HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 6627
City of Palo Alto (ID # 6627)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Informational Report Meeting Date: 6/20/2016
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Convey Official Code Interpretations
Title: Informational Report Conveying Official Code Interpretations Made
February 10, 2016 Through May 10, 2016
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Planning and Community Environment
Recommendation
Staff recommends that Council receive this informational report.
Executive Summary
The Zoning Code changes that the City Council adopted on January 11, 2016 by approving the
2015 “Code Clean-up” ordinance contained a new provision for code interpretations and a new
requirement that the Director of Planning & Community Environment provide a quarterly
report of official zoning and land use interpretations.
Since the code changes became effective February 10, 2016, there have been no formal
interpretations made by the Director. This constitutes the first quarterly report required under
Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 18.01.025, Zoning Code Interpretation.
Background
In January 2016, Council adopted changes to Palo Alto Municipal Code Title 18 as part of the
Planning and Community Environment’s (PCE) program for annual code updates that began in
2015. Among the code sections added were two that clarified the Director is enabled to render
official, published interpretations of the zoning code. Council added this statement for the
second reading of the ordinance, ‘staff shall prepare a quarterly information report to the
Council summarizing all final interpretations made under this section,’ applicable to zoning and
land use classification interpretation.
The PCE department prepares a number of other reports on a regular basis, including the
following:
1. The SUMC Annual Report (development agreement requirement)
2. The Mayfield Annual Report (development agreement requirement)
3. The Downtown CAP Annual Report (Comp Plan program)
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4. A Fee Waiver Annual Report (a requirement in the fee schedule)
5. Annual parking report by the Chief Transportation Official (required by PAMC
Section 16.57.070 about in lieu parking)
6. Annual impact fee report (required by PAMC 16.58.060 and State law)
7. Annual report about the Comprehensive Plan (including the Housing Element) to
the Governor’s Office of Planning & Research and the Department of Housing &
Community Development (required by State law)
8. Annual reports on permits/square footage entitled (requested or required by the
US Census, VTA, ABAG, and DOF)
9. Annual Renewal of Williamson Act Properties (required by Municipal Code and
State law)
10. Bi-Annual Condo Conversion Report (required by the Municipal Code)