Title
Staff Report Regarding Discussion of a Potential Merger of the Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Adjustments
Body
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION
Merging the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustments would result in measurable efficiency and cost-saving benefits and would bring the City's entitlement process in line with the majority of other cities and counties in California. For these reasons, Staff recommends a motion from the Rules Committee in support of a merger and for the item to be brought before the City Council for further consideration.
BACKGROUND AND AUTHORITY
State planning law (CGC Section 65900 et al) requires every city and county in California to have a planning agency, granting them the authority to establish and organize themselves with any board or commission deemed necessary to carry out the functions and decisions of a planning agency. This includes the ability to establish (or disestablish) a planning commission, board of zoning adjustment, board of appeals, zoning administrator, and/or hearing officers. Each of these bodies has a specific purpose and function defined under State law. If neither a board of zoning adjustment or a zoning administrator has been established, State law stipulates that the planning commission is responsible for their functions and duties (CGC Section 65902).
Of these bodies, a board of zoning adjustment (BZA) can be established for the specific purpose of hearing and deciding upon conditional use permits, variances and any other permits granted by local ordinance (CGC Section 65901). In San Leandro, the BZA has the added responsibility of approving certain Site Plan Review applications and Parking Exceptions. The BZA primarily decides on current planning applications and, in most instances, is the final deciding authority.
In San Leandro, the Planning Commission (PC) primarily serves as a recommending body focused on long-range planning and complex applications. The PC makes recommend...
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