17.50.020 Discretionary permits and actions.
A. Administrative Permits and Actions. Except when combined with legislative actions or other nonadministrative actions defined in this section, the planning director or his designee is the designated review authority for the permits and actions listed below.
B. The planning director may grant an exception to any of the standards pertaining to an application under his review where a documented hardship not involving economics exists, or where there are unusual circumstances pertaining to the property, and where the proposed exception would not be detrimental to public health and safety in the neighborhood where the property is located. In addition, the director, at the director’s sole discretion, may elevate the level of review to a higher review authority.
1. Administrative Zone Regulation Modifications. An administrative action granting exception to certain specified zone development standards in cases where strict compliance would result in a hardship as specified in Section 17.52.100.
2. Density Bonus. An administrative action intended to implement the housing element of the general plan and the requirements of Government Code Sections 65915 through 65918, offering incentives for the development of affordable housing for low and moderate income and senior citizen households, as specified in Chapter 17.32.
3. Determination of Similar Use. An administrative action determining that a proposed use that is not listed in this title is “similar” in character to one or more of the principal uses permitted in a zoning classification, as specified in Section 17.52.030.
4. Home Occupation Permit. An administrative permit authorizing the operation of a specified home-based occupation in a particular location, as specified in Section 17.40.130.
5. Reasonable Accommodation. An administrative action authorizing limited modifications to property regulations to accommodate a person with specified disabilities and physical limitations, as specified in Section 17.52.050.
6. Sign Permit. An administrative permit authorizing a variety of permanent and temporary advertising signs with specific provisions and conditions, as specified in Chapter 17.38.
7. Site Plan and Design Review. An administrative review and permit process providing for review of projects for compliance with site development regulations and/or architectural design guidelines adopted by the city, as specified in Section 17.52.060.
C. Temporary Use Permit. An administrative permit authorizing specific limited term uses in compliance with specified conditions, as detailed in Section 17.40.280.
D. Quasi-Judicial Permits and Actions. Except when combined with legislative actions, the planning commission is the designated review authority for the following quasi-judicial permits and actions. A public hearing is required for these actions.
1. Conditional Use Permits. A permit authorizing the operation of a specific use of land or structure in a particular location in compliance with specific conditions, as specified in Section 17.52.020.
2. Precise Development Plan. A plan approval authorizing the development of land that may not conform with all zone-driven standards in order to provide superior project design, while complying with the goals and policies of the general plan for a particular area, as specified in Section 17.24.050(D).
3. Tentative Tract and Parcel Maps. A plan approval authorizing the division of land for a particular area in compliance with specific conditions, as specified in the city’s Subdivision Ordinance (Title 16, Subdivisions).
4. Variances. An action granting exception to the development standards of this code in cases where strict compliance would result in a unique hardship for the specific property development.
E. Legislative Actions. The designated review authority for all legislative actions is the city council. A public hearing is required for the following legislative actions:
1. Development Agreements. An agreement between the city and a party with legal or equitable interest in the real property subject to the agreement, relating to the development of the property.
2. General Plan Amendments. An action authorizing a text amendment to the general plan or a map amendment to the general plan element maps.
3. Specific Plans. A policy and regulatory document for a particular area which provides for a tailored implementation of the general plan, as specified in Section 17.52.070.
4. Zone Change. An action authorizing a zoning map amendment changing the zoning designation of a particular property, as specified in Chapter 17.76.
5. Zoning Code Text Amendment. An action authorizing a text amendment to any portion of the zoning code including text, tables, and diagrams, as specified in Chapter 17.76. (Ord. 706 § 3 (Exh. A), 2019).