The Planning and Community Development Director (the "Director")
is the manager of the Planning and Community Development Department.
The Director, or designee, directs the work of the Department and
leads in fulfilling its missions and goals. Specifically, the powers
and duties of the Director include, but are not limited to the following:
A. Approve, conditionally approve, modify, or deny requests for waivers to dimensional requirements, pursuant to Chapter
9.43, Modifications and Waivers.
B. Negotiate
the components and provisions of Development Agreements for recommendation
to the City Council.
C. Monitor
and enforce provisions of this Ordinance and serve as Hearing Officer
pursuant to Chapter 8.96 of the Municipal Code.
D. Process
and make recommendations to the City Council on all applications,
amendments, appeals, and other matters upon which the Council has
the authority and the duty to act under this Ordinance.
E. Process
and make recommendations to the Planning Commission on all applications,
appeals, and other matters upon which the Planning Commission has
the authority and the duty to act under this Ordinance.
F. Serve
as Staff of the Planning Commission, Landmarks Commission, and Architectural
Review Board.
G. Delegate
administrative functions to members of the Department of Planning
and Community Development.
H. Other
duties and powers as may be assigned by the City Council or established
by legislation.
(Added by Ord. No. 2486CCS §§
1, 2, adopted June 23, 2015)
The role of the Director is to issue land use permits that are
minor in nature and which customarily result in an activity of generally
little public controversy and adverse impact. The Director, or designee,
provides Santa Monica with an opportunity to exercise administrative
discretion, adopt specific findings of fact to support the resulting
decision, and to require specific conditions where warranted, and
to ensure that the requested activity or project is conducted or constructed
in a manner consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of
the General Plan. Specifically, these powers and duties include, but
are not limited to the following:
A. Administer
this Ordinance, including processing of applications, abatements,
and other enforcement actions.
B. Interpret this Ordinance to members of the public and to other City Departments and issue formal interpretations in accordance with Section
9.37.140.
C. Prepare
and effect rules and procedures necessary or convenient for the conduct
of the Director's business.
D. Review
applications for permits and licenses for conformance with this Ordinance
and issue a Zoning Conformance Permit when the proposed use, activity,
or building is allowed by right and conforms to all applicable development
and use standards.
E. Review
applications for discretionary permits and approvals under this Ordinance
for conformance with applicable submission requirements and time limits.
F. Review
applications and ensure compliance with the California Environmental
Quality Act and the City's environmental review requirements, and
notify the applicant if any additional information is necessary to
conduct the review.
G. Hear and decide applications for Minor Use Permits, modifications to conditions of approved Minor Use Permits, and time extensions of Minor Use Permits, pursuant to Chapter
9.41, Minor Use Permits and Conditional Use Permits.
H. Hear and decide requests for minor modifications to approved permits, pursuant to Chapter
9.43, Modifications and Waivers.
I. Approve, conditionally approve, modify or deny applications for Temporary Use Permits, pursuant to Chapter
9.44, Temporary Use Permits.
J. Hear and decide proposals to revoke permits, pursuant to Section
9.37.120, Revocation of Permits, following a public hearing.
K. Approve, modify, or deny applications for Administrative Approvals, pursuant to Chapter
9.39, Administrative Approval.
L. Prepare
zoning compliance letters explaining the City's land use regulations
and permit information typically prepared in the context of a pending
property sale or transaction.
(Added by Ord. No. 2486CCS §§
1, 2, adopted June 23, 2015)