A. 
Purpose. This chapter establishes the procedures to consider amendments to the Zoning Code text and to the City's official Zoning Map, which may be referred to as a "rezone" or "rezoning," whenever such amendment is in furtherance of public necessity, convenience, and general welfare, reflects changed conditions, and provides greater consistency with the goals and policies of the General Plan.
B. 
Zoning Code and Zoning Map amendments (zoning amendments) shall not be used in lieu of other planning permit processes to achieve a similar result.
C. 
Applicability. The procedures in this chapter apply to all proposals to change the text of this Zoning Code or to revise a zone classification or zone boundary line, or add a new zone, shown on the Zoning Map.
(Ord. 1722, 6/18/2024; Ord. 1733, 2/4/2025)
A. 
Initiation. An amendment to the Zoning Code text or Zoning Map may be initiated by the any qualified applicant identified in § 17.96.020, Application Forms and Fees, the Director, Planning Commission, or City Council.
B. 
Application. A qualified applicant shall submit an application for a zoning amendment on a form prescribed by the Planning Division accompanied by the required fee as prescribed in § 17.96.020, Application Forms and Fees. The Planning Division may require an applicant to submit such additional information and supporting data as considered necessary to process the application.
C. 
Coordination with Other Applications. Proposed zoning amendments may be processed concurrently with other related entitlement application requests.
(Ord. 1722, 6/18/2024; Ord. 1733, 2/4/2025)
A. 
Staff Report. The Director shall prepare a report and recommendation to the Planning Commission on any application for a zoning amendment. The report shall include, but not be limited to, a discussion of how the proposed amendment satisfies the criteria and findings in § 17.108.060, Required Findings, for approving a zoning amendment and an environmental document prepared in compliance with CEQA.
B. 
Neighborhood Meeting. At the discretion of the Director, the applicant may be required to conduct a neighborhood meeting prior to an application being submitted or during the review of an application as set forth in § 17.96.070, Neighborhood Meeting. The meeting may be required when in the opinion of the Director, the zoning amendment may have an impact on a neighborhood, the project is unique, or the project is of such scale or scope that it is likely to generate community interest.
(Ord. 1722, 6/18/2024; Ord. 1733, 2/4/2025)
A. 
Planning Commission Hearing. The Planning Commission shall conduct at least one public hearing on any proposed zoning amendment and make recommendations to the City Council in conformance with the provisions of § 17.96.090, Conduct of Public Hearing.
B. 
Public Notice. At least 10 days before the date of public hearing, the Director shall provide notice as specified in § 17.96.080, Public Notice. For amendments that affect permitted uses on real property, the Director shall provide notice at least 20 days before the date of public hearing. Notice of the hearing also shall be mailed or delivered to any local agencies expected to provide essential facilities or services to the property that is the subject of the proposed amendment.
C. 
Recommendation to City Council. Following the public hearing, the Planning Commission shall make a recommendation on the proposed zoning amendment to the City Council. The recommendation shall include the reasons for the recommendation, findings related to the criteria for zoning amendments in § 17.108.060, Required Findings, and the relationship of the proposed Code or amendment to other adopted documents and plans. The Director shall transmit the Planning Commission's written recommendation and complete record of the application to the City Council.
(Ord. 1722, 6/18/2024; Ord. 1743, 10/7/2025)
A. 
City Council Hearing. After receiving the report with the Planning Commission's recommendation, the City Council shall hold a public hearing in accordance with § 17.96.090, Conduct of Public Hearings.
B. 
Public Notice. At least 10 days before the date of public hearing, the Director shall provide notice as specified in § 17.96.080, Public Notice. For amendments that affect permitted uses on real property, the Director shall provide notice at least 20 days before the date of public hearing. The public hearing notice for the hearing shall include a summary of the Planning Commission recommendation. Notice of the hearing also shall be mailed or delivered to any local agencies expected to provide essential facilities or services to the property that is the subject of the proposed amendment.
C. 
City Council Action. After conclusion of the hearing, the City Council may approve, modify, or deny the proposed amendment. If the Council proposes a substantial modification not previously considered by the Planning Commission during its hearings, the proposed modification shall first be referred back to the Planning Commission for report and recommendation, but the Planning Commission shall not be required to hold a public hearing. The failure of the Planning Commission to report within 40 days after the referral, or such longer period as may be designated by the legislative body, shall be deemed a recommendation to approve and the amendment shall be returned to the City Council for adoption.
(Ord. 1722, 6/18/2024; Ord. 1743, 10/7/2025)
The Planning Commission shall not recommend and the City Council shall not approve a zoning amendment unless the proposed amendment meets the following findings:
A. 
The proposed amendment is consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of the General Plan;
B. 
That the proposed amendment will promote growth of the City in an orderly manner and will promote and protect the public health, safety, or welfare of the community;
C. 
That the anticipated land uses on the subject site will be compatible with existing and future surrounding uses;
D. 
That the City's inventory of residential lands for qualified housing sites has not been reduced; and
E. 
That the proposed amendment is consistent with any development related application that is processed and approved concurrently with the amendment application.
(Ord. 1722, 6/18/2024)