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File #: 25-0459    Version: 1
Type: Public Hearing Item Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 10/3/2025 In control: Visalia City Council
On agenda: 10/20/2025 Final action:
Title: Ordinance Adoption - Public hearing and first reading of an Ordinance to adopt 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.
Attachments: 1. Attachment 1 - Ordinance No. 2025-13 for ZTA 2025-03, 2. Attachment 2 - City of Visalia SB 330 Application Draft, 3. Attachment 3 - CIty Of Visalia SB 423 - SB 35 Application Draft, 4. Attachment 4 - Full Text of Senate Bill 330, 5. Attachment 5 - Full Text of Senate Bill 35
Agenda Item Wording:
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Ordinance Adoption - Public hearing and first reading of an Ordinance to adopt 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.
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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 hold a public hearing and introduce the first reading of Ordinance No. 2025-13, to amend portions of Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning Ordinance) as to implement Program 5.8 contained in the City of Visalia 6th cycle 2023-2031 Housing Element pertaining to updating the Municipal Code.

Executive Summary:
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) No. 2025-03 is a city-initiated request to implement Zoning Ordinance text amendments that stem from the adoption of the 6th cycle 2023-2031 Housing Element Update. The Housing Element was adopted by the City Council on December 18, 2023, and subsequently found by State Housing and Community Development (HCD) to be in full compliance with state Housing Element law. Following adoption, the Housing Element is implemented through a series of implementation programs.
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. Specifically, this ZTA responds to implementation program 5.8 that the Element identified to be completed by December 31, 2025, with Items B and H being discussed with the City Council and Planning Commission at the August 19, 2025, joint meeting. The amendments listed in the implementation program are:
A. Allow transitional an...

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