Watsonville Municipal Code Part 3 Planning Commission and Zoning Administrator

There is hereby created a Planning Commission to consist of seven (7) members and to be known and designated as the Planning Commission. The members shall be appointed by the Council pursuant to the Charter of the City and Chapter 3 of Title 7 of the Government Code of the State, and amendments thereto, and shall have the powers and duties as therein set forth.

No obligations or indebtedness shall be incurred or created by the Planning Commission except as may have been provided in its annual City budget by the Council and/or as may be authorized by resolution of the Council.

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003)

In order to achieve coordination in the administration of this title, to increase the efficiency of zoning enforcement proceedings, to reduce the time consumed in processing applications for various permits and reviews prescribed by this title, and to relieve the Commission of certain routine and ministerial functions in order that it may give its attention to its primary responsibility of comprehensive planning, there is hereby created within the Community Development Department the Zoning Administrator function.

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003)

The Zoning Administrator shall be the Community Development Director or his or her designee.

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003)

The Zoning Administrator shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) Accomplish all administrative actions required by this title, including the receiving of applications for permits and reviews, giving of notices, preparing reports, receiving and processing appeals, and receiving and accounting for fees;

(b) Supervise staff members assigned to zoning administration;

(c) Maintain the sections of this title, Zoning Map, and all records of zoning actions and cases;

(d) Issue Variances as provided by this title;

(e) Issue Use Permits as provided by this title;

(f) Make interpretations of the zoning regulations in areas that are in dispute;

(g) Report regularly to the Commission on action taken by the office, including the number of cases handled and their disposal, and recommendations for amendments to this title;

(h) Approve Design Review applications as provided by this title;

(i) At his option, refer in writing any of the matters on which he or she is authorized to rule and/or issue a permit to the Commission for its review and action and to so notify the applicant of such referral;

(j) Make similar use determinations; and

(k) Review and approve reasonable accommodation requests as provided by this title.

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003, as amended by § 2(3) (Exh. A), Ord. 1481-25 (CM), eff. October 9, 2025)

A public hearing need not be held in the discharge of the powers and duties of the Zoning Administrator unless, in his or her opinion, such public hearing is in the public interest. Should the Zoning Administrator find that a public hearing should be held, he or she shall give notice thereof in the manner prescribed in Part 9 of this chapter.

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003)