February 7, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica Planning Commission Hosts Third Public Hearing For Zoning Ordinance:

With the arrival of 2014, the Santa Monica Planning Commission will spend the entire month of January pouring over the Draft Zoning Ordinance Update, a document governing the many land uses and dedicated to implementing the City’s General Plan.

Commissioners return to the dais next Wednesday, Jan. 15 to review the Draft Zoning Ordinance Update for a third time. The item was originally scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 8, but that meeting was cancelled.

At the Jan. 15 meeting, planning commissioners will specifically be discussing residential neighbors, Ocean Park, and mixed-use and commercial districts.

According to City Hall, the overall purpose of the Zoning Ordinance is to not only implement the General Plan but also “protect and promote the public health, safety, peace, comfort, convenience, prosperity and general welfare by regulating the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, and other specified uses.”

Within the document, the Draft Zoning Ordinance outlines several specific objectives, such as providing a “precise guide for the physical development of the City” and to “protect and enhance the quality of the natural and built environment.”

Protecting the quality of life of Santa Monica’s residents, ensuring park and public open space, promoting viable commercial and industrial enterprises, providing diverse employment opportunities, and fostering “citizen participation in the development decision-making process,” were also among the stated objectives within the planning document.

The Zoning Ordinance would be executed via four types of regulations: administrative, development standards, general terms and use classifications, and land use.

The Zoning Ordinance Update will not affect a few elements of Santa Monica’s planning and zoning standards. For example, the neighborhood commercial areas on Main Street, Montana Avenue, and Ocean Park Boulevard will have the same restrictions on building height, floor area ratio, and the number of restaurants allowable per block.

With the exception of an area in Ocean Park, height and density limits as well as other development standards remain the same for all residential zoning districts.

In Ocean Park, one change is being made to limit the number of variance requests and instead promote new developments and remodeled structures are more designed to be more consistent with each other and the surrounding neighborhood.

The process to obtain a permit, as well as the major permit types available, will also remain unchanged in the updated Zoning Ordinance.

One key area covered by the Zoning Ordinance Update is neighborhood conservation. For example, a neighborhood conservation overlay district could be established, allowing “neighborhoods to define existing physical conditions and character, including building heights, setbacks, massing, open space, repetition of building and streetscape elements, and trees and landscaping.”

The updated Zoning Ordinance would also prohibit “Tier 2” projects in R2 zones and require a development agreement (DA) for Tier 2 projects in R3 and R4 zones.

A Tier 2 project is one with a Floor Area Ration (FAR) of up to 2.25. Tier 1 projects are the least dense and Tier 3 has the greatest possible density. Just the same, an R2-zoned area includes low-density housing.

Also being modified in the Zoning Ordinance Update: thresholds for Development Review Permits. New developments or expansion projects larger than 10,000 square feet in floor area in all commercial, neighborhood, oceanfront, or residential districts (or 20,000 square feet in floor area in other districts) would require a discretionary and appealable hearing before the Planning Commission.

The same requirement would also apply to all projects exceeding Tier 1 limits.

Zoning designations would also be changed under the updated Zoning Ordinance. For example, the new designation of MU-BL (Mixed-Use Boulevard Low) would be inclusive of at least six current zones, including C-2, C-4, CM-3, CM-4, BCD, LMSD (outside of Bergamot), and M-1. GC, or General Commercial, would be the new designation for the commercial zone for Lincoln and Santa Monica Boulevards. NC would be the Neighborhood Commercial zone covering C-2, C-4 (Pico), and CM-2.

Updates to tiers, height and density requirements, and building footprints are also covered within the Draft Zoning Ordinance Update.

The Draft Zoning Ordinance Update also defines use classifications for auto dealers, food trucks, medical marijuana dispensaries, restaurant sizes, and tattoo/body modification parlors.

Other areas with potentially new definitions: parking rules for various zones depending upon proximity to mixed-used projects or transit; bike parking; community benefit requirements for Tier 2 projects; nonconforming structures and uses; transportation demand management requirements; the role of the Architectural Review Board (ARB) in the Development Review Permit process; and, potential amendments to the Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE).

The Mirror will take a closer look at various aspects of the Draft Zoning Ordinance Update as the planning document moves through the public process and toward execution.

in News
<>Related Posts

Student Protest Over Immigration Policies Leads to Walkouts Across the Westside

February 7, 2025

February 7, 2025

Walkout Turns Tense as Counter-Protester Confronts Teen in Video From Venice Students from Santa Monica High School (SAMOHI), Culver City...

10-Year-Old Palisades Girl Wins Martial Arts Medals Weeks After Losing Home to Fire

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

Savoian, a green belt in Yoshukai karate, trained at Gerry Blanck’s Martial Arts Center in Pacific Palisades Just weeks after...

Open Arms Art Show Runs Through Mar. 22 in Burbank

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

Opening Exhibition Saturday Feb. 8 from 12 to 8p.m. More than an art show, the Open Arms Exhibition is an...

Quiet Luxury: What’s Inside the New Regent Boutique and Sweet July

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

The Regent Santa Monica Beach, known for its perfect Santa Monica getaways, or local dining at its Mediterranean-based restaurant Orla...

Santa Monica Waives Outdoor Dining Fees After Wildfires

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

101 businesses participate in Santa Monica’s outdoor dining programs, which began as a temporary measure during COVID-19 In an effort...

(Photos) Kamala Harris Visits Destruction of Palisades Fire

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

Harris spoke with first responders, service providers, and evacuees about recovery efforts and resources Former Vice President Kamala Harris joined...

Film Review: Companion

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

FILM REVIEWCOMPANIONRated R97 MinutesReleased January 31st Companion is like an O. Henry short story, moving at a breezy clip, with...

Best Spots to Celebrate Valentines, Galentines, or Have a Super Bowl Party on the Westside

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

Cocktails, Game Day Grub, Valentine’s Pasta, and a Lonely Heart’s Tea Service You will find many excellent ways to celebrate...

Dead Body Found on Sands of Venice Beach, Investigation Underway

February 5, 2025

February 5, 2025

A death investigation is underway By Zach Armstrong A death investigation is underway after local officials discovered a dead body...

Will Rogers State Beach to Become Temporary Hazardous Waste Site

February 5, 2025

February 5, 2025

The site, located on flat, open land near the burn zone, will serve as a staging area where materials will...

FDA Issues High-Risk Recall for Pre-Packaged Broccoli Florets Sold at Walmart

February 5, 2025

February 5, 2025

Recall Is Now Classified as Class I Due to Seriousness Of Contamination The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has classified...

Matū Kai Brings Its Signature Wagyu and Famous Cheesesteak to Brentwood

February 5, 2025

February 5, 2025

Team Behind Beverly Hills’ Acclaimed Matū Is Opening a Second Location One of Beverly Hills’s newest and most popular restaurants,...

SaMoHi Science Teacher Arrested for Alleged Student Relationship

February 5, 2025

February 5, 2025

Ingo Gaida Faces Misdemeanor Charges After Investigation into Inappropriate Conduct A Santa Monica High School science teacher was arrested Wednesday,...

Supermarket Reopens in Palisades Following Wildfire Damage

February 4, 2025

February 4, 2025

The store is currently operating on a generator until power is fully restored The Vons supermarket at 17380 W Sunset...

State Farm Seeks Emergency Rate Hike, Citing Wildfire Losses—Consumer Advocates Push Back

February 4, 2025

February 4, 2025

Insurer Requests up to a 38% Rate Increase, but Critics Call It an Unjustified Cash Grab In a press release...