Chapter 17.620 — GENERAL PLAN, ZONING MAP AND ZONING CODE AMENDMENTS

This Chapter provides procedures for the amendment of the General Plan, the Zoning Map, and this Title. A General Plan Amendment may include revisions to strategies, goals, land use designations, policies, or text. Zoning Map amendments have the effect of rezoning property from one zoning district to another. Amendments to this Title may modify any procedure, provision, requirement, or standard applicable to the development or use of property within the City. (Ord. 2456 § 2, 2010)

An amendment may be initiated by the:

• A. Council. A resolution of intention initiated by the Council.

• B. Planning Commission. A resolution of intention initiated by the Planning Commission.

• C. Staff. The Director of Community Development, or their designee, by notice to the City Manager.

• D. Property Owner. An application from a property owner. (Ord. 2456 § 2, 2010; Ord. 2622, 6/25/2025)

• A. Filing. An application for an amendment shall be completed, filed, and processed in compliance with Chapter 17.500 , Applications, Processing and Fees . The application package shall include all information specified in the application, any applicable Division handout, and any additional information required by the Director in order to conduct a thorough review of the proposed project. It is the responsibility of the applicant to establish evidence in support of the findings required by Section 17.620.030 , Findings .

• B. Notice and Hearings. Notice and hearings regarding an application for an amendment shall be provided in compliance with Chapter 17.630 , Public Hearings and Administrative Review .

• (Ord. 2456 § 2, 2010)

The Commission shall make a written recommendation to the Council whether to approve, approve in modified form, or disapprove the proposed amendment based on the findings contained in Section 17.620.030 , Findings .

(Ord. 2456 § 2, 2010)

Upon receipt of the Commission's recommendation, the Council shall approve, approve in modified form, or disapprove the proposed amendment based on the findings contained in Section 17.620.030 , Findings .

If the Council proposes to adopt a substantial modification to the amendment not previously considered by the Commission during its hearings, the proposed modification may first be referred back to the Commission for its recommendation. (Ord. 2456 § 2, 2010)

An amendment to the General Plan, the Zoning Map, or this Title may be approved only if all of the following findings can be made in a positive manner, as applicable to the type of amendment. It is the responsibility of the applicant to establish evidence in support of the required findings.

• A. Mandatory Findings Required for All Amendments

  1. The proposed amendment ensures and maintains internal consistency with the goals, policies, and strategies of all elements of the General Plan and will not create any inconsistencies with this Title, in the case of a Zoning Code amendment;

  2. The proposed amendment would not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience, or welfare of the City; and

  3. The proposed amendment is in compliance with the provisions of CEQA.

• B. Additional Finding for Zoning Map Amendments. The site(s) is physically suitable (including access, provision of utilities, compatibility with adjoining land uses, and absence of physical constraints) for the requested zoning designation(s) and anticipated land use development.

• (Ord. 2456 § 2, 2010)

• A. Purpose. An unincorporated property within the City's sphere of influence may be prezoned for the purpose of determining the zoning that will apply to the property in the event of subsequent annexation to the City. The initiation and the procedures for the prezoning shall be the same procedures that govern the rezoning of property within the City.

Upon the effective date of annexation of property that has been prezoned in compliance with this Section, the zoning designation shall become the official zoning designation for the property and shall be so designated on the City's Official Zoning Map.

• B. Commission Action on Prezoning. The Commission shall make a written recommendation to the Council whether to approve, approve in modified form, or disapprove the proposed prezoning based on the findings contained in subsection D .

• C. Council Action on Prezoning. Upon receipt of the Commission's recommendation, the Council shall approve, approve in modified form, or disapprove the proposed prezoning based on the findings contained in subsection D .

If the Council proposes to adopt a substantial modification to the prezoning not previously considered by the Commission during its hearings, the proposed modification may first be referred back to the Commission for its recommendation.

• D. Findings for Prezoning. A prezoning may only be approved if all of the following findings can be made:

  1. The proposed prezoning is consistent with the goals, policies, and strategies of the General Plan;

  2. The proposed prezoning would not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience or welfare of the City; and

  3. The site is physically suitable (including access, provision of utilities, compatibility with adjoining land uses and absence of physical constraints) for the requested/anticipated land use development(s).

• (Ord. 2456 § 2, 2010)