Report Prepared by: Kim Espinosa, Planning Manager, Development Services Department
Title
SUBJECT: Joint Planning Commission/City Council Study Session on the Draft Zoning Ordinance
REPORT IN BRIEF
The City Council will meet in a joint study session with the Planning Commission to discuss suggested changes to the Public Review Draft of the Merced Zoning Ordinance discussed at the December 7, 2015, Joint Study Session.
RECOMMENDATION
Provide direction to staff on the Zoning Ordinance.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
None
AUTHORITY
Title 20 of the Merced Municipal Code is the current Merced Zoning Ordinance.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Under the "Future Planning" section, the Zoning Ordinance Update is listed as a Council priority.
DISCUSSION
Introduction
On December 7, 2015, the Planning Commission and City Council held a joint study session on the Public Review Draft of the Merced Zoning Ordinance that was released in September 2015. At the study session, Council Member Belluomini provided an outline of different issues that he wanted to have addressed in the new ordinance. After briefly discussing these items, the Planning Commission and City Council asked that the Zoning Ordinance Focus Group meet again to discuss the items in more detail.
Focus Group Recommendations
Focus Group meetings were held on January 21, and February 4, 2016. Staff had provided the Focus Group with information to facilitate the discussion as well as a feedback form for those members who were not able to attend the meetings (Attachment 1). Unfortunately, attendance at both meetings was sparse (see Attachment 1) and no members took advantage of the feedback form. However, those Focus Group members who did attend had very thorough and thoughtful discussions about the items and did come to a consensus regarding each item. Council Member Belluomini was able to attend the meetings and described his proposals in detail with the Focus Group members present.
The Z...
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