Sonora Municipal Code § 17.66.040 Planning Commission - Variances

The community development department, administered by the community development director, shall assist in the administration of this title by:

A. Processing and investigating all applications;

B. Reviewing applications for building permits and other licenses referred to it to determine their compliance with this title.

(Ord. 376 § 10-3-2, 1967.; Amended by Ord. 860 on 10/7/2019)

The community development director of the city, or his or her staff designee, shall serve as and perform the duties of secretary to the planning commission.

(Ord. 808 §2 (part), 2012; Ord. 525 § 13, 1979.; Adopted by Ord. 860 on 10/7/2019)

The commission shall:

A. Supervise the administration of this title;

B. Adopt rules and procedures necessary or convenient for the filing of all applications regulated under this title;

C. Act upon all applications;

D. Make recommendations to the council upon amendments to zone boundaries or to provisions of this title;

E. By resolution, on request or on its own initiative, adopt rules implementing the general plan or zone regulations of this title by:

1. Setting forth additional specific uses allowed by right and by use permit which are, in the opinion of the commission, similar or accessory to those listed in this title and conform to the purposes of the zone regulations.

2. Setting forth additional specific uses for which parking space is required which are, in the opinion of the commission, similar or accessory to those listed in this title.

(Ord. 376 § 10-3-1, 1967.; Amended by Ord. 860 on 10/7/2019)

A. The commission may grant a conditional use permit to authorize a specific use, and structure devoted to such use, on a specific parcel within a zone where such use is allowed by a use permit, in accordance with the procedure specified in Chapter 17.62.

B. The commission may grant a use permit if it finds that the use applied for is necessary or desirable on a specific parcel, not injurious to the neighborhood, consistent with the intent of this title, and with the purposes for such zone.

(Ord. 376 § 10-3-3, 1967.)

A. The commission may grant a variance to authorize a specific exception to any regulation of Chapters 17.62 through 17.66, and 17.70 in accordance with the procedure specified in Chapter 17.62.

B. The commission may grant a variance if it finds that the strict adherence to a regulation may cause unnecessary hardship and that all of the following exist:

1. Exceptional or extraordinary circumstances or conditions, not resulting from any act of the owner or applicant, apply to the property and not generally to other properties in the vicinity and the same zone.

2. The exception does not constitute a special privilege inconsistent with the limitations upon other properties in the vicinity and the same zone.

3. The exception is the minimum necessary for the reasonable use of the property.

4. The exception is not injurious to the neighborhood, is consistent with the intent of this title, and with the purposes for such zone.

(Ord. 376 § 10-3-4, 1967.)