AGENDA ITEM
TO:
HONORABLE CHAIR
AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
FROM:
COLLEEN T. DOAN
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
SUBJECT:
title
CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE MAKING SPECIFIED CHANGES TO TITLE 20 (ZONING) OF THE CITY’S MUNICIPAL CODE TO GENERALLY CLARIFY REGULATIONS, UPDATE PROVISIONS TO CONFORM TO STATE LAW, REMOVE UNNECESSARY OR REDUNDANT REGULATIONS, AND MODERNIZE THE ZONING ORDINANCE
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Summary:
Form of Notice: The City published the required Notice in the Signal Tribune newspaper per Government Code §65854(b)(2) on September 26, 2025; and posted in accordance with Signal Hill Municipal Code Section 1.08.010 on September 26, 2025.
The City of Signal Hill (“City”) periodically identifies sections of the Signal Hill Municipal Code that are outdated, unclear, conflict with other Municipal Code regulations, or warrant modifications to improve or enhance the functions and operations of the City. Pursuant to Government Code section 65854(a), the Planning Commission must hold a public hearing on proposed changes to the Zoning Code and provide its recommendation to the City Council. Accordingly, the Planning Commission will consider adopting the proposed Resolution specifying various changes to Title 20 (Zoning Code) of the City’s Municipal Code, that aims to clarify regulations, update provisions to conform to state law, remove unnecessary or redundant regulations, and modernize the Zoning Ordinance.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal No. 5 High-Functioning Government: Strengthen internal communication, recruitment, retention systems, and processes to increase effectiveness and efficiency of City services.
recommendation
Recommendation:
Adopt a resolution recommending City Council adoption of Zoning Ordinance Amendment 25-02, entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA RECOMMENDING CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE MAKING SPECIFIED CHANGES TO TITLE 20 (ZONING) OF THE CITY’S MUNICIPAL CODE TO GENERALLY CLARIFY REGULATIONS, UPDATE PROVISIONS TO CONFORM TO STATE LAW, REMOVE UNNECESSARY OR REDUNDANT REGULATIONS, AND MODERNIZE THE ZONING ORDINANCE; AND FINDING SAID ACTION EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
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Background / Analysis:
The City periodically identifies sections of the Signal Hill Municipal Code (SHMC) that are outdated, unclear, conflict with other Municipal Code regulations, or warrant modifications to improve or enhance the functions and operations of the City. Pursuant to its police power, the City desires to amend the Municipal Code to generally clarify regulations, bolster existing ones, update provisions to conform to state law, remove unnecessary or redundant regulations and modernize same.
The proposed Resolution proposes changes to Title 20 (Zoning) of the SHMC consistent with the City’s code update effort and recommends City Council’s approval of same. The proposed changes are summarized below.
A. Defined Terms within the Zoning Code
Certain terms used in the Zoning Code are defined in Chapter 20.04 of the SHMC. Various existing definitions within Chapter 20.04 point to Chapter 20.68 of the SHMC, which no longer exists in the SHMC. Accordingly, the Resolution updates this chapter by removing reference to regulations that are no longer in effect and thereby clarifying the status quo.
The terms “day nursery” or “child care nursery” were amended to mean and refer to the manner in which such terms are currently defined in Section 8.16.020 (Definitions) of Chapter 8.16 (Institutions) of Title 8 (Health and Safety) for uniformity throughout the code, to modernize the definition of such term, and to more accurately encompass the intended use.
Further, the terms “foster home” and “restaurant, drive-in” are deleted from the definitions section of the Zoning Code (Section 20.04.303 and Section 20.04.612 respectively). Such terms are not used anywhere else in the SHMC, making them obsolete. Terms within Chapter 20.04 that adopted the same meaning as “foster home” were also amended to remove such reference.
Additional definitions are proposed to be amended. Amendments would provide clarity to the existing definitions.
B. Off-Street Parking Regulations
The proposed Resolution updates off-street parking requirements codified in Chapter 20.70 “Off Street Parking” of the SHMC and in Section 20.10.130 “Off-street parking”. The proposed changes clarify regulations concerning the use, maintenance, and design and construction of off-street parking facilities. In addition, new provisions are recommended that specify minimum parking requirements and would allow for alternative methods with greater flexibility to meet minimum parking requirements through the use of shared parking agreements, offsite parking facilities and requests for reductions in the schedule of required minimum off-street parking, with specified criteria to be satisfied.
C. Property Development Standards
The proposed Resolution deletes Section 20.66.060 “Lot area-divisions resulting in smaller parcels prohibited” of Chapter 20.66 (Property Development Standards) in its entirety. The resolution also adds Section 20.66.225 “Mechanical equipment” to shield mechanical equipment from public and private property views.
D. Removal of Auto Detailing/Carwash as an Allowed Use in certain Specific Plans
Currently, “auto detailing/carwash” is identified as an allowed use in the following specific plans: SP-19 General Industrial Specific Plan, and SP-10 Pacific Coast Highway Specific Plan. The Resolution removes reference of such use. Staff would like to note that the City has a “permissive zoning code” meaning that removing the use means that such use is not permitted.
E. Increase of Allowable Fence/Wall/Hedge Height
Permissible height requirements for fences, walls and hedges for commercial or industrial districts is codified in Section 20.20.070 “Fences, walls and hedges” of the SHMC. Currently no fence, wall or hedge over three feet in an industrial district is permitted in any required front yard or in the required street side of a corner lot. The Resolution proposes to increase this to six feet.
F. Clarification of Planning Commission’s Role Concerning Conditional Use Permits
Section 20.64.060 “Commission hearing-Conduct and determination” of the Zoning Code (Title 20) discusses the Planning Commission’s role in connection with the approval of a conditional use permit. The proposed resolution more accurately describes the Commission’s role by clarifying that the Commission provides a recommendation to the City Council for approval of a conditional use permit, and does not technically render a “decision,” as the City Council is the final decision-maker.
G. Modernization of the Submission of Site Plan and Design Review Application Materials
Sections 20.52.030 “Review Procedures”, and 20.52.040 “Application and submission of Site Plan”, relate to the submission of required site plan and design review materials. The proposed Resolution amends these sections to provide that electronic submittal is preferred but not required, and to simplify the format and submission of required information.
If adopted by a majority vote of the Planning Commission, the approved changes would be presented to the City Council for approval at an upcoming City Council meeting.
CEQA Categorical Exemption
The Resolution is categorically exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) (California Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.), because the Resolution does not qualify as a “project” under CEQA. The State CEQA Guidelines provide that “[a]n activity is not subject to CEQA if … the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378.” (State CEQA Guidelines, § 15060(c).) Here, the Resolution does not qualify as a “project” as defined in State CEQA Guidelines section 15378 because it does not have the potential of “resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.” (State CEQA Guidelines, § 15378(a).) The proposed Resolution does not authorize or directly result in any physical development or changes to the environment. Instead, the Resolution is creating regulatory schemes for activities that are already allowed under state law and is otherwise amending provisions of the Municipal Code for purposes of clarity, remove redundant or unnecessary terms, and to modernize and update regulations to conform with state law. Further, Section 15378 explicitly excludes from the definition of “project”, “[o]rganizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.” (State CEQA Guidelines, § 15378(b)(5).) Even if the proposed Resolution was considered a “project” subject to CEQA, it would qualify for the “common sense exemption” set forth in State CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3), which exempts activity from CEQA where “it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment”. The Resolution will not result in any development or in any new activity with the potential to impact the environment. The City Clerk shall cause a Notice of Exemption to be filed as authorized by CEQA and the State CEQA Guidelines.
Approved:
Colleen T. Doan