Chapter 18.90
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR

Sections:

18.90.010  Generally – Office created.

18.90.020  Zoning Administrator – Powers and duties.

18.90.030  Procedure for granting modification by Zoning Administrator.

18.90.010 Generally – Office created.

(a) There is hereby created in the City of Santa Clara and within this chapter provision for establishment of an office of Zoning Administrator. The position of Zoning Administrator is also hereby created.

The Zoning Administrator shall perform all of the duties and functions, and exercise all of the powers necessary for the operation of this office, as permitted herein.

(b) The City Planner of the City of Santa Clara is hereby designated the Zoning Administrator of the City of Santa Clara. The Zoning Administrator shall serve at the pleasure of the City Council, except that if at any later time the City Council wishes to designate a person other than the City Planner as Zoning Administrator, which it can do by resolution, such an action will have no effect upon the status, duties, and responsibilities of the City Planner as such.

(c) The Zoning Administrator may adopt such rules, fees and procedures as are required to uniformly and efficiently carry out the duties and functions specified herein, subject to the approval of the City Council. (Zoning Ord. § 45-1).

18.90.020 Zoning Administrator – Powers and duties.

(a) The Zoning Administrator shall have authority to grant the following:

(1) Permit minor modifications of the automobile parking space and loading space requirements.

(2) Permit minor modifications of height, area and yard regulations.

(3) Permit minor modifications of fence, wall and hedge regulations.

(4) Permit minor modifications of other requirements of this title not specifically herein required to be referred to the Planning Commission.

(5) A "minor modification" shall in no event be deemed to be greater than twenty-five percent (25%) of the dimensions of an area, space, height, or other requirement provided for in this title, and where the proposed alteration or variation exceeds such twenty-five percent (25%) of any requirement, the modification shall be deemed to be a "variance."

(b) In the performance of his/her duties, the Zoning Administrator may informally seek the advisory services of the City's joint project clearance committee, any advisory board or commission, or any department head in City government, including the City Manager, the City Attorney, and other elected or appointed officials. (Zoning Ord. § 45-2).

18.90.030 Procedure for granting modification by Zoning Administrator.

The procedure for granting minor modifications by the Zoning Administrator shall be the same as the procedure for the granting of variances by the Planning Commission, except that no notice of a public hearing shall be required for the granting of such minor modification. In the event the applicant or others affected by the decision are not satisfied with the decision of the Zoning Administrator, within seven days after such decision, a written appeal may be made to the Planning Commission. In the event that there is any dissatisfaction with the action of the Planning Commission, the applicant, others affected, or the City Council may appeal in accordance with the variance appeal provisions set forth in Chapter 18.108 SCCC.

Application for a modification shall be made to the Zoning Administrator in writing on a form prescribed by the Zoning Administrator, and the application shall be accompanied by plans and elevations necessary to show the detail of the proposed modification to the satisfaction of the Zoning Administrator. (Zoning Ord. § 45-3).