To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: Envision Contra Costa 2040 Comprehensive Zoning Code Update
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
CONSIDER accepting a report on the Envision Contra Costa 2040 Comprehensive Zoning Code Update and provide direction to staff.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The project will be funded by the Land Development Fund. No impact to the General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
Envision Contra Costa 2040, the County's ambitious program to modernize our General Plan, Zoning Code, and Climate Action Plan, is entering an exciting new phase. Building upon the strong foundation of the 2045 General Plan, which will return to the Board for consideration and potential adoption later this summer, we are now embarking on a comprehensive update of the County Zoning Code (Title 8 - Ordinance 382) and closely related Code sections. This is a landmark undertaking, as it marks the first comprehensive update since the Code's initial adoption in 1947.
Over the past eight decades, Contra Costa County has experienced remarkable growth and transformation. While the Zoning Code has been amended over time to address evolving needs, these incremental changes have resulted in inconsistencies that can be best addressed through a comprehensive review. This update will ensure that the Code aligns with the community's shared vision articulated in the 2045 General Plan, establishing a clear, intuitive, and forward-thinking framework for environmental justice, community health, economic development, and sustainability. The comprehensive Code update will focus primarily on Title 8 (Zoning), with associated amendments to Titles 2 (Administration) and 9 (Subdivisions). These titles are frequently referenced by both County staff and the public, and our aim is to enhance their user-friendliness, ensuring that development regulations are easily accessible and understandable to all stakeholders.
ZONING UPDATE REPORT
The Zoning Update Report (ZUR) serves as the foundation for a comprehensive update to the County's zoning regulations. This initial step identifies current zoning issues and recommends potential revisions and improvements.
The ZUR establishes a set of core principles that will guide the code update process. These principles provide a framework for the revisions. The principles include alignment with the 2045 General Plan, ensuring code accessibility, establishing a clear and transparent planning review process, and supporting zoning regulations that reflect existing development or provide visionary regulations. To manage implementation of this monumental task, the potential changes are categorized into three distinct phases: Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III. Additionally, the report acknowledges ongoing zoning code modifications that fall outside the scope of this comprehensive update, due to their ongoing nature or separate origin and timeline.
The report largely focuses on the major updates that will be considered during Phase II. The recommendations outlined are based on input gained from interviews and discussions with County staff, a stakeholder survey, and document reviews of the current Code, Draft Contra Costa County 2045 General Plan, adopted Housing Element, and applicable provisions of State law, as well as research of best practices from other jurisdictions. Recommendations are organized by the following topics: (1) Code Accessibility, (2) Administrative Procedures, (3) Land Use Regulations, and (4) Zoning Districts and Development Standards.
May 22, 2024 STUDY SESSION at COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
The May 22, 2024 County Planning Commission meeting featured a study session focused on the proposed Comprehensive Zoning Code Update. Commissioners provided valuable feedback, emphasizing the importance of supporting industry, local and regional commercial development (including event centers), new agricultural zoning districts, and mobile/tiny home permitting. Additionally, they highlighted the need for code accessibility across all communities, the potential use of Artificial Intelligence for improved code understanding, and the inclusion of clear charts, diagrams, and objective design standards. Finally, the Commission supported coordinating definitions with other regulations and suggested further research on unit intensity and density.
BOARD GUIDANCE
At this meeting, staff will present the ZUR to the Board of Supervisors for their review and input. Once we have gathered feedback from the Board, staff will finalize the Zoning Update Report and initiate the process of implementing the Envision Contra Costa Comprehensive Zoning Code Update.
DOCUMENT AVAILABILITY
The public review drafts of the Contra Costa County 2045 General Plan, CAP, and Zoning Code Update Report are available at https://envisioncontracosta2040.org/documents/
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the Board does not accept the report, the Department of Conservation and Development will not move forward with the next step of the Envision process, updating the County Zoning Code.