Agenda Item Wording:
title
Ordinance Adoption - Second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 2025-13 pertaining to the approval of Zoning Text Amendment No. 2025-03: A request by the City of Visalia to amend Visalia Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning Ordinance), as to implement Program 5.8 contained in the City of Visalia 6th Cycle Housing Element of the General Plan. The regulations will apply Citywide to properties within the city limits of the City of Visalia. Environmental Status: The project is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Code of Regulations Section 15061(b)(3).
body
Prepared by:
Brandon Smith, Principal Planner, brandon.smith@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4636;
Paul Bernal, Planning and Community Preservation Director, paul.bernal@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4025
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the second reading of Ordinance No. 2025-13 for Zoning Text Amendment No. 2025-03, to establish and amend portions of Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning Ordinance) pertaining to the implementation of Housing Element Implementation Program 5.8.
Background Discussion:
The first reading of Ordinance No. 2025-13 for Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) No. 2025-03, approved by the City Council on October 20, 2025, assists in implementing one program that was adopted with the 6th Cycle 2023-2031 Housing Element Update. Following the second reading and City Council adoption, Ordinance No. 2025-13 will go into effect 30 days following the November 3, 2025 meeting.
The proposed ZTA represents the second series of changes being undertaken to remove constraints to a variety of housing types and ensure compliance with State law. These municipal code updates have been initiated by City staff because they have been determined as necessary by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in order for the City to comply with current State Housing Element law and mandates.
The amendments listed in the implementation program are:
A. Allow transitional and supportive housing by-right in the O-C (Office Conversion) zone.
B. Regarding emergency shelters, reduce development standards related to proximity to other emergency shelters, schools, and low barrier navigation centers to 300 feet, remove additional setback and perimeter wall requirements, and require only parking sufficient to meet the needs of facility employees but not more than what is required of residential or commercial uses in the same zone.
C. Allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by-right in all zones allowing residential uses, in compliance with State law. The City will defer to State ADU and Junior ADU law until a compliant ADU Ordinance is adopted.
a. Note: This amendment was previously completed through ZTA No. 2024-05, and therefore no further action is necessary.
D. Allow for at least two dwelling units per lot in all R-1 (Single-family Residential) zone districts (R-1-20, R-1-12.5, and R-1-5) consistent with Senate Bill 9.
a. Note: This amendment was previously completed through ZTA No. 2024-03, and therefore no further action is necessary.
E. Provide streamlined ministerial review and a preliminary application process in compliance with Senate Bill 330 and Senate Bill 35.
F. Permit large residential care facilities with objectivity and certainty in all residential zones, subject only to the same requirements of residential uses of similar form in the same zones.
G. Adopt reduced parking standards for affordable multi-family developments and multi-family projects with small units (single-room occupancy, studio, and 1-bedroom units) of no more than one parking stall per unit.
H. Permit low barrier navigations centers by-right (without conditional use or other discretionary permit) in non-residential zones permitting residential uses.
I. Reduce lot size requirements in the R-M (Multi-family Residential), C (Commercial), C-MU (Commercial Mixed Use), and D-MU (Downtown Mixed Use) zone districts (no more than one acre in the C-MU zone district and no more than 20,000 square feet in the C and D-MU zone district) to remove constraints to multi-family housing development and promote affordability.
J. Provide a ministerial process for approving reasonable accommodation requests, including objective findings for approval, limited to decision-making criteria regarding fundamental alteration of zoning and land use and financial and administrative burden.
Fiscal Impact: None.
Prior Council Action:
• On October 20, 2025, the City Council introduced the first reading of Ordinance No. 2025-13, for the approval of Zone Text Amendment No. 2025-03. During the first reading, one public comment was received regarding concern for the reduction of lot sizes for residential zone districts[, and no revisions were made to the ordinance.
• On December 18, 2023, the City Council voted to adopt the 6th Cycle 2023-2031 Housing Element.
Planning Commission Review and Action:
On September 22, 2025, the Planning Commission voted 4-1 to recommend approval of Zoning Text Amendment No. 2025-03 as presented by staff. No public comment was received regarding the proposed changes to the ordinance.
Alternatives: None.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve the second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2025-13 for Zone Text Amendment No. 2025-03.
Environmental Assessment Status: The requested action is considered exempt under Section 15061(b)(3) of the State Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A Notice of Exemption has been prepared for the project because Section 15061(b)(3) states that the project is exempted from CEQA if the activity is covered by the common sense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. 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, the activity is not subject to CEQA. The proposed text amendments, which largely pertain to expanding the scope of residential uses which are already allowed within the city, and are responding directly to requirements under State law, will not have a significant effect on the environment.
CEQA Review: A Notice of Exemption has been prepared for the project because Section 15061(b) (3) states that the project is exempted from CEQA if the activity is covered by the common sense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
Deadline for Action: 12/15/2025
Attachments:
1. Ordinance No. 2025-13 for Zoning Text Amendment No. 2025-03
2. City Council staff report from 1st Reading of Ordinance No. 2025-03, October 20, 2025