HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-09-08 - AGENDA REPORTS - 2ND READING MULTIFAMILY MIXED-USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDSO
Agenda Item: 5
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
.` AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: September 8, 2026
SUBJECT: MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE RESIDENTIAL OBJECTIVE
DESIGN STANDARDS (MASTER CASE 26-038) - SECOND
READING
DEPARTMENT: Community Development
PRESENTER: Zarui Chaparyan
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council adopt an ordinance entitled: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SANTA CLARITA
MUNICIPAL CODE SECTIONS 17.06.130, 17.11.020, 17.23.100, AND 17.37.030 TO
IMPLEMENT REGULATIONS GOVERNING OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS."
BACKGROUND
At their regularly scheduled meeting on August 25, 2026, the City Council conducted a public
hearing to consider a resolution that would establish city-wide Objective Design Standards
(ODS) for qualified multifamily and mixed -use residential development projects, in accordance
with California law. The City Council also conducted a public hearing to consider an ordinance
that would amend the City of Santa Clarita (City) Municipal Code to: 1) update the required
review processes for objective design standards for multifamily and mixed -use housing projects;
and 2) implement Housing Element Programs HP-2.1 and HP-2.2.
After hearing City staff s presentation, considering comments from the public, and deliberation
by the City Council, the City Council passed a motion to approve: 1) a resolution for city-wide
ODS for multifamily and mixed -use housing projects; and 2) pass the ordinance to a second
reading by a vote of 5-0.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
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FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
ATTACHMENTS
Ordinance
Proposed SCMC Amendments
Notice of Exemption
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ORDINANCE NO. 26-
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA,
CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SANTA CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE SECTIONS 17.06.130,
17.11.020, 17.23.100, AND 17.37.030 TO IMPLEMENT REGULATIONS GOVERNING
OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA DOES
HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT. This ordinance is a part of the
project contemplated by Resolution No. P26-04. Accordingly, Section 2 of Resolution No. P26-
04 is incorporated by reference regarding the California Environmental Quality Act. The
Community Development Director, or designee, is authorized to include this ordinance as part of
the Notice of Exemption for the project.
SECTION 2. GENERAL FINDINGS FOR MASTER CASE 26-038. The Findings and
Conclusions set forth in Sections 3 and 4 of Resolution No. P26-04 are incorporated by
reference. Accordingly, this ordinance is found to be consistent with the Santa Clarita General
Plan.
SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE SANTA CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE. The
Santa Clarita Municipal Code (SCMC) is amended as set forth in Exhibit "A," which is
incorporated by reference. New language is underlined; deleted language is identified by
stfi ethr-eu—g ; unchanged language is plain text; ellipses changes within a SCMC section are
identified by
SECTION 4. RELIANCE ON RECORD. Each and every one of the findings and
determinations in this ordinance is based on the competent and substantial evidence, both oral
and written, contained in the entire record relating to the project. The findings and
determinations constitute the independent findings and determinations of the City Council in all
respects and are fully and completely supported by substantial evidence in the record as a
whole.
SECTION 5. SUMMARIES OF INFORMATION. All summaries of information in the
findings, which precede this section, are based on the substantial evidence in the record. The
absence of any particular fact from any such summary is not an indication that a particular
finding is not based in part on that fact.
SECTION 6. This ordinance becomes effective 30 days after its passage and adoption
SECTION 7. The City Clerk will certify to the passage of this ordinance and cause it to
be published as required by law.
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PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this th day of , 2026.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
DATE:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
I, Melody Bartlette, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Ordinance No. 26- was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a
regular meeting of the City Council on the th day of 2026. That thereafter, said
ordinance was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the th
day of 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
AND I FURTHER CERTIFY that the foregoing is the original of Ordinance No. 26-_
and was published in The Signal newspaper in accordance with State Law (G.C. 40806).
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CITY CLERK
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Exhibit A
17.06.130 Findings and Decision.
B. Required Findings. The review authority may approve the application only after the
applicant substantiates the following required findings:
The proposal is consistent with the General Plan;
2. The proposal is allowed within the applicable underlying zone and complies with all
other applicable provisions of this code;
3. The proposal will not endanger, jeopardize, or otherwise constitute a hazard to the
public convenience, health, interest, safety, or general welfare, or be materially
detrimental or injurious to the improvements, persons, property, or uses in the vicinity
and zone in which the property is located; and
4. The proposal is physically suitable for the site. The factors related to the proposal's
physical suitability for the site include, without limitation, the following:
a. For projects that are not multi -family or mixed -use housing, the design,
location, shape, size, and operating characteristics are suitable for the proposed
use.
Multi -family and mixed -use housing projects must comply with Objective
Design Standards;
b. The highways or streets that provide access to the site are of sufficient width
and are improved as necessary to carry the kind and quantity of traffic such
proposal would generate;
c. Public protection services (e.g., Fire protection, Sheriff protection) are
readily available; and
d. Providing utilities (e.g., potable water, schools, solid waste collection and 0
disposal, storm drainage, wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal) is c
adequate to serve the site.
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§ 17.11.020 Definitions. U
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"Obiective Desian Standards" are zonina. subdivision. and desian review standards that
regulate the location, form, site layout, and appearance of multifamily and mixed -use
residential development that are verifiable by reference to a uniform benchmark.
Objective design standards may be contained in this code, specific plans, overlay Packet Pg. 41
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zones, subdivision and landscaping requirements, or other applicable land development
regulations adopted by the City Council, and apply only to the extent they are stated
with sufficient clarity that compliance can be determined in a purely ministerial manner.
17.23.100 Administrative Permit.
B. Applicability.
1. To safeguard and enhance the appearance and quality of development in the City,
administrative permit approval is required before the building official issues any building
permit for new single-family homes, additions, and activities or construction of
improvements which are permitted at the discretion of the Director. nr, �,lrrfinic+ram+i.,o
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2. An administrative permit is required for any multi -family or mixed -use housing project
that does not fully comply with the Objective Design Standards.
3. Requests for an administrative permit are filed as a Class II application,
subject to this chapter.
17.37.030 Specific Plan (SP) Zone.
The specific plan zoning designation identifies lands in the planning area that are
governed by an adopted specific plan. Specific allowable uses, maximum intensity
standards, and development standards are determined by the adopted specific plan.
Development within a specific plan that includes multi -family or mixed -use housing must
comply with the Objective Design Standards. Where a specific plan established design
requirements more restrictive than the Objective Design Standards, the more restrictive
standards apply.
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Proposed SCMC Amendments — Clean Version
17.06.130 Findings and Decision.
B. Required Findings. The review authority may approve the application only after the
applicant substantiates the following required findings:
The proposal is consistent with the General Plan;
2. The proposal is allowed within the applicable underlying zone and complies with all
other applicable provisions of this code;
3. The proposal will not endanger, jeopardize, or otherwise constitute a hazard to the
public convenience, health, interest, safety, or general welfare, or be materially
detrimental or injurious to the improvements, persons, property, or uses in the vicinity
and zone in which the property is located; and
4. The proposal is physically suitable for the site. The factors related to the proposal's
physical suitability for the site include, without limitation, the following:
a. For projects that are not multi -family or mixed -use housing, the design,
location, shape, size, and operating characteristics are suitable for the proposed
use.
Multi -family and mixed -use housing projects must comply with Objective
Design Standards;
b. The highways or streets that provide access to the site are of sufficient width
and are improved as necessary to carry the kind and quantity of traffic such
proposal would generate;
c. Public protection services (e.g., Fire protection, Sheriff protection) are
readily available; and
d. Providing utilities (e.g., potable water, schools, solid waste collection and
disposal, storm drainage, wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal) is
adequate to serve the site.
§ 17.11.020 Definitions.
"Objective Design Standards" are zoning, subdivision, and design review standards that
regulate the location, form, site layout, and appearance of multifamily and mixed -use a
residential development that are verifiable by reference to a uniform benchmark.
Objective design standards may be contained in this code, specific plans, overlay Packet Pg. 43
5.b
zones, subdivision and landscaping requirements, or other applicable land development
regulations adopted by the City Council, and apply only to the extent they are stated
with sufficient clarity that compliance can be determined in a purely ministerial manner.
17.23.100 Administrative Permit.
B. Applicability.
1. To safeguard and enhance the appearance and quality of development in the City,
administrative permit approval is required before the building official issues any building
permit for new single-family homes, additions, and activities or construction of
improvements which are permitted at the discretion of the Director. An administrative
permit shall be filed as a Class II application, subject to this chapter.
2. An administrative permit is required for any multi -family or mixed -use housing project
that does not fully comply with the Objective Design Standards.
3. Requests for an administrative permit are filed as a Class II application,
subject to this chapter.
17.37.030 Specific Plan (SP) Zone.
The specific plan zoning designation identifies lands in the planning area that are
governed by an adopted specific plan. Specific allowable uses, maximum intensity
standards, and development standards are determined by the adopted specific plan.
Development within a specific plan that includes multi -family or mixed -use housing must
comply with the Objective Design Standards. Where a specific plan established design
requirements more restrictive than the Objective Design Standards, the more restrictive
standards apply.
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NOTICE OF EXEMPTION
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TO:
FROM:
[X] County Clerk City of Santa Clarita
County of Los Angeles Community Development
12400 E. Imperial Hwy., Rm. 2001 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Suite #302
Norwalk, CA 90650 Santa Clarita, CA 91355
[ ] Office of Planning and Research
1400 Tenth Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
04 g1,NTA Cz
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o�iQep is oECEMeE� �0�
DATE: [Date]
PROJECT NAME: Santa Clarita Multifamily and Mixed -Use Residential Architectural
Objective Design Standards and UDC Updates
PROJECT APPLICANT: City of Santa Clarita, Department of Community Development
(Contact: Zarm Chaparyan; 661.255.4916)
PROJECT LOCATION: Citywide
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The City of Santa Clarita (City) is preparing City-wide multifamily and
mixed -use Objective Design Standards and updating the Santa Clarita Municipal Code (SCMC) to
address administrative procedures for Objective Design Standards to implement the City's Housing
Element Programs HP-2.1 and HP-2.2.
This is to advise that the [ ] Director of Community Development [ ] Planning Commission [X] City
Council of the City of Santa Clarita has approved the above project on [DATE]. Review of the project by
the Department of Community Development found that the project is exempt from the provisions of the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
EXEMPT STATUS: A Notice of Exemption was prepared for the proposed project. The project is exempt
from additional environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines (14 Cal. Code of Regs. § 15000, et
seq.) Section 15061(b)(3), the common sense exemption. The activity is covered by the general rule 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.
Person or agency carrying out the project: City of Santa Clarita, Department of Community Development.
This is to certify that the Notice of Exemption with comments/responses and record of project approval is
available for public review at:
City of Santa Clarita
Community Development Department
23920 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 302
Santa Clarita, California 91355
(661) 255-4330
Contact Person/Title: Zarin Chaparyan, Associate Planner
Signature:
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