Piedmont Municipal Code Div. 17.02 Title; Intent; City Charter

Sections: 17.02.010 Title; City Charter

A. Title. This chapter 17, Planning and Land Use, is also known as the zoning ordinance.

B. Intent. The City of Piedmont consists primarily of unique single-family residences set among mature trees and other vegetation. The residents wish to:

1. preserve the architectural heritage and beauty of the city's homes, the mature vegetation, the tranquility and privacy that now exist, and significant views;
2. reduce on-street parking and traffic in the neighborhood streets and facilitate pedestrian and bicycle activity;

mitigate overcrowding and build a thriving environment for all, where growth benefits schools, services, facilities, and amenities;
4. preserve the city's historical heritage; 5. preserve the existing stock of small homes and otherwise allow for a variety of housing types for all income levels, including single-family and multi-family dwellings; 6. ensure excellence of architectural design, and compliance with the Piedmont Design Standards and Guidelines, as approved by the City Council and amended from time to time; 7. allow retail, office, and service commercial uses that are primarily neighborhood serving;
8. promote property improvements without sacrificing the goals already mentioned; and 9. create incentives for the development of accessory dwelling units affordable to households with moderate, low and very low income.

These zoning regulations are designed to implement these purposes.
(Ord. 777 N.S., 01/2025)

C. City Charter.

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1. The city's zoning ordinance is also subject to the City Charter, particularly Section 9.01, General Plan, Section 9.02, Zoning System, and Section 9.04, General Laws Applicable. Those sections read as follows:

Section 9.01 General Plan. The City Council shall adopt, and may from time to time, modify a general plan setting forth policies to govern the development of the City. Such plan may cover the entire City and all of its functions and services or may consist of a combination of plans governing specific functions and services or specific geographic areas which together cover the entire City and all of its functions and services. The plan shall also serve as a guide to Council action concerning such City planning matters as land use, development regulations and capital improvements.

Section 9.02 Zoning system. The City of Piedmont is primarily a residential city, and the City Council shall have the power to establish a zoning system within the City as may in its judgment be most beneficial. The Council may classify and reclassify the zones established, but no existing zones shall be reduced or enlarged with respect to size or area, and no zones shall be reclassified without submitting the question to a vote at a general or special election. No zone shall be reduced or enlarged and no zones reclassified unless a majority of the voters voting upon the same shall vote in favor thereof; provided that any property which is zoned for uses other than or in addition to a single-family dwelling maybe voluntarily rezoned by the owners thereof filing a written document executed by all of the owners thereof under penalty of perjury stating that the only use on such property shall be a single-family dwelling, and such rezoning shall not require a vote of the electors as set forth above.

Section 9.04 General laws applicable. All general laws of the State applicable to municipal corporations, now or hereafter enacted, and which are not in conflict with the provisions of this Charter or with ordinances hereafter enacted, shall be applicable to the City. The City Council may adopt and enforce ordinances that, in relation to municipal affairs, shall control as against the general laws of the State.

2. In Section 9.02 of the City Charter, the prohibition not to reduce, enlarge, or reclassify a zone without a vote is understood to mean the city may not change the zone boundaries, or change (reclassify) a property from one zone to another. However, the City may make amendments to the zoning ordinance within the established zoning districts.

D. Private Agreements. The City regulates land use in accordance with the City’s zoning ordinance and does not enforce or regulate private agreements. (Ord. 774 N.S., 09/2024)

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