CITY OF MERCED - File #: 16-400

• File #: 16-400
• Version: 1
• Type: Public Hearing Item
• Status: Passed
• File created: 8/16/2016
• In control: City Council/Public Finance and Economic Development Authority/Parking Authority/Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency
• On agenda: 9/6/2016
• Final action: 9/6/2016
• Title: SUBJECT: Public Hearing - Zoning Ordinance Amendment #16-01 - Adoption of a New Zoning Ordinance for the City of Merced REPORT IN BRIEF The City Council will be asked to consider adoption of a new Zoning Ordinance for the City of Merced. RECOMMENDATION City Council - Adopt a motion: A. Adopting a Negative Declaration and Introducing Ordinance 2465, "An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Merced, California, Amending Title 20 'Zoning' of the Merced Municipal Code;" and, B. Approving a supplemental appropriation in Fund 017 in the amount of $2,260 to pay for the State filing fees for the Negative Declaration and allowing the Finance Officer to make the necessary budget adjustments.

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
9/6/2016	1	City Council/Public Finance and Economic Development Authority/Parking Authority/Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency	approved	Pass

Report Prepared by: Kim Espinosa, Planning Manager, Development Services Department

Title
SUBJECT: Public Hearing - Zoning Ordinance Amendment #16-01 - Adoption of a New Zoning Ordinance for the City of Merced

REPORT IN BRIEF
The City Council will be asked to consider adoption of a new Zoning Ordinance for the City of Merced.

RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:

A. Adopting a Negative Declaration and Introducing Ordinance 2465, "An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Merced, California, Amending Title 20 'Zoning' of the Merced Municipal Code;" and,

B. Approving a supplemental appropriation in Fund 017 in the amount of $2,260 to pay for the State filing fees for the Negative Declaration and allowing the Finance Officer to make the necessary budget adjustments.

Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve the project as recommended by the Planning Commission, Zoning Ordinance Update Task Force, and staff; or,
2. Approve the project, subject to modifications as specified by Council; or,
3. Deny the request; or,
4. Refer back to staff for reconsideration of specific items (specific items to be addressed in City Council motion); or,
5. Continue to a future City Council meeting (date and time to be specified in City Council motion).

AUTHORITY
The Zoning Ordinance is Title 20 of the Merced Municipal Code.

CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
A New Zoning Code was listed as a City Council priority under "Future Planning" in the adopted FY 2015-16 Budget.

DISCUSSION
Introduction
This is the first comprehensive update of the Zoning Ordinance (Title 20 of the Merced Municipal Code) since its adoption in the early 1960's and represents a complete redesign, update, and modernization of the Zoning Ordinance in order to make the Ordinance easier to use and understand for the general public and to provide specific guidance to developers, making the development process simpler and faster. The goal was to facilitate the City's overall growth and development and enhanc...