GovDelivery email, City Hall, and project websites.
17 Public Comments
on Missing Middle Housing
• Concerns about impacts to neighborhoods including Preservation Districts • Parking minimums may not meet resident needs
• Emphasis on notifying nearby property owners of zoning changes • Support for multigenerational housing and rental flexibility • Interest in both rental and ownership options
• Enthusiasm for diverse Missing Middle Housing prototypes • Suggestions to expand geographic scope of Missing Middle Housing • Support for streamlining permitting and lowering condo development costs 18 Public Comments on Rezoning for
General Plan Consistency
• General inquiries regarding implications of zoning changes • Concern that rezoning may affect existing uses
• Nonconforming Uses: Governed by Zoning Code Chapter 20-61 -May continue, be sold, or transferred
19 Amendments proposed analyzed in the Program Environmental Impact Report for the General Plan 2050
Certified by Council on June 3, 2025
No changes have occurred pursuant to Government Code Section 15162 which would warrant additional environmental analysis
Additionally, CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 (i) exempts rezonings for consistency with the general plan.
California Environmental
Quality Act
20 Recommendation
21 The Planning Commission and the Planning and Economic Development Department recommend that the Council approve the first reading and introduce three ordinances to 1) amend Municipal Code Titles 18, 19, 20 and 21 to implement the General Plan 2050; 2) rezone 2,089 properties to implement the existing General Plan land use designation; and 3) rezone 1,991 properties to add the Missing Middle Housing Combining District; and direct staff to bring forward a General Plan land use amendment to resolve General Plan land use and zoning inconsistencies for the certain properties within the City. This item has no impact on current fiscal year budget.