This Land Use Code has been adopted to protect and promote the public health, safety and general welfare of the community and to implement policies contained in the Healdsburg General Plan and any specific plans adopted pursuant to the General Plan. More specifically, the Land Use Code is intended to:
A.
Provide a precise guide to the physical development of the City in accord with the goals and policies expressed in the General Plan.
B.
Promote the economic stability of existing land uses that are consistent with the development policies of the General Plan and protect them from intrusions by inharmonious or harmful land uses.
C.
Prevent excessive population densities and overcrowding.
D.
Ensure the provision of adequate open space for light, air and fire safety.
E.
Reduce the risk of injury or exposure to hazards for people and property.
F.
Permit the development of office, commercial, industrial, and related land uses that are consistent with the General Plan in order to strengthen the City's economic base.
G.
Require the provision of adequate off-street parking facilities.
H.
Conserve and enhance the City's architectural and cultural resource base.
I.
Improve the design and aesthetic quality of new construction.
J.
Provide for the gradual elimination of land uses and structures that are inconsistent with the policies of the General Plan and which may adversely affect other property or uses.
K.
Provide mechanisms for the protection of heritage trees, in that heritage trees increase property values of the community, improve the quality of the environment, aid in the control of erosion, and support forms of life that are beneficial to the community interest. It is a matter of public concern that the unnecessary, heedless, or wanton destruction of heritage trees be avoided to the greatest extent possible.
L.
Establish a consistent, thorough and timely public review process to ensure conformity with the provisions of this Title.
M.
Promote a positive business climate by establishing consistent and logical land use regulations and requirements, permitting existing and prospective business establishments to understand such requirements.
N.
Provide protection from excessive, unnecessary and unreasonable noise for all residents from any and all sources within the community.
O.
Control the adverse effect of noise on the community.
P.
Promote the construction of housing within Healdsburg that is affordable to all economic segments of the population, including households of low and very low incomes.
Q.
Encourage affordable housing construction throughout the community, rather than concentrated within specific areas or neighborhoods.
R.
Implement Policy B.1 set forth in the Housing Element of the General Plan, which requires that all new above-moderate housing development projects with 10 or more units to include at least 10 percent of the proposed units as affordable to low and very low income households and five percent as moderate.
S.
Implement appropriate provisions of the California Health and Safety Code requiring that 15 percent of all new housing units constructed within redevelopment project areas be sold or rented to individuals and households of moderate, low or very low incomes.
T.
Allow payment of an equitable in-lieu fee or other alternative mechanisms for the provision of affordable housing where such housing is not constructed within new housing development projects.
U.
Protect the visual character of the city and the health and safety of its residents from the potential adverse effects of telecommunication facility development and installation.
(Ord. 950 § 2 (Exh. A § 100), 1998; Ord. 1018 § 2 (Exh. A § 100(r)), 2004)