Agenda Item Wording:
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Ordinance Adoption - Second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 2025-01 for Zoning Text Amendment No. 2024-02, a request by the City of Visalia to amend Visalia Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning) based on multiple factors including but not limited to: streamlining of land use review and changes in business and/or development trends and activity, citywide.
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Deadline for Action: 2/3/2025
Submitting Department: Community Development
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Brandon Smith, Principal Planner, (559) 713-4636, brandon.smith@visalia.city <mailto:brandon.smith@visalia.city>
Devon Jones, Economic Development Manager, (559) 713-4190, devon.jones@visalia.city <mailto:devon.jones@visalia.city>
Paul Bernal, Planning and Community Preservation Director, (559) 713-4025, paul.bernal@visalia.city <mailto:paul.bernal@visalia.city>
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council conduct the second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2025-01 for Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) No. 2024-02.
Background Discussion:
On January 21, 2025, the City Council held a public hearing to consider ZTA No. 2024-02. This ZTA is a city-initiated request to implement many Zoning Ordinance updates identified over the last several years. These amendments mainly consist of edits to the ‘Zoning Use Matrix’, Table 17.25.030 in Section 17.25.030 of Title 17 but also consist of corresponding edits to Chapters 17.04 Definitions, 17.24 Business Research Park Zone, and 17.32 Special Provisions. These amendments are made to streamline land use review of various land use types and includes new or edited definitions and adjustments to other pertinent zoning code sections.
At the meeting, there was one public comment received expressing the typical inclusion of therapeutic massage services in day spa businesses and that the City may want to allow for massage services in these day spa use types as discussed in Section E of the staff report. Staff explained that the massage ordinance is currently being revised and that these considerations could be looked at further as part of that analysis but also that massage services can be allowed in these types of uses subject to adherence of the massage ordinance. After closing the public hearing, the City Council voted (3-0) to conduct the First Reading of Ordinance No. 2025-01 for ZTA No. 2024-02. The second reading of the Ordinance is the final action the City Council takes in order for ZTA No. 2024-02 to take effect. Following the second reading and Council adoption, the ordinance will go into effect 30 days following adoption of the second reading.
Fiscal Impact:
None
Prior Council Action: January 21, 2025, the City Council voted (3-0) to conduct the public hearing and first reading of Ordinance No. 2025-01.
Other: N/A
Alternatives: Per Council direction
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to conduct the second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2025-01 for Zone Text Amendment No. 2024-02.
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Environmental Assessment Status:
The requested action would be considered exempt under Section 15061(b)(3), Per 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 commonsense 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.
CEQA Review:
The requested action would be considered exempt under Section 15061(b)(3), Per 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 commonsense 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.
Attachments:
1. Ordinance No. 2025-01 for Zoning Text Amendment No. 2024-02
2. December 9, 2024, Planning Commission staff report for ZTA No. 2024-02
3. Planning Commission Resolution No. 2024-70