PD BACKGROUND AND RECOMMENDATION REPORT

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PUBLIC COMMENTS PROVIDED 5. None as of the date of this writing. PLANNING ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACTS OF BILL 134 The intent of the Zoning Code is to ensure appropriate land patterns, maintain order, prevent conflicts, and promote harmony by regulating the density and intensity of land use. However, experience has shown that even the best zoning ordinances can become outdated. Over time, land uses that do not conform to typical patterns, zoning regulations, or designated purposes for an area may emerge. This leads landowners to request zoning changes from the Planning Department. For each application initiated by a landowner or other person with an interest in the property, the Planning Department creates a background and recommendation report that provides a comprehensive analysis of each change of zone request, including a summary of the request, site analysis, policy and plan compliance, impact assessments, agency and community input, historical context, regulatory considerations, alternatives, recommendations, and supporting data and documentation. By preparing these reports, the Planning Department ensures that decision-makers have all the necessary information to make informed and balanced decisions that uphold planning principles and serve the best interests of the community. Bill 134, in its current form, would necessitate the Planning Director to compile an additional report to assess the potential construction of new buildings within a quarter- mile radius of any proposed change of zone. This report will entail identifying and describing all neighboring properties within the specified radius, including their existing zoning classifications. Additionally, it would entail providing a comprehensive inventory of permissible building types under the current zoning regulations for each surrounding property, accompanied by detailed descriptions encompassing use types, densities, and other pertinent zoning standards. While generating such a report might be relatively straightforward for Residential zoning districts, it presents significant challenges for more complex districts like Commercial and Industrial zoning districts, given their extensive list of permissible uses. For example, staff can determine that for a 40,000-square foot parcel with RS-10 zoning, 4 lots with up to two dwelling units per lot could be created. However, for the same 40,000-square foot lot in the CV-10 zoning district, any of the -3-