SUBJECT: Zoning Ordinance Amendment #23-02, initiated by the City of Merced, involves various changes to the Merced Zoning Ordinance (Title 20 of the Merced Municipal Code) which would add Section 20.08.060 (Small House, Small Lots), modify the existing Chapter 20.42 (Accessory Dwelling Units) and Chapter 20.56 (Density Bonus) to comply with current State law and modify Merced Zoning Ordinance Sections 20.08-1 (Permitted Land Uses in the Residential Zoning Districts) and Section 20.90.020 (Definitions). PUBLIC HEARING ACTION: PLANNING COMMISSION: Recommendation to City Council Environmental Review #23-24 (General Rule Exemption) Zoning Ordinance Amendment #23-02 CITY COUNCIL: Approve/Disapprove/Modify Environmental Review #23-24 (General Rule Exemption) Zoning Ordinance Amendment #23-02 SUMMARY The Merced City Council and the City of Merced have identified housing as a main priority and recently adopted Pro-housing Policies and are working towards a State Pro-housing Designation. To address the City's Pro-housing strategy, updates to the City's Zoning Ordinance have been proposed to facilitate the production of housing that encourages affordability by design, expansion of housing choices, and increased flexibility for housing options and development. The Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment #23-02 seeks to support the City Council's direction to provide increased housing choices and update the Merced Zoning Ordinance to be in compliance with current State law and address the City's Pro-housing strategy. After this amendment was publicly noticed, staff determined that the Tiny Homes on Wheels Villages section would be removed from consideration at this time. RECOMMENDATION Planning staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend approval to the City Council of Environmental Review #23-24 (General Rule Exemption) and Zoning Ordinance Amendment #23-02 (including the adoption of the Draft Resolution at Attachment A of Staff Report #23-647), subject to the findings/considerations in Exhibit A of the Draft Resolution.

Consent Item Reported to Council Introduced July 21, 2023

Committee: City Council/Public Finance and Economic Development Authority/Parking Authority
Requested by: Development Services Department
Introduced: July 21, 2023
On agenda: August 9, 2023