To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: Report on Comprehensive Zoning Code Update
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ACCEPT a report on the Comprehensive Zoning Code Update and PROVIDE direction to staff.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The project is funded by the Land Development Fund. No impact to the General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
On November 5, 2024, the Board adopted the Contra Costa County 2045 General Plan, establishing a comprehensive, long-range vision for the County's future. The General Plan directs the County to undertake a comprehensive update of its Zoning Code (primarily Title 8 of the County Ordinance Code) to implement the Plan's goals and policies. This project represents the first comprehensive overhaul of the County's zoning regulations since they were first adopted in 1947.
The Zoning Code is the primary tool for implementing the General Plan, and State law mandates that it must be consistent with a local jurisdiction's General Plan. The current zoning code has been amended in a piecemeal fashion over many decades, resulting in a document that is often unintuitive, difficult for the public and staff to navigate, and inconsistent with the modern land use policies established in the 2045 General Plan.
As detailed in the Zoning Update Report, which your Board reviewed in June 2024, this project aims to create a modern, user-friendly, and legally consistent Zoning Code. The primary goals of the update are to:
* Align regulations and procedures with the 2045 General Plan's vision, goals, policies, and actions.
* Ensure the Code is accessible and easy to use for residents, business owners, and applicants.
* Establish a clear, transparent, and predictable planning review process.
* Support zoning regulations that reflect contemporary development patterns and best practices in community planning.
Staff is now bringing forward the following t...
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