|
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT The Planning division of the Community Development Department is responsible for the current and long-range planning of the City to ensure balanced physical development in accordance with the City’s adopted General Plan and to administer and enforce the City ’s adopted Zoning Code. Planning reviews and processes private development plans in the City, and enforces the Zoning Code. The Planning Commission and Design Commission are staffed by personnel from this Division. This is a list of some of the applications Planning receives, reviews and processes. The applicant’s guide and packet of forms for each can be downloaded from the Planning Division Forms Section in the City Documents Catalog. DIRECTOR'S HEIGHT MODIFICATION. Excess height up to six feet above the underlying height limit as provided in Section 11.45.050 of the Zoning Code, with the exception of light wells, may be allowed subject to approval by the Director of Community Development. DIRECTOR'S SETBACK MODIFICATION or REGULAR SETBACK MODIFICATION is required for construction within the required front, rear and sideyard areas. A preliminary meeting with staff will determine whether you qualify for the Administrative route which means staff will review and made a determination. The regular Setback Modification requires Planning Commission approval. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE. Lots in the City which were created without going through the subdivision map process required by the Subdivision Map Act, are shown on the tax assessor’s maps as “dash line” parcels. State law requires that Certificates of Compliance be recorded for these lots before building permits can be issued for any project. This is required whether or not the current owner and/or building permit applicant owned the property at the time it was subdivided or had knowledge of the subdivision action. COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM is a City-funded grant for partial reimbursement for exterior enhancements that contribute to improved aesthetics and appearance on Foothill Boulevard and other commercial streets. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (CUP) is required for new structures or land uses which are not permitted by right in the applicable zone, but which may be allowed after being reviewed by the Planning Commission. The Commission may place conditions on the operation or development of the use or structure, such as limited hours of operation, maximum number of persons, dedications, etc. DESIGN COMMISSION REVIEW is to encourage attractive and harmonious development of commercial and multifamily residential properties, and to ensure that development does not negatively impact adjoining properties or the community It is required for non-residential projects; residential planned development projects; city projects requiring a building permit; and projects referred by the Planning Commission or City Council. DESIGN REVIEW – SIGN ONLY. The City’s sign ordinance is designed to maintain and improve the aesthetic appearance of Foothill Boulevard. Andy sign that is new, or an existing sign which is to have a change of copy, color, material, size, or location must receive approval from either the Director of Community Development, the Design Commission, or the Planning Commission. DOWNTOWN VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN AREA – DIRECTOR’S REVIEW. The DVSP was adopted to create a pedestrian-oriented village and requires a different level of review to address unique issues. The Director is authorized to approve limited uses if they meet the Plan’s intent. The Director may request Planning Commission or City Council review. FLOOR AREA REVIEW is required for projects exceeding 4,500 sf on lots with less than 80 feet of average lot width. FRONT GARAGE REVIEW is required if your project involves construction of three or more garage spaces in front of the house, in which the overall width of the garage spaces, regardless of their orientation, is 35% or more of the lot width at the front property line, or for street side yards, 20% of the side street frontage. For example, on a 60-foot wide lot, a three-car grage 30 feet in width at the front of the house would require front garage review since 30 / 60 = 50%. GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT is necessary to change text in the General Plan or any designations in the General Plan Land Use Map. For example, if a property owner wanted to change the use of his property from residential to commercial, a General Plan Amendment would initially be necessary. General Plan Amendment requests are usually filed concurrently with other requests (Change of zone, Conditional Use Permit, etc.) and are reviewed through the public hearing process by the Planning Commission and the City Council. HILLSIDE
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT – PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING HILLSIDE
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT – ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING. (see
above) HILLSIDE
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT – DIRECTOR’S REVIEW (see
above) LOT LINE ADJUSTMENTS allow for changes to boundaries between separate, adjacent lots. Under State Law, Lot Line Adjustments are limited to four or fewer lots. Adjustments of more than four lots require filing a tentative map. No new lots may be created by a Lot Line Adjustment. All zoning standards, including minimum lot size must be met for a Lot Line Adjustment to be approved. Lot Line Adjustments receive ministerial review by the Planning Commission as a Consent Calendar item. SECOND FLOOR REVIEW is required for any residence that plans to build a new 2-story structure, add a second story to and an existing 1-story house, or add more floor area to an existing second floor. There are three levels of review, including two by the Director of Community Development, and one by the Planning Commission. All approvals are subject to the Residential Design Guidelines. SETBACK MODIFICATION or DIRECTOR'S SETBACK MODIFICATION is required for construction within the required front, rear and sideyard areas. A preliminary meeting with staff will determine whether you qualify for the Administrative route which means staff will review and made a determination. The regular Setback Modification requires Planning Commission approval. TELECOMMUNICATIONS PERMIT is required for all Personal Wireless Service Facilities sites built or modified after November 15, 2001. It does not apply to private, residential citizen band radio towers, amateur radio towers, television antennas or private residential dish antennas less than one meter in diameter. TENTATIVE TRACT MAP or TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP is required whenever land is divided. When five or more lots are created, by State Law a Tentative Tract Map is required. When four or fewer lots are created, a Tentative Parcel Map is required. A Tentative Map application is reviewed by the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission may establish conditions relating to the development of lots and the provision of public services. VARIANCE is required for new structures or additions which do not meet required zoning standards. Variances may be granted only for specific reasons including unusual physical characteristics of the property. The Planning Commission reviews variances and any approval may require conditions for the project and the resulting land use. ZONE CHANGE request is for a new land use which is not permitted in the current zone. Such requests raise significant land use issues and must be reviewed by the Planning Commission and the City Council. Typically, a change of Zone request must be accompanied by a specific development proposal. The Planning Commission and Design Commission are staffed by personnel from this Division. Community Development Block Grant Funding The Federal Government provides funding to communities for projects that provide a direct benefit to those households with low/moderate income. These funds are allocated by the County of Los Angeles and La Cañada Flintridge currently uses their allocated funds for two programs: Residential Rehabilitation Program provides financial assistance consisting of a grant of up to $10,000 for the performance of eligible repairs on qualified residential property. Repairs can include exterior or interior painting; repair/replace roofing; repair/replace windows & screens; plumbing repairs; electrical repairs; install smoke detectors; remove handicap barriers; sewer/water line repairs; energy efficiency repairs; remove lead-based paint hazards; electrical repairs; and other eligible repairs Sewer Connection Subsidies provides grants, up to $12,000 each to low and moderate income households. Work is limited to plumbing retrofit and hardscape construction costs associated with the connection of single-family residences to newly constructed sewer lines. The City contracts with LDM Associates to administer
the program on behalf of the City. For additional information, call 909-476-9696.
|
Community Development Department Building and Safety Office Hours |
|
© Copyright 2004-2006 La Cañada
Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and/or City of La Cañada Flintridge.
All rights reserved. Comments welcome. Statement of ownership & privacy policy available. Web services provided by The Internet:Works. |