Watsonville Municipal Code Part 7 Amendment to General Plan

The provisions of the General Plan text and the General Plan Land Use Diagram may be amended by the Council by resolution and according to procedures established in this chapter whenever the public necessity, the general community welfare, and good zoning practices permit such amendment.

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

The text of the adopted General Plan may be amended from time to time. Amendments to the General Plan text may be initiated by the Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission, City Council or by application of a resident, property owner or owner of a business located in the City. An application for amendment shall be submitted to the Community Development Department on a form provided by the Community Development Department with applicable fees as established by Council resolution.

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

The Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission, City Council, or by application, a property owner, resident or owner of a business located in the City may initiate a request for amendment of the General Plan Land Use Diagram. The Community Development Department shall be responsible for the reviewing and processing of General Plan Land Use Diagram amendments. Applications for General Plan amendments shall be submitted on a form provided by the Community Development Department with applicable fees as established by Council resolution.

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

Any proposed amendment shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission, at a public hearing noticed in accordance with Part 9 of Chapter 14-10 and conducted in accordance with Part 10 of Chapter 14-10, for recommendation to the City Council. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the Commission shall adopt a resolution, recommending approval or denial of the proposed amendment, by the affirmative vote of the majority of the Commission members, subject to findings required by Section 14-12.708.

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

The Commission may itself modify an amendment proposed by an applicant by making non-substantive changes in the wording of a proposed text amendment or, in the case of a proposed General Plan Land Use Diagram amendment, by reducing the area involved or by recommending a more restrictive land use classification. The term “more restrictive” shall mean a lower density within an applicable category of residential, commercial, or industrial district, and in no case shall a modification change into another category without a re-application. The reasons for a modification, along with a statement as to the initial proposal, shall be included in the report forwarded to the City Council.

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

Upon forwarding the Commission recommendation for approval, modified approval, or denial in any matter by the Planning Commission to the Council, such recommendation shall be accompanied by a complete report of the Commission’s action prepared by the Community Development Department, including a summary of the hearing, its findings, and a copy of the Commission resolution, minutes, along with any other pertinent material or information which will assist the Council in making its final determination in the matter. Upon receipt of the Commission’s recommendation, and before adopting any amendment, the Council shall review the matter at a public hearing noticed in accordance with Part 9 of Chapter 14-10 and conducted in accordance with Part 10 of Chapter 14-10.

At the conclusion of the public hearing, the Council shall adopt a resolution approving or denying the proposed amendment, subject to findings in Section 14-12.708. When a proposed Land Use Diagram amendment is denied, such amendment shall not be reconsidered for a period of one (1) year after the date of said denial, except that a new application affecting or including all or part of the same property may be eligible for consideration within said one (1) year period if the application is found by the Council to be substantially different from the original application as denied.

When either a proposed text or map amendment is denied, such amendment shall not be reconsidered for a period of one (1) year after the date of said denial, except that a new application affecting or including all or part of the same property may be eligible for consideration within said one (1) year if the application is found to be substantially different from the original application as denied.

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

The Council may modify any proposed amendment by making non-substantive changes in the wording of the proposed Land Use Diagram amendment, by reducing the area involved, or by adopting a more restrictive Land Use classification. The term “more restrictive” shall mean a lower density within an applicable category of residential, commercial, or industrial, and in no case shall a modification transcend into another category without a re-application. Prior to taking such action the Council may refer the proposed change to the Commission for a report and recommendation. In such a case, the Commission shall report back to the Council within thirty (30) days after the date of Council referral or shall be deemed to have approved the proposed change.

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

The Planning Commission and City Council shall, in Planning Commission recommending or the City Council in approving an amendment to the General Plan Land Use Diagram or text, make the following findings:

(a) That the proposed amendment is consistent with the policies embodied in the General Plan;

(b) That the proposed amendment is compatible to the extent possible with the actual and general planned use of the adjacent properties.

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

(a) The Commission or the Council, on its own motion, may continue a hearing on a proposed amendment from time to time; but such continuances shall not exceed a total sixty (60) days from the date of the opening of a public hearing before the respective body. Following the closing of the hearing, and on its own motion, the Commission or the Council may continue its discussion and action on the matter until the next regularly scheduled meeting. If determined necessary by a majority vote of the members present, the Commission or the Council may continue such discussion and action for additional periods. No further continuances shall be allowed, unless expressly approved by the applicant.

(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to amendment proposals initiated by the Council. In such cases the Commission shall forward a report and recommendation to the Council within forty-five (45) days after the date of the opening of the public hearing.

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