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1 l l <br /> g� g � I <br /> REPORT <br /> — To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br /> From the City Manager <br /> � <br /> March 22, 2004 <br /> Subject <br /> Proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance related to Nonconforming Lots, Uses, <br /> Structures, and Parking. <br /> Recommendation <br /> Find that the proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments detailed in the Ordinance attached <br /> to this report as Attachment 2 are in the public interest and are consistent with the General <br /> Plan, and introduce the Ordinance. The specific recommended changes are summarized <br /> in the attached comparison table, in addition, the Planning Commission Staff reports of <br /> December 16, 2003 and January 20, 2004 explain the details. <br /> Background <br /> , The current Chapter 33 of the Zoning Code govems development of sites that contain <br /> nonconforming uses or structures. The term "nonconforming" is commonly defined as <br /> pertaining to site specific conditions such as uses and structures that legally existed priorto <br /> the established current zoning regulations or prior to incorporation into the City, but which <br /> do not conform to today's zoning regulations. Illegal uses or structures are not considered <br /> "nonconforming" as they were not legally established. <br /> The City of Redwood City's Zoning Ordinance has not been comprehensively amended <br /> since Ordinance No. 1130 was passed in 1964. Many amendments to the Code have <br /> been adopted since that time, but a significant number of zoning provisions do not reflect <br /> issues of concem today, and may in some cases conflict with other Code provisions as <br /> piecemeal amendments have been made in the past. Many of the current provisions of <br /> Chapter 33 are therefore not clear to staff and the public, and some provisions, related to <br /> the amortization (removal) of nonconforming uses and structures have proven to be legally <br /> unwieldy and thus, have never been applied. Additionally, nonconforming parking is not <br /> adequately addressed in the Zoning Ordinance, creating ambiguous circumstances for staff <br /> in reviewing proposals with nonconforming parking. Nonconforming lots are also not cleatiy <br /> addressed, except in particular districts. <br /> The City has contracted with Curtis Williams, a local planning consultant, to reviewthese <br /> provisions, compare them with the regulations of other ciiies, analyze options to address <br /> the current concerns, and work with staff to develop proposed revisions. Mr. Williams has <br /> also coordinated his review with Building, Code Enforcement and Fire Department staff, as <br />