HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-07-2015 AgendaAGENDA ITEM #1
PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT
CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO PLANNING DIVISION
STUDY SESSION DATE: January 7, 2015
APPLICANT:
City of San Bernardino
Attn.: Mark Persico, AICP
300 N. "D" Street
San Bernardino, CA 92418
(909)384-5357
Persico ma@sbcity.org
REQUEST:
A Planning Commission Study Session to provide Planning staff and the City's
consultant feedback and input regarding the comprehensive update to the Development
Code (Title 19) of the City of San Bernardino Municipal Code.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Discussion item only; no action will be taken at this time.
BACKGROUND
The last comprehensive update to the Development Code was completed in 1991. While
there have been numerous amendments over the past two decades, the Code has not kept
up with changing market demands and current trends. To address these issues, the Mayor
and Common Council approved the hiring of EcoTierra to undertake a comprehensive
update to the Development Code.
Staff is interested in receiving broad input from the Planning Commission, the
community and development interests as we update the Development Code. The update
process will last 14 months and conclude in February 2016. Two working groups were
established to help gather input and guide the process: a staff -level working group, which
has representatives from all City departments, that meets bi-monthly, and an external
working group, which has representatives from Cal State, Loma Linda University, the
BIA and local developers/builders, that will meet three times. Additionally, staff will
attend a Neighborhood Association Council — President's meeting to gather their input.
Planning Commission Study Session
January 7, 2015
Page 2
The Development Code implements the General Plan and is a regulatory tool with
standards for new residential, commercial and industrial development. The new Code
will incorporate contemporary planning and business practices, procedures, and set
objective criteria for new development and streamline the entitlement process. Achieving
these goals will stimulate economic development activity.
Staff is hoping to achieve efficiencies by consolidating zoning categories to reflect
geographic areas of the City.
Currently there are eleven (11) commercial zones located in the City. Possible new
consolidated commercial zones:
Freeway Commercial - Areas along the 10, 210, and 215 freeways.
Downtown Commercial - Parts of the City located near City Hall.
Corridor Commercial - Major streets in the city like Waterman, Highland, and
Baseline.
There are nine (9) separate residential zones. The goal of the update is to consolidate into
four possible new residential zones:
• Foothill Residential Communities - Housing located up against the foothills.
• Downtown Residential Communities - Housing located near City Hall.
• Urban/Metropolitan/City/ Housing - Homes located outside of downtown.
• University Housing - Homes located near Cal State San Bernardino.
Currently there are four industrial zones, and the objective is to consolidate these onto
two new industrial zones:
Airport Industrial - Industrial businesses located near the airport.
Industrial - Industrial business located in the City outside of the airport
borders.
In keeping with the objective to streamline and simplify the permitting process the
development code update will also include:
• New updated definitions.
• Broader categories of uses.
Tonight's study session is the first public meeting to discuss updating the Code and staff
is looking for feedback from the Planning Commission in three broad areas:
1. What currently works?
a. What are some recent projects that are good models?
b. Are there projects outside the City that are good models?
2. What doesn't work?
a. What projects are poor examples?
Planning Commission Study Session
January 7, 2015
Page 3
3. Other items of general interest to the Planning Commission?
Formal public hearing before the Planning Commission and City Council will be
scheduled for future dates.
RECOMMENDATION
Provide input and feedback regarding updates to the Development Code.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mark Persico, AICP
Community Development Director