AgdaPkt 2016-05-23 Closed, Joint SA and PFA

Browse Search

8.B. - Page 2 Massage and Acupuncture Clarifications — On October 26, 2015, the City Council amended the Municipal Code regulations for certified massage businesses (Chapter 18A). This Chapter establishes a process, consistent with County and State requirements, to review and permit massage businesses within the City. The Zoning Ordinance has no use regulations for massage, and lacks clarity on whether a certified massage is a personal service or medical office. Staff has determined that certified massage is most consistent with a salon and other personal service businesses. However, acupuncture requires a license issued by the Acupuncture Board requiring specific education and training o practice and is most similar to medical office uses. Staff is recommending clarifying amendments in the definitions section of the code. Arbors - Clarifies that the side setback for arbors is the same as that of the main building and allows more than four arbors on commercially-zoned properties. This allows more flexibility for arbor placement and ensures that arbor setbacks are not more restrictive (6 ft.) than the existing building setbacks (10% of the lot width for lots less than 60 ft. wide). Extending Valid Permit Duration — All planning permits are valid for one year. If the use has not started, or building permits have not been obtained, the permit expires and the applicant must restart the application process. Several permits in the last two years have required new applications, requiring duplicative staff work and costing applicants additional time and fees for identical results. To increase staff efficiency and reduce inconvenience to applicants, staff suggests increasing planning permit validity from one to two years and creating an extension process that may be granted by the Zoning Administrator. This would allow for extensions to be granted if there are no changes to related zoning regulations. ALTERNATIVES 1. Recommend changes to the proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments. 2. Recommend denial of the ordinance amendments. FISCAL IMPACT No fiscal impact to the City is expected with these amendments. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW It can be seen with certainty that this project does not have the potential to create a significant impact. Topics evaluated by CEQA include: Aesthetics, Agricultural and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Biological, Cultural and Mineral Resources, Geology, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, Hydrology and Water Quality, Land Use and Planning, Noise, Population and Housing, Public Services and Recreation, Transportation and Traffic, and Utilities and Service Systems. The project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as the proposed administrative amendments and minor use allowances will not significantly impact the environment.