SUBJECT: Zoning Ordinance Amendment #22-01, initiated by the City of Merced. This application involves changes to the Merced Zoning Ordinance (Title 20 of the Merced Municipal Code) which would amend Merced Municipal Code Sections 20.08 (“Residential Zoning Districts”, 20.10 ("Commercial Zoning Districts"), 20.20.020 (“Planned Development Zoning Districts”), 20.32 (“Interface Regulations”), 20.38 (“Parking and Loading”), 20.46 (“Residential Design Standards”), 20.68.050 (“Permit Requirements-Site Plan Review Permit”), and 20.90 (“Glossary”). The amendment involves various changes to the City’s Zoning Ordinance involving duplexes, the level of review required for various land uses in commercial zoning districts, density requirements for residential uses in various commercial districts, the minimum project size and design standards for Residential Planned Developments and Planned Developments, the Interface regulations; residential design standards, definitions, and various other amendments.**PUBLIC HEARING** ACTION PLANNING COMMISSION: Recommendation to City Council 1) Environmental Review #22-22 (Categorical Exemption) 2) Zoning Ordinance Amendment #22-01 CITY COUNCIL: Approve/Disapprove/Modify 1) Environmental Review #22-22 (Categorical Exemption) 2) Zoning Ordinance Amendment #22-01 SUMMARY In order to implement the City Council’s recent pro-housing policy direction and to address other issues that have arisen with zoning issues and State law requirements, City staff is recommending a variety of amendments to the Zoning Ordinance as an interim measure prior to more extensive changes anticipated after the General Plan and Housing Element are updated in the future. These amendments include allowing duplexes by right in R-1 zones and amending various standards (including parking) for duplexes; changing the level of review required for various land uses in commercial zoning districts and adding density requirements for residential uses in various commercial districts; changing the minimum project size for Residential Planned Developments and Planned Developments and clarifying design standards in Planned Developments; amending the Interface regulations to require a Minor Use Permit instead of a Site Plan Review Permit and reducing the number of zoning districts to which the Interface regulations apply; allowing exceptions to be granted to various residential design standards through a Minor Use Permit process; clarifying the definitions for “group housing” and “residential care facilities,” and various other amendments. RECOMMENDATION Planning staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend approval to the City Council of Environmental Review #22-22 [Categorical Exemption] and Zoning Ordinance Amendment #22-01 (including the adoption of the Draft Resolution at Attachment A) subject to the findings/considerations in Exhibit A and as outlined in the Draft Ordinance at Exhibit B of the Draft Planning Commission Resolution #4094.

Committee

Planning Commission

Requested by

Development Services Department

Introduced

June 7, 2022

On agenda

July 6, 2022

Passed

July 6, 2022