Chapter 20.440 — PLANNING AGENCY

The purpose of this chapter is to identify the bodies, officials, and administrators with designated responsibilities under various divisions and chapters of the Zoning Ordinance. Subsequent chapters of Division VI provide detailed information regarding various procedures, applications, and permits, including zoning and General Plan text and map amendments, establishment of fees, and enforcement. When carrying out their assigned duties and responsibilities, all bodies, administrators, and officials shall interpret and apply the provisions of this Ordinance as minimum requirements adopted to implement the policies and achieve the objectives of the General Plan.

(Ord. 1646 § 2, 2022)

The powers and duties of the City Council under this Title include:

• A. To consider and adopt, reject or modify amendments to the General Plan map and text pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 20.540 (“Amendments to General Plan”), and of the State Government Code.

• B. To consider and adopt amendments to the Zoning Map and to the text of this Title pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 20.550 (“Amendments to Zoning Ordinance and Map”) and the State Government Code.

• C. To consider and adopt Specific Plans and amendments to Specific Plans pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 20.530 (“Specific Plans and Plan Amendments”) and the State Government Code.

• D. To hear and decide appeals from decisions of the Planning Commission on Conditional Use Permits, Variances, and any other permits that can be appealed pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 20.570 (“Appeals and Calls for Review”) and other applicable requirements.

• E. To hear and decide appeals on environmental determinations by the Chief Planner or the Planning Commission pursuant to Chapter 20.460 (“Environmental Review”), and as provided for in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

• F. To appoint and remove members of the Planning Commission as provided for in Title 2 (“Administration”) of the South San Francisco Municipal Code.

• G. To establish, by resolution, a Master Fee Schedule listing fees, charges, and deposits for various applications and services provided pursuant to this Ordinance.

• (Ord. 1646 § 2, 2022; Ord. 1656, 6/12/2024)

The Planning Commission is established and organized pursuant to Chapter 2.56 (“Planning

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City of South San Francisco, CA

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO CODE

§ 20.440.003

§ 20.440.003

Commission”) of the South San Francisco Municipal Code and the requirements of the California Government Code. The powers and duties of the Planning Commission under this Ordinance include:

• A. Initiate, conduct hearings, and make recommendations to the City Council on proposed amendments to the General Plan map and text pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 20.540 (“Amendments to General Plan”).

• B. Annually review progress towards implementation of the General Plan and recommend to the City Council changes needed due to new legislation, development trends and changing economic, social and environmental conditions.

• C. Initiate, conduct hearings, and make recommendations to the City Council on proposed amendments to the Zoning Map and to the text of this Ordinance pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 20.550 (“Amendments to Zoning Ordinance and Map”).

• D. Initiate, conduct hearings, and make recommendations to the City Council on proposed Specific Plans and plan amendments pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 20.530 (“Specific Plans and Plan Amendments”).

• E. Approve, conditionally approve, modify or deny Conditional Use Permits, Precise Plans and Variances pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 20.490 (“Use Permits”) and Chapter 20.500 (“Variances”).

• F. Hear and decide on modifications to approved Conditional Use Permits and Variances pursuant to the provisions of Section 20.450.012 (“Modification”).

• G. Approve, approve with modifications, or deny requests for modifications of the parking standards in Chapter 20.330 (“On-Site Parking and Loading”) within designated parking districts.

• H. Conduct hearings and make recommendations to the City Council on applications for preliminary development plans pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 20.140 (“Planned Development (PD) District”).

• I. Hear and decide appeals on decisions, determinations, or interpretations made by the Chief Planner in the enforcement of this Ordinance and any other decisions that are subject to appeal pursuant to the procedures in Chapter 20.570 (“Appeals and Calls for Review”).

• J. Make environmental determinations on any approvals it grants that are subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act and the City’s adopted environmental review guidelines pursuant to the State law and the procedures in Chapter 20.460 (“Environmental Review”).

• K. Adopt by resolution guidelines and standards for conducting design review pursuant to Chapter 20.480 (“Design Review”).

• L. Initiate proceedings to revoke Use Permits pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 20.580 (“Enforcement and Abatement Procedures”).

• M. Designate historic resources pursuant to Chapter 2.56 (“Planning Commission”).

• N. Conduct design review of applications for the demolition, relocation, alterations, and/or modifications to a designated historic resource in accordance with the provisions of

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City of South San Francisco, CA

ZONING

§ 20.440.003

§ 20.440.005

Chapter 20.480 (“Design Review”) and the design review guidelines.

• O. Review applications for, and issue Certificates of Alteration authorizing alteration, demolition or construction affecting designated historic resources.

• (Ord. 1646 § 2, 2022; Ord. 1656, 6/12/2024)

The Design Review Board is established and organized to conduct design review of proposed development pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 20.480 (“Design Review”). It is organized and has the powers and responsibilities as follows:

• A. Membership and Terms of Office. The Design Review Board shall consist of five members appointed by the Planning Commission. Each member shall be appointed for a term of four years and until a successor is appointed and qualified. Terms shall be staggered and shall expire in even-numbered years. Following the effective date, the next two Design Review Board appointments shall be made for less than a full four-year term to assure that the Design Review Board has staggered terms.

• B. Officers. At least two members shall be architects licensed by the State. At least two members shall be either a landscape architect, designer, contractor, horticulturist, or person with equivalent landscaping expertise or background. No more than one member may be a building or engineering contractor. At least one of the members shall also be a resident and elector of the City.

• C. Powers and Duties. The Design Review Board shall review design review applications, related drawings, and other matters related thereto and make recommendations to the Planning Commission and Chief Planner in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 20.480 (“Design Review”) and the design review guidelines.

• D. Compensation. The Design Review Board members shall be compensated according to the schedule adopted by the City Council.

• (Ord. 1646 § 2, 2022)

The powers and duties of the Chief Planner under this Ordinance include the following. In the absence of the Chief Planner, the Director of Economic and Community Development may assume the Chief Planner’s responsibilities and authority and/or delegate the same to a City Planner.

• A. Maintain and administer the Zoning Ordinance including processing of applications, abatements and other enforcement actions.

• B. Prepare and effect rules and procedures necessary or convenient for the conduct of the Chief Planner’s business. The rules and procedures must be as approved by a resolution of the City Council with the prior review and recommendation of the Planning Commission. The rules and procedures may include the administrative details of hearings officiated by the Chief Planner including their schedules, rules of procedure, and recordkeeping.

• C. Approve, conditionally approve, modify or deny Minor Use Permits pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 20.490 (“Use Permits”).

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City of South San Francisco, CA

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO CODE

§ 20.440.005

§ 20.440.006

• D. Hear and decide applications for modifications to conditions of approved Minor Use Permits and minor modifications to other approved permits pursuant to the provisions of Section 20.450.012 (“Modification").

• E. Conduct design review for additions to one-, two- and three-unit residential structures and sign permits less than 300 square feet in total sign area.

• F. Issue administrative regulations for the submission and review of applications subject to the requirements of this Ordinance.

• G. Review applications for permits and licenses for conformance with this Ordinance and issue a Site Clearance when the proposed use or building is allowed as a matter of right and conforms to all applicable development and use standards.

• H. Review applications for discretionary permits and approvals under this Ordinance for conformance with applicable submission requirements.

• I. Review applications for discretionary permits and approvals that have been deemed complete in conformance with the requirements of this Ordinance and determine whether the application is exempt from review under CEQA and the City’s environmental review requirements.

• J. Review applications that are subject to review under CEQA and the City’s environmental review requirements and notify the applicant if any additional information is necessary to conduct review in compliance with applicable requirements.

• K. Grant time extensions of Use Permits for no more than one year provided that the circumstances of the application are found to be unchanged.

• L. Issue interpretations of the requirements of this Ordinance subject to appeal to the Planning Commission.

• M. Determine whether design review is required for additions, repairs, and other improvements based on the criteria of Chapter 20.480 (“Design Review”).

• N. Appoint a member of the Planning Division staff to serve as Zoning Administrator with responsibilities detailed in Section 20.440.006 ("Zoning Administrator").

• O. Approve, conditionally approve, modify or deny Substitution of Nonconforming Uses pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 20.320 ("Nonconforming Uses, Structures, and Lots").

• P. Other duties and powers as may be assigned by the City Council or established by legislation.

• (Ord. 1646 § 2, 2022; Ord. 1649, 10/11/2023; Ord. 1656, 6/12/2024)

The Chief Planner may appoint a Zoning Administrator to carry out any of the powers and duties assigned to the Chief Planner including, the following:

• A. Review applications for permits and licenses for conformance with this Ordinance and issues a Site Clearance when the proposed use or building is allowed as a matter of right and conforms to all applicable development and use standards.

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City of South San Francisco, CA

ZONING

§ 20.440.006

§ 20.440.009

• B. Approve, conditionally approve, modify or deny Minor Use Permits pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 20.490 (“Use Permits”).

• C. Approve, conditionally approve, modify or deny Temporary Use Permits pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 20.490 (“Use Permits”).

• D. Other duties and powers as may be assigned by the Chief Planner. (Ord. 1646 § 2, 2022; Ord. 1656, 6/12/2024)

This section designates the Chief Building Official as the official responsible for enforcing zoning regulations pertaining to the construction and alteration of buildings and structures. (Ord. 1646 § 2, 2022)

Unless provided in any other provision of this Ordinance, whenever an application filed pursuant to this section, seeks multiple entitlements, if any of the entitlements require review and action by different decision makers, all of the associated entitlements shall be reviewed and acted upon by the highest approval body with authority over any of the entitlements. When an application seeking multiple entitlements is transferred to a higher approval body for determination, the lower approval body shall serve as an advisory body on those entitlements that it would typically review and act upon.

(Ord. 1646 § 2, 2022)

Table 20.440.009 lists the approvals and permits addressed in this chapter and the Review Authority responsible for making a recommendation, final decision, or in the event of an appeal, the final appeal body.

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Table 20.440.009: Review Authority
Application or Action Found in Advisory
Type Chapter Body Decision Maker Appeal Body
Type One: Ministerial Actions
Site Clearance 20.470 N/A Chief Planner Planning Commission
Sign Permit 20.360 N/A Chief Planner Planning Commission
Interpretations 20.030 N/A Chief Planner Planning Commission
Minor Changes to an 20.440 N/A Chief Planner Planning Commission
Approved Permit
Type Two: Discretionary Quasi-Judicial Actions
Substitution of 20.320 N/A Chief Planner Planning Commission
Nonconforming Use
Waiver from 20.510 N/A Chief Planner Planning Commission
Dimensional Standards
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City of South San Francisco, CA

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO CODE

§ 20.440.009

§ 20.440.009

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Table 20.440.009: Review Authority
Application or Action Found in Advisory
Type Chapter Body Decision Maker Appeal Body
Permit Modifications 20.450 Chief Planner Chief Planner or Planning Commission
Planning Commission or City Council
Parking District Parking 20.330 N/A Planning Commission City Council
Exceptions
Short-Term Rental Permit 20.350 N/A Chief Planner Planning Commission
Outdoor Seating Area 20.350 N/A Chief Planner Planning Commission
(Public ROW)
Temporary Use Permits 20.490 N/A Chief Planner Planning Commission
Design Review 20.480 Design Chief Planner or Planning Commission
Review Board Planning Commission or City Council
Minor Use Permits 20.490 N/A Chief Planner Planning Commission
Conditional Use Permits 20.490 Chief Planner Planning Commission City Council
Variances 20.500 Chief Planner Planning Commission City Council
Certificates of Alteration 2.56 N/A Planning Commission City Council
Master Sign Program 20.360 Design Planning Commission Appeal Body of
Review Board at the minimum, or the Associated Project
Review Authority of Permit
Associated Project
Permit
Precise Plans 20.210 Chief Planner Planning Commission City Council
20.220
20.230
Transportation Demand 20.400 Advisory Review Authority of Appeal Body of
Management Plan Body of Associated Project Associated Project
Associated Permit Permit
Project Permit
Affordable Housing 20.380 Department of City Manager (where City Council (where
Agreement Economic and agreement is by right); agreement is by right);
Community City Council (where Superior Court (where
Development agreement is not by agreement is not by
right) right)
Type Three: Discretionary Legislative Actions
Specific Plans and Plan 20.530 Planning City Council Superior Court
Amendments Commission
General Plan Text and 20.540 Planning City Council Superior Court
Map Amendments Commission
Zoning Ordinance and 20.550 Planning City Council Superior Court
Map Amendments Commission
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City of South San Francisco, CA

ZONING

§ 20.440.009

§ 20.440.009

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Table 20.440.009: Review Authority
Application or Action Found in Advisory
Type Chapter Body Decision Maker Appeal Body
Prezoning 20.560 Planning City Council Superior Court
Commission
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Notes:

1. For the review authority for applications seeking multiple entitlements from different decision makers, see Section 20.440.008, Concurrent Processing.

• (Ord. 1646 § 2, 2022; Ord. 1649, 10/11/2023; Ord. 1656, 6/12/2024)

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City of South San Francisco, CA