Chapter 11.5.05 — REVIEW AUTHORITY

The city council shall:

• A. Adopt, reject or modify amendments to the general plan.

• B. Adopt, reject or modify specific plans, planned development plans and amendments to specific plans, planned development plans, the official zoning map, and the zoning code.

• C. Approve, reject, modify or amend development agreements.

• D. Consider appeals of conditional use permits, variances and any other permits that can be appealed pursuant to Title 1: General Provisions, Chapter 1.20: Review of Quasi-Judicial Decisions.

• E. Decide appeals on environmental determinations by the director or the planning commission.

• (Ord. 1598)

The commission shall:

• A. Recommend to the city council amendments to the general plan.

• B. Recommend to the city council specific plans, planned development plans and amendments to specific plans, planned development plans, the official zoning map, or the zoning code.

• C. Recommend development agreements and amendments thereto.

• D. Approve, conditionally approve, modify, or disapprove conditional use permits, variances, and requests for reasonable accommodation.

• E. Revoke conditional use permits, variances, or other zoning permits.

• F. Decide appeals on director decisions as listed in Table 11.5.05.025: Review Authority.

• G. Make environmental determinations on any commission approvals that are subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act.

• H. Determine incentives for eligible developers proposing affordable housing.

• I. Make other decisions delegated by the city council. (Ord. 1598)

The director of development services shall:

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City of Seal Beach, CA

SEAL BEACH CODE

11.5.05.015

11.5.05.025

• A. Issue written regulations for the administration of this zoning code.

• B. Determine if applications are complete and may be accepted for processing.

• C. Review projects for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). The director shall:

  1. Determine whether applications are exempt under CEQA.

  2. Propose project revisions to mitigate environmental impacts.

  3. Determine whether an environmental impact report is required.

• D. Approve administrative modifications to the discretionary permits and other types of approvals listed in Chapter 11.5.25: Director Determinations.

• E. Grant the minor modifications listed in Chapter 11.5.25: Director Determinations, Section 11.5.25.020: Minor Modifications.

• F. Determine whether applications would require a zoning change or amendment to the general plan.

• G. Determine zoning conformance pursuant to Chapter 11.5.25: Director Determinations, Section 11.5.25.010: Zoning Conformance Review Procedures.

• H. Interpret the zoning code upon request.

• I. Verify zoning regulations, the scope and viability of previously issued permits and other matters related to the applicability of city regulations on an application.

• J. Make any other determinations listed in Table 11.5.05.025: Review Authority.

• K. Forward commission requests to initiate general plan amendments, specific plans, specific plan amendments to the city council for concurrence.

The director may refer any request to the commission for a decision. Additional fees shall not be charged to the applicant in the event of a director's referral. (Ord. 1598)

The city building official shall enforce regulations pertaining to the construction and alteration of structures pursuant to the California Building Code.

(Ord. 1598)

Table 11.5.05.025: Review Authority, identifies the city official or body responsible for reviewing and making decisions on each type of application, land use permit, and other entitlements required by this zoning code.

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City of Seal Beach, CA

ZONING

11.5.05.025

11.5.05.025

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Table 11.5.05.025
REVIEW AUTHORITY
Review Authority and Role1
TYPE OF PERMIT OR PLANNING
DECISION PROCEDURE IS IN: DIRECTOR COMMISSION CITY COUNCIL
Land Use Permits and Other Development Entitlements:
Adult Business Zoning Chapter 11.4.50 Decision Appeal
Clearance
Conditional Use Permit Chapter 11.5.20 Decision Appeal
Development Agreement Chapter 11.5.15 Recommend Decision
Development Permits Chapter 11.5.25 Decision Appeal Appeal
Director Determination Chapter 11.5.25 Decision Appeal Appeal
Minor Use Permit Chapter 11.5.20 Decision Appeal
Special Event Permit Article 7, Chapter 7.50 Decision Appeal
Specific Plan Chapter 11.5.15 Recommend Decision
Temporary Use Permit Chapter 11.5.25 Decision Appeal Appeal
Parcel Maps, Tentative and Article 10 Recommend Decision
Final Tract Maps
Variance Chapter 11.5.20 Decision Appeal
Minor Modifications Chapter 11.5.25 Decision Appeal Appeal
Reasonable Accommodations Chapter 11.5.30 Decision Appeal
Zoning Conformance Review Chapter 11.5.25 Decision Appeal Appeal
General Plan Amendments Chapter 11.5.15 Recommend Decision
Incidental Business Activities Chapter 11.4.05 Zoning clearance
approval
Zoning Code Administration and Amendments:
Interpretations Chapter 11.5.25 Decision Appeal Appeal
Zoning Map Amendments Chapter 11.5.15 Recommend Decision
Zoning Text Amendments Chapter 11.5.15 Recommend Decision
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• 1 "Recommend" means that the review authority makes a recommendation to a higher decision-making body;

"Decision" means that the review authority makes the final decision on the matter;

"Appeal" means that the review authority may take action upon appeals to the decision of an earlier decision-making body.

(Ord. 1598; Ord. 1659)

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City of Seal Beach, CA