The Goleta City Council will consider a new zoning ordinance Tuesday.
The draft New Zoning Ordinance will go before the Goleta City Council for discussion after hundreds of hours of planning work and more than 20 public meetings and open houses in 2019 alone, according to a news release.
“Getting the draft New Zoning Ordinance to this point represents an extraordinary amount of work over an extended period time — by the Planning Commission, City staff and, not least, engaged City residents,” Peter Imhof, director of Goleta Planning and Environmental Review, said in the news release.
The ordinance will revise citywide zoning regulations to implement the General Plan, update development and design standards and permitting procedures, and help realize the community’s vision for the future, said city officials.
That vision is “a safe, beautiful, vibrant and livable community with a robust local economy and a sustainable relationship with the environment,” according to the news release.
The ordinance translates Goleta’s General Plan into specific regulations defining allowable land uses, provides a basis for reviewing applications for new construction as well as alterations and additions to existing buildings and adds clarity and transparency to the development review process, according to the press release.
“The new code will clear up ambiguities and provide more useful detail than exists in the current code. The clarity and detail of the new code will promote consistency in how we deal with ‘like’ situations, consistency in how residents and businesses are treated,” said Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte.
“We all want to be treated fairly and that starts with equal treatment in ‘like’ situations,” Ms. Perotte said. “The new code will increase opportunities for people to learn when a project is coming forward, increase the instances when decisions must be made in public and in every instance provide the opportunity to appeal in a public setting,” Ms. Perotte said.
The public will have the opportunity to give input about the ordinance at Tuesday’s meeting. Continued discussion and possible adoption will occur Dec. 3, said city officials.
“I look forward to public input and City Council feedback on the draft and before too long, we hope, to final adoption of the City’s own Zoning Ordinance,” said Mr. Imhof.
The focus of the staff presentation will be on key issue areas, but any topic will be open for discussion. Key topics will include:
• City projects permitting requirements
• Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area regulations pertaining to streamside protection areas, lagoon buffers, native oak woodlands and savannas buffers;
• Inclusionary housing requirements for rental units;
• Residential care facilities in single-family and planned residential zones;
• Noticing of proposed development projects.
The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Goleta council chambers, 130 Cremona St., Suite B.
The meeting will be broadcast on Channel 19 and can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/GoletaMeetings.
For more information visit http://www.goletazoning.com.
email: cwhittle@newspress.com
