City Council

8. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING: ZONING CODE AMENDMENT TO IMPLEMENT OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR HIGH DENSITY\nRESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT (Planning Dept.)\nRecommendation: It is recommended that the City Council:\n(1) Find that the proposed Zoning Code Amendment is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3), the\n“Common Sense”\nexemption, where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment;\n(2) Make the Findings for Approval for the Zoning Code Text Amendment (Attachment A of the agenda report); and\n(3) Direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance for the Zoning Code Amendment within 90 days consistent with the provisions set forth in the\nagenda report.\nRecommendation of the Planning Commission: On October 8, 2025, the Planning Commission considered the proposed Zoning Code\nAmendment at a publicly noticed hearing\n(Attachment B of the agenda report) and unanimously recommended that the City Council approve the Zoning Code Amendment as presented by\nstaff, with the following amendments:\n1. Refine the terms “Simple Form” and “Articulated Form” to describe proposed standards;\n2. Include a range of permitted colors;\n3. Require balconies on street-facing façades to project no more than two feet from a façade, have opaque railings, and high quality materials;\nand\n4. Allow for an alternate design review process for sites above t