HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 650
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DEVELOPMENT OF URBAN LOT SPLITS AND URBAN DWELLING UNITS
1. Purpose and intent.
It is the purpose and intent of this ordinance to implement the provisions of Government
Code sections 65852.21 and 66411.7, which mandates the City to establish a ministerial process
for approval of urban lot splits and urban dwelling units and authorizes the City to establish
certain requirements and standards for such approvals, while protecting the public health, safety,
and welfare of the community, such as through orderly planning and aesthetic standards.
2. Definitions.
“Urban dwelling unit” means a dwelling unit established or proposed to be developed in
accordance with the standards, procedures, and requirements set forth under Government Code
section 65852.21 and this chapter, either as a primary or secondary unit on a parcel.
“Urban lot split” means a subdivision or proposed subdivision of land established in
accordance with the standards, procedures, and requirements set forth under Government Code
section 66411.7, this chapter, and the procedures set forth in Chapter 11-14 of this code.
“Primary Frontage” means the frontage of a property abutting a street.
“Secondary Frontage” means a second side of the property that abuts a street and is
parallel to the primary frontage.
“Corner street frontage” means a second side of the property that abuts a street and is
perpendicular to the primary frontage.
“Individual Property Owner” means a natural person holding fee title individually or
jointly in the person’s own name or a beneficiary of a trust that holds fee title. This does not
include any corporation or corporate person of any kind (partnership, limited partnership, limited
liability company, C corporation, S corporation, etc.) except for a community land trust (as
defined by Revenue and Taxation Code Section 402.1(a)(11)(C)(ii)) or a qualified non-profit
corporation (as defined by Revenue and Taxation Code Section 214.15).
3. Urban Dwelling Units.
(a) Ministerial Review Process. An application for development of an urban dwelling
unit will be reviewed ministerially, without discretionary review or a hearing if it meets all the
requirements set forth in this section and after payment of all applicable fees.
(b) Location Requirements. An application for development of an urban dwelling unit
must meet all the following location requirements:
(1) The subject parcel must be located in an area zoned for residential single-
family use and be within or partially within the urbanized area, as designated by the US Census
Bureau.
(2) The subject parcel must not be located in an area designated in Government
Code sections 65913.4(a)(6)(B) through (K). This includes, but is not limited to, certain
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farmland, wetlands, hazardous waste sites, earthquake fault zones, special flood hazard areas,
regulatory floodways, lands identified for conservation, on a site with a historic resource, and
within or adjacent to habitats for protected species.
(3) The subject parcel must not be located within a historic district or property, as
set forth in Government Code section 65852.21(a)(6).
(c) Limitation on Demolition and Alterations. A proposed urban dwelling unit must not
involve demolition or alteration of:
(4) Housing that is subject to a recorded covenant, ordinance, or law that restricts
rents to levels affordable to persons and families of moderate, low, or very low income.
(5) Housing that is subject to any form of rent or price control through a
public entity’s valid exercise of its police power.
(6) Housing that has been occupied by a tenant in the last three years.
(7) More than 25% of the existing exterior structural walls, unless the housing
has not been occupied by tenants within the last three years.
(d) Limitation on Parcels Withdrawn from Rental Market. A proposed urban
dwelling unit must not involve property withdrawn from rental market under GC §7060 and
following, within 15 years before the date that the development proponent submits an
application.
(e) Development Standards. A proposed urban dwelling unit must comply with the
following development standards:
(1) No more than two dwelling units on any lot may be developed. Primary
dwellings, Urban Dwelling Units, Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior ADUs constitute
units towards the maximum number of units.
(2) Maximum Size limitations shall be as follows:
(i) The maximum size of a proposed urban dwelling unit must not
exceed 800 square feet in floor area, including attached accessory storage rooms or
enclosed porches.
(ii) A dwelling unit, primary or secondary, that was established on the
lot prior to the submittal of a complete application for a development pursuant to this
chapter may not be altered or expanded to a size greater than 800 square-feet, inclusive of
any attached garage, storage space, or enclosed porch.
(3) The minimum setback from the side and rear property line shall be four
feet. No setback is required for an existing, permitted structure or a structure constructed in the
same location and to the same dimensions as an existing, permitted structure.
(4) The minimum setback for the primary street frontage shall be 25-feet. The
minimum setback for the secondary street frontage shall be 12.5-feet. The minimum setback for
the corner street frontage shall be 10-feet.
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(5) The minimum setback from an access way (flag or easement) shall be 10-feet.
(6) Any proposed urban dwelling unit must be connected to the City’s public
sewer system.
(7) There must be at least one off-street parking space per proposed urban
dwelling unit unless specifically exempted by state law.
(8) Private open space shall be provided for each residential unit at a ratio of
three hundred (300) square feet for units that provide 2 or less bedrooms. Each bedroom in
excess of two (2) shall require an increase of private open space by fifty (50) square feet. The
required front yard setback area shall not be used to satisfy the open space requirement; however,
side and rear setback areas may be utilized. The minimum width of the private open space area
shall not be less than ten (10) feet.
(9) Unconditioned Spaces. Structures such as garages and workshops attached
to urban dwelling units shall be accessory to the residential unit and shall be limited to two
hundred and eighty (280) square feet. Attached structures shall be included in the maximum
floor area of the unit.
(10) Two (2) story units built in accordance with urban dwelling unit standards
shall have a second floor that is limited to seventy-five percent (75%) of the gross area of the first
floor inclusive of any attached garage.
(11) Porches shall be provided for each new unit. Porches shall be a minimum
of six (6) feet deep and 8-feet wide.
(12) Lot coverage shall not exceed forty percent (40%) of the net lot area.
(13) Each unit shall include the following:
a) Three hundred (300) cubic feet of shelved storage area. (Bedroom and
entry/coat closets shall not count toward this requirement);
b) Dedicated space for laundry facilities with hookups.
(14) All utilities shall be installed underground.
(15) Where the street frontage of a lot (or the combined street frontage of the
two lots created through an urban lot split) is 80 feet or less, all units on the lot (or all units on
both lots created through an urban lot split) shall share the same drive approach and driveway.
(f) The subject property shall be owned solely by one or more individual property
owners.
(g) Denial Based Upon Adverse Impacts. The City will deny a proposed urban
dwelling unit if the building official makes a written finding, based upon a preponderance of the
evidence, that the proposed housing development project would have a specific, adverse impact,
as defined and determined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 65589.5, upon public
health and safety or the physical environment and for which there is no feasible method to
satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact.
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(h) Short Term Rental Limitation. Urban dwelling units developed under this section
may not be rented for a term less than 30 days. Prior to construction permit completion, a
covenant shall be recorded on each lot with a new urban dwelling unit stating the terms of long
term occupancy.
(i) Election of development standards. If necessary, objective zoning, subdivision, or
design standards will be set aside in the following order until the site can contain
two, 800 square foot units. Such standards will be set aside in the following order
until the site can contain two, 800 square foot units:
a. Lot Coverage
b. Second Floor Area limitations
c. Porch requirement
d. Private open space
e. Setbacks to the degree allowed by State law
(i) A deed notification shall be recorded on all properties exercising development per
the provisions of this chapter as necessary to describe these limitations.
4. Urban Lot Splits.
(a) Ministerial Review Process. An urban lot split parcel map application will be
reviewed ministerially, without discretionary review or a hearing, if it meets all the requirements
set forth in this section and in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter 11-14 of this
code.
(b) Location Requirements. An urban lot split parcel map application must meet all the
following location requirements:
(1) The subject parcel must be located in an area zoned for single-family use and
be within or partially within the urbanized area, as designated by the US Census Bureau.
(2) The subject parcel must not be located in an area designated in Government
Code sections 65913.4(a)(6)(B) through (K). This includes certain farmland, wetlands, very high
fire hazard severity zones, hazardous waste sites, earthquake fault zones, special flood hazard
areas, regulatory floodways, lands identified for conservation, and habitats for protected species.
(3) The subject parcel must not be located within a historic district or property, as
set forth in Government Code section 65852.21(a)(6).
(c) Limitation on Demolition and Alterations. A proposed urban lot split must not involve
demolition or alteration of:
(1) Housing that is subject to a recorded covenant, ordinance, or law that restricts
rents to levels affordable to persons and families of moderate, low, or very low income.
(2) Housing that is subject to any form of rent or price control through a
public entity’s valid exercise of its police power.
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(3) Housing that has been occupied by a tenant in the last three years.
(d) Limitation on Parcels Withdrawn from Rental Market. A proposed urban lot split
must not involve property withdrawn from rental market under GC §7060 and following, within
15 years before the date that the development proponent submits an application.
(e) Development Standards. A proposed urban lot split must comply with the
following development standards:
(1) No more than two dwelling units may be developed on either resulting lot.
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior ADUs shall be included in the maximum number of
units. An urban dwelling development contains two residential units if the development
proposes no more than two new units or if it proposes to add one new unit to one existing unit.
(2) The maximum size of a proposed urban dwelling unit shall not exceed 800
square feet in floor area including any attached, enclosed storage rooms, enclosed porches, or
enclosed garage areas.
(3) The minimum setback from the side and rear property line is four feet. No
setback is required for an existing, permitted structure or a structure constructed in the same
location and to the same dimensions as an existing, permitted structure.
(4) Any proposed urban dwelling unit must be connected to the City’s public
sewer system.
(5) There must be at least one off-street parking space per proposed urban
dwelling unit unless specifically exempted by state law.
(6) All parcels proposing an urban lot split must comply with the following
design standards:
(i) Lot lines shall be at the top of slope banks.
(ii) Side lot lines shall be perpendicular to the street on straight streets, or
radial to the street on curved streets.
(iii) Lots with a ratio of depth to width greater than 3:1 shall not be permitted.
(iv) All new lots shall have a minimum primary frontage width of 40-
feet, unless approved as a flag lot subdivision.
(v) Where the street frontage of a lot (or the combined street frontage
of the two lots created through an urban lot split) is 80 feet or less, all units on the lot (or all units
on both lots created through an urban lot split) shall share the same drive approach and driveway.
(vi) Flag lot subdivisions may be approved subject to the following:
(A) The original lot shall have frontage on a dedicated street with a
minimum width of at least 65 feet;
(B) The accessway to the rear shall be at least twenty (20) feet wide
(developed to City standards), except where the accessway is more than one hundred fifty (150) feet long,
it shall be at least twenty-four (24) feet wide with twenty (20) feet of pavement.
(C) The lot farthest from the street shall own the accessway in fee.
Other lots using the accessway shall have an access and utility easement over it and a maintenance
agreement shall be recorded with the final parcel map.
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(D) A reflectorized house number master sign shall be located at the
intersection of the street and accessway and individual reflectorized address signs shall be placed on the
right-hand side of the driveway to each individual lot.
(8) All parcels with average slopes of 30% or greater must identify an
accessible building envelope of 20% or less for the resulting vacant parcel.
(9) All utilities shall be separate for units residing on separate parcels.
Multiple units on the same parcel may share utility connections unless prohibited by city code
for residential uses.
(10) One street tree per 30-feet of primary frontage shall be installed.
(g) Denial Based Upon Adverse Impacts. The City will deny a proposed urban lot
split if the building official makes a written finding, based upon a preponderance of the evidence,
that the proposed housing development project would have a specific, adverse impact, as defined
and determined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 65589.5, upon public health and
safety or the physical environment and for which there is no feasible method to satisfactorily
mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact.
(h) Short Term Rental Limitation. A unit located on an urban lot split approved under
this section may not be rented for a term less than 30 days. In conjunction with lot recordation, a
covenant shall be recorded on each lot with a new urban dwelling unit stating the terms of long
term occupancy.
(i) Compliance with the Subdivision Map Act. Urban lot splits must conform to all
applicable objective requirements of the Subdivision Map Act (Division 2 (commencing with
Section 66410)), except as expressly provided in this section.
(j) Dedication and Off-Site Improvements. A dedication of rights-of-way or the
construction of offsite improvements for the parcels being created cannot be required as a
condition of issuing a parcel map. All required frontage improvements shall be completed prior
to or concurrently with a building permit for an urban dwelling unit on either resulting lot.
(k) Fire Department & Utility Easements, An easement must be provided over the
front parcel to the rear parcel for access to the public right of way, providing public services and
facilities, maintenance of utilities, and (if required) fire department access.
(l) Owner Occupancy. The applicant for an urban lot split must be an existing owner
and occupant of the subject lot and must sign an affidavit stating that the applicant will occupy
one of the housing units as their principal residence for a minimum of three years from the date
of the approval of the urban lot split. This does not apply to an applicant that is a “community
land trust,” as defined in clause (ii) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (11) of subdivision (a) of
Section 402.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code or is a “qualified nonprofit corporation” as
described in Section 214.15 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(m) Residential Use Requirement. All uses allowed on a site subdivided as an urban
lot split must be limited to residential uses. This does not apply to an applicant that is a
“community land trust,” as defined in clause (ii) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (11) of
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subdivision (a) of Section 402.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code or is a “qualified nonprofit
corporation” as described in Section 214.15 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(n) Non-Conforming Zoning Conditions. Nonconforming zoning conditions are not
required to be made conforming before approving an application.
(o) Prior Urban Lot Split. The parcel being subdivided may not have not been
established through prior exercise of an urban lot split. In addition, neither the owner of the
parcel being subdivided nor any person acting in concert with the owner has previously
subdivided an adjacent parcel may have used the urban lot split process as provided for in this
section.
(p) Size Requirements. The urban lot split meets all of the following size
requirements:
(1) Both newly created parcels must be no smaller than 1,200 square feet;
(2) Both newly created parcels must be of approximately equal lot area, which for
purposes of this paragraph means that one parcel may not be smaller than 40
percent of the lot area of the original parcel proposed for subdivision.
(q) A deed notification shall be recorded on all properties exercising development per
the provisions of this chapter as necessary to describe these limitations.
5. Appeals.
For the purposes of this chapter, decisions of the Community Development Director or
Building Official to appeal or deny an application may be appealed in compliance with section 9-
1.111 of the Atascadero Municipal Code.
6. Conflict.
If any section within this chapter conflicts with Government Code sections 65852.21 or
66411.7, then the Government Code sections will apply.
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Chapter 14 URBAN LOT SPLIT PROCEDURES
11-14.001 Purpose and intent.
It is the purpose and intent of this chapter to implement the provisions of Government
Code section 66411.7, which mandates the City to establish a ministerial process for approval of
urban lot splits.
11-14.002 Definitions.
“Urban lot split” means a subdivision or proposed subdivision of land established in
accordance with the standards, procedures, and requirements set forth under Government Code
section 66411.7, this chapter, and the procedures set forth in Chapter 9-18 of this code.
11-14.003 Urban Lot Split Procedures.
(a) Ministerial Review Process. An urban lot split parcel map application will be
reviewed ministerially, without discretionary review or a hearing, if it meets all the requirements
set forth in this section and with the development requirements set forth in Chapter 9-18.
(b) Preparation of Urban Lot Split Parcel Maps. An urban lot split parcel map must be
prepared by or under the direction of a registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor, must
show the location of streets and property lines bounding the property, must conform to all of the
provisions of Section 66445 of the Subdivision Map Act, and must be based upon a field survey
made in conformity with the Land Surveyors Act and in accordance with Government Code
section 66448.
(c) Application. An application for the urban lot split must be filed in accordance with the
forms and policies set forth by the Community Development Director. All applications must
include a tentative parcel map and the applicable review fees as established by resolution. The
Department of Community Development will not accept an application or map for processing
unless the Department finds that the urban lot split parcel map is consistent with the zoning
provisions of this code and that all approvals and permits required by the city zoning provisions
for the project have been given or issued.
(d) Staff Review. The Community Development Director will circulate the application
for an urban lot split, together with the tentative map, to affected city departments for review and
comment. Staff will transmit to the applicant for review and consideration comments from the
city departments.
(e) Approval Authority. The Community Development Director is the approving
authority on all urban lot split applications for tentative or parcel map approvals.
(f) Approval. If the application for the urban lot split meets all the requirements in this
section and with the development requirements for the urban lot split as set forth in Chapter 9-
18, the Community Development Director may approve the urban lot split ministerially and
without a public hearing. The action of the director upon an urban lot split application is final
and conclusive, in the absence of an appeal.
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(g) Appeal. Decisions of the Community Development Director may be appealed to the
Planning Commission in compliance with section 11-1.10 of this code.