City Council Adopts New Development Code and Zoning Map
The final draft Development Code and Zoning Map was presented to the City Council at a public hearing on November 9, 2010. At this meeting, the two ordinances and resolution, which formally approve the Development Code, Zoning Map and environmental documentation, were read for the first time by the City Council. The second reading of the ordinances are scheduled for the Tuesday, November 23, 2010 City Council meeting agenda. The Development Code would become law 30 days after the second reading.
The final draft Development Code replaces the current Zoning Code, which was originally adopted in 1962 and last updated in 1991. The accompanying draft Zoning Map reflects land uses and vision established by the 2007 General Plan. In 2008, the City of Duarte initiated an update to the City’s Zoning and Subdivision sections of the Duarte Municipal Code (Titles 19 and 18, respectively).
The Zoning and Subdivision ordinances and Zoning Map have not been comprehensively updated in more than 40 years. As a result of piecemeal changes and fixes over the years, these ordinances are difficult to use, lacking in flexibility, confusing to both the public and staff, and internally inconsistent. The current update process is intended to create a modern, streamlined development regulation that will attract economic development, result in high-quality construction, and serve as a functional tool.
To assist with the process, the City hired the consulting firm of Hogle-Ireland. Since project start-up, at least twelve workshops and community meetings have been held, including workshops on zone districts, hillside, parking, residential uses and sign related issues. Furthermore, the City Council held a public workshop on September 14 and the Planning Commission held two public hearings in July and August (2010) to review the code and zoning map, and to receive public input. Community input from these workshops and meetings has been incorporated into the new code. The Draft Development Code is presented as nine parts, referred to as “Articles”, and Draft Zoning Map.
At the October 12th & 26th public hearings, the City Council reviewed the draft provisions for proposed zone districts, permitted uses, development and design standards administration and implementation of the development code and zoning map changes. At the November 9th City Council public hearing, the City Council read both ordinances (Council Bills 10-O-06 and 10-O-07 respectively) and approved Resolution 10-R-37, which adopted an Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Report (“FEIR”) for the Duarte General Plan Update and the determination under the California Environmental Quality Act that all environmental impacts related to the adoption of the Development Code were reviewed and mitigated in the FEIR. The second reading of the ordinances will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the Duarte Council Chambers, 1600 Huntington Drive, Duarte California. Members of the public are welcome to participate, ask questions and provide comments.
We highly encourage you to contact the City of Duarte Planning Division at (626) 357-7931, ext. 230 or 235, prior to the City Council meeting, to learn more about the proposed changes or to arrange to review the final draft Development Code. Copies of the final draft Development Code and Zoning Map are available for public review at the Community Development Department counter, as well as the City of Duarte public library. The draft document and map may also be viewed on-line from the following links:
Cover
Table of Contents
Article 1: Enactment, Applicability, and Enforcement
Article 2: Zones, Allowable Uses, and Development Standards
Article 3: Regulations Applicable to all Zones
Article 4: Standards for Specific Land Uses and Activities
Article 5: Subdivisions
Article 6: Nonconformities
Article 7: Permit Processing Procedures
Article 8: Development Code Administration
Article 9: Definitions
Final Zoning Map
For further information, please contact the Community Development Department at 1600 E. Huntington Drive, Duarte, CA, Monday through Thursday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
