Chapter 23.30 — PLANNING AUTHORITIES

This chapter lays out the basic roles, responsibilities, and functions of all planning authorities under this title, including the City Council, Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Design Review Board, and Community Development Director.

(Ord. 4823, passed 1-22-24; Ord. 4848, passed 9-8-25)

The powers and responsibilities of the City Council include, but are not limited to the following:

• (A) Adopt design guidelines pursuant to Chapter 23.33.

• (B) Consider and adopt, reject, or modify planned developments pursuant to Chapter 23.11.

• (C) Consider and adopt, reject, or modify development agreements pursuant to Chapter 23.39.

• (D) Consider and adopt, reject or modify proposed amendments to the General Plan, Zoning Code, Zoning Map, specific plans, and environmental documents related to any of the foregoing, pursuant to Chapter 23.40.

• (E) Hear and decide appeals from decisions of the Planning Commission and Historic Preservation Commission pursuant to § 23.31.120.

• (F) Establish, by resolution, a municipal fee schedule listing fees, charges, and deposits for various applications and services provided, pursuant to this title.

• (G) Make environmental determinations on any approvals within the City Council's jurisdiction that are subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act, pursuant to state law.

• (Ord. 4823, passed 1-22-24; Ord. 4848, passed 9-8-25)

The powers and responsibilities of the Planning Commission include, but are not limited to the following:

• (A) Approve, modify, or deny conditional use permits and variances, pursuant to Chapter 23.34 and Chapter 23.37.

• (B) Approve, modify, or deny residential planned development permits, pursuant to Chapter 23.41.

• (C) Make recommendations to the City Council on planned developments, pursuant to Chapter 23.11.

• (D) Make recommendations to the City Council on development agreements, pursuant to Chapter 23.39.

• (E) Make recommendations to City Council on proposed amendments to the General Plan, Zoning Code, and Zoning Map, specific plans, and environmental documents, pursuant to Chapter 23.40.

• (F) Hear and decide appeals from decisions of the Community Development Director and Design Review Board, pursuant to § 23.31.120.

• (G) Hear and decide proposals to revoke permits, pursuant to § 23.31.110.

• (H) Make environmental determinations on any approvals within the Planning Commission's jurisdiction that are subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act, pursuant to state law.

• (I) Such other powers and responsibilities as assigned or directed by the City Council.

• (Ord. 4823, passed 1-22-24; Ord. 4848, passed 9-8-25)

The powers and responsibilities of the Design Review Board, include, but are not limited to the following:

(A) Conduct design review and approve, modify, or deny design review applications pursuant to Chapter 23.33. (Ord. 4823, passed 1-22-24; Ord. 4848, passed 9-8-25)

The powers and responsibilities of the Community Development Director ("the Director"), or their designee, include, but are not limited to the following:

• (A) Maintain and administer the Zoning Code, including the processing of applications, abatements, and other enforcement actions.

• (B) Interpret the Zoning Code as needed for members of the public and other city departments.

(C) Prepare rules and procedures necessary for conducting the Director's business. They may include the administrative details of hearings officiated by the Director (e.g., scheduling, rules of procedure, and recordkeeping). These rules and procedures must be approved by City Council resolution, following review and recommendation by the Planning Commission.

• (D) Issue administrative regulations for the submission and review of applications subject to the requirements of Cal. Gov’t Code § 65950.

• (E) Conduct administrative review pursuant to Chapter 23.32.

• (F) Approve, modify, or deny minor use permits, pursuant to Chapter 23.34.

(G) Approve, modify, or deny temporary use permits, pursuant to Chapter 23.35.

(H) Approve, modify, or deny a modification, pursuant to Chapter 23.36.

(I) Approve, modify, or deny requests for reasonable accommodation for land use projects, pursuant to Chapter 23.38.

• (J) Approve, modify, or deny requests for extensions for land use projects, pursuant to § 23.31.090.

(K) Decide requests for minor revisions to approved permits, pursuant to § 23.31.100.

(L) Refer items to the Planning Commission where, in their opinion, the public interest would be better served by a Planning Commission public hearing and action.

(M) Determine whether a project is subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act and notify the applicant if any additional information is necessary to conduct the review.

(N) Make recommendations to the Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, and City Council on all applications, appeals, and other matters upon which they have the authority and the responsibility to act under this title.

(O) Investigate and report to the Planning Commission and Historic Preservation Commission on permit violations when the city has initiated revocation procedures, pursuant to § 23.31.110.

• (P) Delegate administrative functions to members of the Planning Division.

• (Q) Such other powers and responsibilities as assigned or directed by the City Council.

(R) Approve, modify, or deny requests for historic preservation permits, as appropriate, pursuant to Chapter 23.42.

(Ord. 4823, passed 1-22-24; Ord. 4831, passed 8-26-24; Ord. 4848, passed 9-8-25)

The powers and responsibilities of the Historic Preservation Commission include, but are not limited to the following:

• (A) Approve, modify, or deny, or make recommendations to City Council, as appropriate, on Historic Preservation permits and applications, including, but not limited to, designation, rescission or amendment of designation,

alterations to historic resources, certificates of economic hardship, and Mills Act contracts, pursuant to Chapter 23.42.

(B) Upon request, make recommendations to the Planning Commission and/or City Council on zoning and general plan amendments related to historic preservation goals and policies.

• (C) Hear and decide appeals from decisions of the Community Development Director, pursuant to § 23.31.120.

• (D) Hear and decide proposals to revoke permits. pursuant to § 23.31.110.

• (E) Make environmental determinations on any approvals within the Historic Preservation Commission's

jurisdiction that are subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act. pursuant to state law.

• (F) Such other powers and responsibilities as assigned or directed by the City Council.

• (Ord. 4848, passed 9-8-25)

This table summarizes the powers and duties that each review authority has under this title. Where a land use project requires more than one type of application, all permit requests shall be reviewed and decided on by the highest review authority established for any of the applications, except as otherwise provided herein. Where a land use project requires an application under Title 22, but no application under this title, then the review authority for the Title 22 application shall be the Director, notwithstanding any contradictory provisions in Title 22, provided that final maps shall be approved by the City Council as required by the Subdivision Map Act. Where a land use project requires an application under Title 22 and all other permits for the land use project under this title have a lower review authority than what is provided by Title 22, the lower review authority provided in this title shall apply to the Title 22 application, notwithstanding any contradictory provisions in Title 22, provided that final maps shall be approved by the City Council as required by the Subdivision Map Act.

TABLE 23.30.070: SUMMARY OF REVIEW AUTHORITIES FOR DECISIONS AND APPEALS

(Ord. 4823, passed 1-22-24; Ord. 4831, passed 8-26-24; Ord. 4848, passed 9-8-25)