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Page 4 of 17 <br />City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org <br />second 1-year extension requires an applicant to submit building permit plans for review and pay <br />building permit fees prior to submitting the request. <br />4.Increase Length of Time for Nonconforming Structures to Rebuild –The Zoning Code has regulations <br />for nonconforming structures, which are structures that have been built legally to the then-existing <br />development standards, but do not comply with current development standards, such as height, floor <br />area, setbacks, etc. Currently, the Zoning Code requires nonconforming structures damaged in a fire <br />or other natural event to start rebuilding no later than one year after destruction in order to maintain <br />the nonconformity upon reconstruction or, if not, be rebuilt to current standards. Structures that are <br />nonconforming in residential zones tend to be older homes, potentially on irregularly shaped lots, <br />with nonconforming side or rear setbacks closer to the property line than would be allowed under <br />current zoning code regulations. Homeowners have noted to City staff that the one year rebuilding <br />requirement is challenging to meet given the time required to hire a design professional and <br />contractor, draft construction plans, obtain City approvals, and reconcile insurance claims for <br />financing. To address this challenge, the proposed amendment to Article 33.12 would extend the <br />timeline to start rebuilding a nonconforming home from 1 year to 2 years. <br />5.Zoning Administrator Review of Condominium Subdivisions – Currently, any condominium permit <br />with an associated tentative map or vesting tentative map must be reviewed by Planning Commission, <br />even if the proposed development does not otherwise trigger Planning Commission review. Map <br />review is a largely objective, technical exercise that is conducted by Engineering staff under the <br />purview of the Subdivision Map Act and the City’s implementing ordinances. The proposed <br />amendments to the Subdivision Ordinance (Chapter 30, Section 30.8) in the Municipal Code would <br />allow the Zoning Administrator to approve tentative maps, vesting tentative maps, and condominium <br />maps for development projects instead of the Planning Commission if the development project does <br />not otherwise trigger Commission review. The proposed amendments would streamline the <br />development review process and remove the public hearing requirement in order to expedite <br />development review for new home ownership opportunities. <br />6.Remove Utility Undergrounding Requirement for Residential Development – Chapter 18 of the <br />Municipal Code regulates local development standards for the extension and repair of utility and <br />street improvements for new development or substantial remodeling of existing buildings. Currently, <br />any new residential development of three or fewer units is required to place “dry” utility service lines <br />for the building (Ex. electricity, telephone, or television cables) underground. In addition, new <br />residential developments of four or more units are required to underground the overhead utility <br />distribution lines and remove associated utility poles, if any, along the development frontage. <br />Residential developments are provided with the option to pay an in-lieu fee instead of <br />undergrounding the utilities directly, which contributes to the City’s Utility Undergrounding Fund for <br />future City-led undergrounding projects. The utility undergrounding requirement can pose a <br />significant cost for residential development. The proposed amendments would eliminate <br />undergrounding requirements for all residential projects. <br />8.B. - Page 4 of 212 <br />319