The procedures for applications and hearings shall be as described in this chapter for any action or entitlement described in Chapters 17.184 through 17.224 of this title. In addition, the Planning Officer, the Zoning and Design Review Board and the Town Council may from time to time establish policies, rules and regulations which further define these procedures.
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)
A. 
Who May Initiate. Any action involving a discretionary development permit application may be initiated by application of the owner, or authorized agent for the owner of the property affected by the proposed action. In addition, a zoning change may be initiated by motion of the Town Council on its own initiative.
B. 
Where to File. Applications shall be filed in the office of the Planning & Building Department.
C. 
Content of Applications. The content of applications shall be in accordance with the policies, rules and regulations of the Planning Officer, the Zoning and Design Review Board, and the Town Council. All applications shall be upon prescribed forms and shall contain or be accompanied by all information required to assure the presentation of a pertinent record. The Planning Officer shall make a written determination when an application is deemed "complete" within 30 days of receipt of the application or within such other time as required by applicable law. The Planning Officer may require the submission of additional information.
D. 
Verification. Each application filed shall be verified by at least one owner or his or her authorized agent attesting to the truth and correctness of all facts, statements and information presented.
E. 
Filing Date. The filing date of an application shall be the date on which the Planning & Building Department receives the last submission, plans, maps or other material required as a part of that application, unless the Planning Officer agrees in writing to an earlier filing date.
F. 
Fees. The application filing shall include a fee and deposit towards application processing as established by resolution of the Town Council.
G. 
Concurrent Processing. When a single project incorporates land uses or features so that this Zoning Ordinance requires multiple land use permit applications, the applications shall be processed concurrently and shall be reviewed, and approved or disapproved, by the highest-level review authority established by the requirements of Chapters 17.184 through 17.224 of this title for any of the required applications.
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)
When an action for a discretionary development permit has been initiated by application or otherwise, the Planning and Building Department shall set a time and place for a hearing within a reasonable period or within the period required by applicable law.
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)
A. 
Except as indicated in subsection (A)(2) below, notice of the time, place and purpose of the hearing for an action involving a discretionary development permit shall be given by the Planning & Building Department as follows:
1. 
By mail to the property owner and to the person or agency initiating the action, if different than the property owner;
2. 
By mail or delivery, except in the case of proposed amendments to change the text of the ordinance, to the owners of all real within 300 feet of all exterior boundaries of the area. The names and addresses of the owners shown on the latest property ownership records of County of Napa shall be used for this purpose. Failure to send notice by mail to any such property owner where the address of such owner is not shown on such record shall not invalidate any proceedings in connection with such action. Notice shall be given not less than 10 days prior to the date of the hearing;
3. 
By posting public notices, in at least three public places within the boundaries of the Town. Notices shall be posted not less than 10 days prior to the date of the hearing;
4. 
Such other notice as the Town Clerk shall deem appropriate.
B. 
In the case of commercial projects, in addition to the notice required in subsection A above, notice of hearing shall also be physically posted by the applicant on the property in conformance with the following requirements:
1. 
Applicability. The installation of project notification signs is required for all permit applications required by this Title 17 for commercial uses and structures.
2. 
Sign Specifications.
a. 
The sizes of signs required for each project shall be a two foot by three-foot billboard-type sign, no more than six feet in height.
b. 
All signs shall be constructed of durable, weather-resistant materials.
c. 
One sign per project site is required.
d. 
Signs must be located between five and 10 feet from the front property line in a location that is clearly visible from the adjacent street. In an existing building, the Planning Officer may allow window signage instead of freestanding signage in his or her reasonable discretion.
e. 
A maximum of 75% of the sign area must be used to provide a general description of the proposed project (e.g., the size and type of commercial building or use proposed) and the name of the project applicant. The remainder of the sign must be used to advise the public of the availability of additional information about the project by including the specific following wording: "For more information about the proposed project, please contact the Town of Yountville Planning & Building Department, 6550 Yount Street, Yountville, CA 94599, (707) 944-8851." The sign message must be written in a manner that is easily understood and clearly readable from the adjacent street right-of-way.
f. 
Prior to installation of a commercial project notification sign, plans for the sign shall be submitted to and receive approval from the Planning Officer. The plans shall include:
i. 
Detailed elevation of the sign, showing the proposed sign size, materials, colors, and proposed wording, including letter height and font.
ii. 
Site plan showing the location on the property where the sign will be installed.
iii. 
Installation details showing a cross section through the sign and other installation information including materials and means of affixing to the ground or window.
g. 
Signs are required to be installed a minimum 10 days prior to the date of the public hearing or project approval by the Planning & Building Department. Signs must remain on the project site until the Town renders a decision on the project and the 10-day appeal period has expired or, if appealed to the Town Council, a final decision has been rendered by that body. Signs are required to be removed seven days after the final decision on the project.
h. 
All signs must be well maintained throughout the review and approval process.
i. 
The project applicant must submit a signed affidavit in a form provided by the Planning & Building Department that states the property sign has been installed consistent with the terms of the ordinance and these standards along with a photo of the sign on site. No project approvals may be granted sooner than 10 days following receipt of the affidavit.
C. 
In the following situations, notice of hearing shall be given as indicated:
1. 
In the case of amendments to rezone land on the basis of general land use studies for one or more land use areas, where these studies are Town-wide in scope or cover a major subarea of the Town, and where the total area of land, excluding the area of public streets and alleys, is 20 acres or more, the notice given shall be as described in subsection A above, except that the notice by mail need contain only the time and place of the hearing and a general description of the boundaries of the area proposed for reclassification.
D. 
In the event that the number of owners to whom notice would be sent in accordance with subsections A and B of this section is greater than 1,000, notice shall be given at least 10 days prior to the hearing by either of the following procedures:
1. 
By placing an advertisement in a newspaper circulated in the area affected;
2. 
By including an insert with any generalized mailing sent by the Town to property owners in the area affected, such as billings for Town services.
Such advertisement or mailing insert shall specify the type and magnitude of the changes proposed, the place where copies of the proposed changes may be obtained, the time, date and place of the hearing, and the right to appear and be heard.
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)
A. 
Reports and Recommendations. In all actions for discretionary development permit applications, the Planning Officer shall make necessary investigations and studies and submit his or her findings together with a report and recommendation at the hearing of the Zoning and Design Review Board or Town Council.
B. 
Record. A record shall be kept of the pertinent information presented at the hearing on any action for discretionary permit applications, and such record shall be maintained as part of the permanent public records of the Town subject to the Town's records retention policy. Meeting minutes shall describe actions taken and other relevant information and need not, include a verbatim record.
C. 
Continuations. In the case of actions for discretionary permit applications the Zoning and Design Review Board or the Town Council shall determine in which instances the cases scheduled for hearing may be continued or taken under advisement. In such cases, new notice need not be given of the further hearing date, provided such date is announced at the scheduled hearing.
D. 
Decisions. The decision of the Town Council, Zoning and Design Review Board, or the Planning Officer shall be in accordance with the provisions of each type of application in Division 5. In the case of variances, the decision of the Zoning and Design Review Board shall, unless deferred upon the request or consent of the applicant, be rendered within 60 days from the date of the hearing's conclusion. Failure of the Zoning and Design Review Board to act within the prescribed time shall entitle the applicant to place the matter before the Town Council for decision at its next regular meeting if a request is made at least one week before that meeting. In the case of actions or recommendations for amendments, design review, planned development review, or an administrative use permit or a use permit, the decision of the Zoning and Design Review Board shall be rendered within 60 days from the date of conclusion of the hearing; failure of the Zoning and Design Review Board to act within the prescribed time shall be deemed to constitute approval.
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)
Whenever any application or any part of an application for a discretionary development permit has been disapproved by the Zoning and Design Review Board or Town Council, the same or substantially similar application shall not be submitted or reconsidered by the Board or Town Council within one year from the effective date of final action upon the earlier application except upon a showing of good cause.
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)
Table 17.180-1 below summarizes the Town official or body responsible for reviewing and making decisions on each type of application for a land use permit as required by this division.
Table 17.180-1
Legend:
R
=
Recommending body, which makes a recommendation to a higher decision-making body
D
=
Decision-making body
Application Type
Planning Officer
ZDRB
Town Council
Signs
 
 
 
▪ Freestanding signs, internally illuminated signs, Highway 29-oriented signs, and murals
 
D
 
▪ All other signs
D
 
 
Use Permits
 
 
 
▪ Administrative Use Permits
D
 
 
▪ Use Permit: Residential
 
R
D
▪ Use Permit: Commercial (change of use consistent with approved Master Development Plan uses)
D
 
 
▪ Use Permit: Commercial
 
R
D
Home Occupation Permits
 
 
 
▪ Minor and Moderate
D
 
 
▪ Major
 
 
D
Design Review
 
 
 
▪ Residential (4 or fewer units or lots)
 
D
 
▪ Residential (5 or greater units or lots)
 
R
D
▪ Commercial
 
R
D
Master Development Plan
 
R
D
Rezoning
 
R
D
General Plan Amendment
 
R
D
Development Agreement
 
 
D
Variance
 
D
 
Request for Reasonable Accommodation
D
 
 
Exception
 
D
 
Subdivisions
 
 
 
▪ Tentative Map (Minor and Major Subdivisions)
 
R
D
▪ Final Map (Major Subdivisions)
 
 
D
▪ Condominium conversion (including Use Permit)
 
R
D
Tree Removal Permit
 
 
 
▪ Heritage Trees and Native Oaks
 
 
D
▪ All other trees
D
 
 
Note: Projects requiring multiple permit applications shall be processed concurrently and decided upon by the highest-level review authority for any of the permit types (Section 17.180.020.G).
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)
A. 
The decision of the Planning Officer, the Zoning and Design Review Board, or the Town Council, whichever is the appropriate review authority, to approve a discretionary development permit application shall become effective 10 working days following the date of approval, unless a valid appeal has been filed; and
B. 
The decision of the Town Council to approve an application for a zoning amendment shall become effective 30 days following the date of final adoption of the ordinance implementing the amendment.
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)