San Diego Municipal Code Div. 1 General Procedures and Authorities for Implementation of the

California Environmental Quality Act and the State Guidelines (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

The purpose of these procedures is to implement the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the State CEQA Guidelines, and to provide additional specific procedures for accurate, objective, timely, and orderly evaluation disclosure of potential environmental effects of proposed projects in the City. (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

(a) CEQA and the State CEQA Guidelines, as applicable, are incorporated and made a part of this article as fully as though set forth herein, and all officers and employees of the City of San Diego are hereby authorized and directed to enforce and comply with each and every applicable provision of CEQA and the State CEQA Guidelines.

(b) This article shall be applied in such manner as to afford the fullest
consideration of environmental protection of the environment within the
reasonable scope of the statutory language.
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

Quality Procedures

The Planning Director shall be responsible for implementing this article.

(a) The Planning Director shall have the following powers as required for all
projects or activities as defined by CEQA, whether proposed by private
applicants, the City, or other public agencies:

Ch. Art. Div.
12 8 1 1

San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 12: Land Development Reviews (7-2014)

(1) To conduct environmental reviews including a determination of the
information required to perform the review;

(2) To issue administrative guidelines consistent with CEQA, the State
CEQA Guidelines, current case law, and City Council policy;

(3) To determine environmental significance based on applicable
administrative guidelines;

(4) To determine the type of environmental document required;

(5) To prepare environmental documents as required by this article,
CEQA, and the State CEQA Guidelines;

(6) To implement any three-party agreement or memorandum of
understanding used for preparation of an environmental document and
to set standards to help ensure that only qualified environmental
consultants prepare these documents;

(7) To ensure to the maximum extent possible, that before public review,
all environmental documents incorporate the latest pertinent technical
or scientific information and are factually accurate and consistent; and

(8) To help ensure that applicants incorporate all required environmental
mitigation measures or project alternatives as adopted by the decision
makers to minimize, if not preclude, adverse impacts to the
environment from the project, consistent with CEQA.

(b) The Planning Director shall establish and maintain that degree of independence in the performance of these functions and duties as will assure the City Council, the City Manager, the Planning Commission, and the people of the City of San Diego that the review and analysis of the environmental consequences of projects, are in accordance with CEQA, are independent and wholly objective, and are not prepared for the purpose of either supporting or detracting from any project, plan, or position, whether advanced by the City, any other governmental agency, or private interest. (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.) (Retitled to “Powers and Duties of the Development Services Director in Implementing Environmental Quality Procedures” and amended 12-6-1999 by O-18728 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.) (Amended 11-28-2005 by O-19444 N.S.; effective 2-9-2006.) (Retitled to “Powers and Duties of the Planning Director in Implementing Environmental Quality Procedures“ and amended 2-12-2014 by O-20348 N.S.; effective 3-14-2014.)

Ch. Art. Div. 12 8 1 2

San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 12: Land Development Reviews (7-2014)

When the conditions of a project approval require mitigation and monitoring, the City Manager and the Planning Director are responsible for promulgating mitigation and monitoring standards and guidelines for public and private projects consistent with the requirements of CEQA Section 21081.6. The Planning Director or City Manager may require appropriate surety instruments or bonds from private project applicants to ensure the long term performance or implementation of required mitigation measures or programs. The City is authorized to recover its costs to offset the salary, overhead, and expenses for City personnel and programs to monitor qualifying projects. (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; amended 12-6-1999 by O-18728 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.) (Amended 11-28-2005 by O-19444 N.S.; effective 2-9-2006.) (Amended 2-12-2014 by O-20348 N.S.; effective 3-14-2014.)

Ch. Art. Div.
12 8 1 3

San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 12: Land Development Reviews (2-2019)

Article 8: Implementation Procedures For The California Environmental Quality Act and the State CEQA Guidelines (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)