Article 1 — Planning Agency

The planning agency of the City of Walnut Creek, created pursuant to Government Code Section 65100 et seq., and conferred with the authority thereunder, shall consist of the following:

A. City Council;

B. Planning Commission;

• C. Design Review Commission;

• D. Zoning Administrator;

E. Community Development Director. (§3, Ord. 2106, eff. 1/6/12; §4, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/24)

The City Council shall review and determine appeals of decisions of the Planning Commission; initiate, hear, and decide proposals for planned development permits and amendments to this chapter; and exercise the powers and duties prescribed by state law and local ordinance. (§3, Ord. 2106, eff. 1/6/12)

The Planning Commission shall:

A. Hear applications and City Council proposals for amendments to this chapter, initiate studies of amendments to this chapter and make recommendations to the City Council for amendments to this chapter;

B. Hear and decide applications for conditional use permits and variances in conjunction with a conditional use permit;

C. Hear and decide applications for design review approval referred to the Planning Commission by the Design Review Commission;

D. Hear and make recommendations to the City Council concerning hillside planned development (H-P-D) permit applications and planned development (P-D) permit applications;

E. Hear and decide authorized appeals from decisions or determinations made by the Zoning Administrator and the Community Development Director as enumerated in this chapter;

F. Hear and decide proposals for the revocation or modification of conditional use permits;

G. Hear and decide, when applicable, applications for tree removals under Title 3, Chapter 8;

H. Exercise such other powers and duties as are prescribed by State law or City ordinance or as are assigned by the City Council. (§3, Ord. 2106, eff. 1/6/12; §3, Ord. 2134, eff. 11/20/14; §4, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/24)

The Design Review Commission shall:

A. Review and make recommendations to the Planning Commission on major subdivisions, conditional use permits, design review, and P-D and H-P-D zoning;

B. Exercise such other powers and duties as are prescribed by City ordinance or assigned by the City Council. (§4, Ord. 2134, eff. 11/20/14; §2, Ord. 2153, eff. 7/8/16; §4, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/24)

The office of Zoning Administrator is hereby established in and for the City. The Community Development Director shall appoint any member of the Community Development Department as the Zoning Administrator. The City Council may adopt rules and regulations for the transaction of the business, scheduling of meetings, conduct of meetings, and related matters of the Zoning Administrator.

The Zoning Administrator shall:

A. Hear and decide applications for variances;

• B. Hear and decide applications for minor use permits;

C. Hear and decide, when applicable, applications for design review approval;

D. Hear and decide, when applicable, applications for tree removals under Title 3, Chapter 8;

E. Hear and decide applications under Section 9-2.06 for moving buildings that are placed within the City;

F. Hear and decide applications for large family day care home permits upon request of an applicant or affected party;

G. Exercise such other powers and duties as are prescribed by City ordinance or assigned by the City Council;

H. The Zoning Administrator may determine that, because of the probable controversial nature of any proposal, or because of the significance to the City, the Planning Commission should hear and decide an application, in which case the procedures established in Section 10-2.4.301 et seq. shall be followed. (§4, Ord. 2106, eff. 1/6/12; §5, Ord. 2134, eff. 11/20/14; §4, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/24)

Except as otherwise provided, the Community Development Director may delegate any of the duties and powers given to them to a designee appointed by the Director. The Director shall:

A. Serve as the administrative officer of the Community Development Department;

B. Serve as the official secretary of the Planning Commission and Design Review Commission;

• C. Advise the City Council, Planning Commission, and Design Review Commission;

D. Conduct investigations and make reports and recommendations on matters relating to planning and land use, zoning, subdivisions, design review, architectural and environmental controls;

E. Hear and decide, when applicable, applications for design review approval;

F. Review such other matters as directed. (§4, Ord. 2106, eff. 1/6/12; §6, Ord. 2134, eff. 11/20/14; §4, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/24)