La Palma Municipal Code Div. 1 Administrative Responsibility

The purpose of this division is to describe the authority and responsibilities of the City staff and officials in the administration of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015)

As provided by State law (Government Code § 65100), the City Council, Development Committee, and the Community Development Director shall perform the functions of the planning agency.

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015; Ord. No. 2016-06, § 18, 5-3-2016)

State Law reference— Local planning agencies, Government Code § 65100 et seq.

The following review authorities shall make decisions on the procedures authorized by this Development Code, and as identified in Table IV-1:

(1) City Council.

(2) Development Committee.

(3) Special Permit Committee.

(4) Special Permit Subcommittee.

(5) City Manager.

(6) Community Development Director.

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015; Ord. No. 2016-06, § 19, 5-3-2016)

The City Council shall perform the duties and functions prescribed in this chapter, including reviewing, or making determinations on applications for development projects in compliance with Table IV-1.

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2016-06, § 20, adopted May 3, 2016, repealed § 44-479 in its entirety. Former § 44-479 pertained to "Planning commission," and was derived from Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, adopted May 5, 2015.

The Development and Circulation Committee is an advisory committee consisting of citizens-at-large appointed by the City Council. It shall be the duty of the Development and Circulation Committee:

(1) To review proposed projects for consistency with the Circulation and Infrastructure Element of the General Plan; and

(2) To recommend to the City Council ways and means for improving transportation, transit, and circulation conditions and matters in Chapter 40 "Vehicles and Traffic"; and

(3) To advise the City Council on matters affecting the review, study, evaluation, design, and installation of traffic control devices in compliance with the Guidelines and Warrants of the CAMUTCD.

(4) To advise the City Council on matters affecting accessibility, parking, and transportation modes, including pedestrian, bicycle, and automobiles on all public rights-of-way and paths within the City limits; and

(5) To perform the duties and functions prescribed in Chapter 44, including reviewing, making recommendations, or making determinations on applications for development projects in compliance with Table IV-1;

(6) To advise the City Council and perform such advisory duties and functions relating to planning, land use, transportation and circulation issues as the City Council may direct; and

(7) The Development and Circulation Committee shall also serve as the board of appeals related to disputes concerning the building standards code.

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015; Ord. No. 2017-01, § 4, 3-7-2017)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2017-01, § 4, adopted March 7, 2017, amended § 44-480 to read as set out herein. Previously § 44-480 was titled "Development committee."

(a) Membership. A representative of each City department shall comprise a Special Permit Committee to investigate, conduct meetings to issue certain special permits, and consider the revocation or extension of special permits.

(b) Duties and authority. The Special Permit Committee shall perform the duties and functions prescribed in this chapter, including making determinations on applications for special permits in compliance with Table IV-1.

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015)

(a) Membership. The Special Permit Committee Subcommittee shall be composed of three members. The members shall include the City Manager, the Community Development Director, and a representative from the Police Department.

(b) Duties and authority. The Special Permit Subcommittee shall perform the duties and functions prescribed in this chapter, including making determinations on applications for special permits in compliance with Table IV-1.

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015)

The City Manager shall perform the duties and functions prescribed in this chapter, including reviewing, making recommendations, or making determinations on applications for development projects in compliance with Table IV-1.

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015)

The Community Development Director shall perform the duties and functions prescribed in this chapter, including reviewing, making recommendations, or making determinations on applications for development projects in compliance with Table IV-1.

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015)

Table IV-1 identifies the City official or authority responsible for reviewing and making decisions on each type of application or land use entitlement required by this chapter.

TABLE IV-1. REVIEW AUTHORITY

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015; Ord. No. 2016-06, § 21, 5-3-2016; Ord. No. 2022-01, § 18, 5-3-2022; Ord. No. 2023-02, § 8, 2-7-2023; Ord. No. 2024-04, § 4, 12-10-2024)

Table IV-2 identifies the City official or authority responsible for reviewing and making decisions on each type of special permit application as required by this chapter.

TABLE IV-2. SPECIAL PERMIT REVIEW AUTHORITY

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015; Ord. No. 2022-06, § 10, 8-2-2022)

Table IV-3 identifies the City official or authority responsible for reviewing and making decisions on each type of sign application as required by this chapter.

TABLE IV-3. SIGN REVIEW AUTHORITY

* N/A—Not applicable

(1) Electronic monument signs are allowed in the public/institutional zoning district only and are subject to a precise plan permit. The bodies with decision making and appeal authority for a precise plan permit are identified in table IV-1 in section 44-485, and the decision-making body will consider applications based upon recommendations of both the Community Development Department and the Development and Circulation Committee.

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015; Ord. No. 2016-06, § 22, 5-3-2016; Ord. No. 2021-03, § 6, 12-7-2021; Ord. No. 2024-04, § 4, 12-10-2024)

(a) The Development Committee and City Council, where identified as having review or appeal authority in Table IV-1, shall hold a public hearing prior to considering, reviewing, and/or taking action on any of the following entitlements:

(1) Conditional use permits.

(2) Precise plans and precise plan amendments.

(3) Variances.

(4) Specific plans.

(b) All public hearings shall comply with the notification and procedural requirements in Section 44-518.

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015; Ord. No. 2016-06, § 23, 5-3-2016)

Adoption of a new specific plan or an amendment to an existing specific plan may be initiated in the following manner:

(1) Council. The City Council may initiate the preparation of a specific plan.

(2) Property owner. The property owner or the authorized agent, or an affected party, may file an application for a specific plan. If the property for which a specific plan or specific plan amendment is proposed has more than one owner, all of the owners or their authorized agents shall join in filing the application.

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015)