Chapter 14.01.010
General Provisions
Sections:
14.01.010.020 Purpose and Intent.
14.01.010.030 Consistency With the General Plan.
14.01.010.040 Organization of the Land Use and Development Code.
14.01.010.050 Amendment to the Land Use and Development Code.
14.01.010.010 Title.
This title is known as “Title 14, Land Use and Development Code of the City,” and may be referred to as the “Land Use and Development Code” or “this title.”
(Ord. 1972, Repealed and Replaced, 02/22/2022)
14.01.010.020 Purpose and Intent.
The standards, guidelines, and procedures contained within this title have been established to protect and promote the public health, safety, and welfare of the people of the City, and to accomplish the following:
A. To implement the goals, objectives, and policies of the City’s General Plan which serve to guide and manage the future growth of Vacaville;
B. To preserve and enhance the aesthetic quality of the community, while protecting its physical, social, and economic vitality by orderly land use and resource planning;
C. To promote the stability of existing land uses which conform to the General Plan and to protect them from encroachment by incompatible uses;
D. To maintain and enhance significant natural environmental resources;
E. To promote a sound and diversified economic base which provides for and encourages employment opportunities for the citizens of Vacaville;
F. To manage the distribution of population in accordance with the availability of natural resources and public services and facilities necessary to support a thriving community;
G. To safeguard the public welfare through the regulation of the design, construction, and use of structures, and the implementation of the Uniform Building and Fire Codes;
H. To promote the development of a safe and efficient circulation system and ensure the timely development of public improvements; and
I. To ensure adequate consideration for urban design in the City development process so that new development enhances the image and quality of life in the City.
(Ord. 1972, Repealed and Replaced, 02/22/2022)
14.01.010.030 Consistency With the General Plan.
All actions, approvals, and procedures taken in accordance with this title shall be consistent with the General Plan. An application for a permit or other approval shall only be granted if the application is consistent with the General Plan. A request to amend the General Plan may be filed and processed concurrently with other applications governed by this title if it is determined by the Director of Community Development that there are no major conflicting policy issues associated with the General Plan amendment. According to state Public Utilities Code Section 21676(b), all proposed amendments to the General Plan affecting land within the airport influence area must first be referred to the Solano County Airport Land Use Commission for a consistency determination prior to action by City Council as stated in Section 14.09.110.070.
(Ord. 1972, Repealed and Replaced, 02/22/2022)
14.01.010.040 Organization of the Land Use and Development Code.
A. This title is a comprehensive compilation of the rules and regulations governing land use and development within the City. The Land Use and Development Code sets forth the procedures for the administration of zoning, subdivisions, grading, benefit districts, annexations, development agreements, and other land use related provisions. The Land Use and Development Code incorporates by reference, uniform construction codes related to building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and fire regulations. Also included in the Land Use and Development Code are ordinances specifically related to special land use policies and practices, such as the dedications and improvements and the planned growth ordinances.
B. This title is organized into divisions, that identify the general subject area. Each division is comprised of chapters, that include sections and subsections.
C. Some divisions within this title are intended to supplement existing state regulations which detail the project review and approval process required under state law. For example, the Environmental Review Ordinance is intended as a supplement to the California Public Resources Code and to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. As such, the CEQA regulations are described within this Land Use and Development Code in general, as they would pertain to development in the City. In addition, the Grading Ordinance supplements Chapter 70 of the Uniform Building Code. Therefore, the applicable divisions will specify whether the state regulations should be consulted for additional information on the review process and development related standards.
D. The Land Use and Development Code includes the development standards for parking lots, signs, landscaping, and other development related features. Also included are the performance standards which specify the conditions under which an activity shall operate.
E. The Land Use and Development Code provides for guidelines to be adopted by City Council resolution and incorporated into the Land Use and Development Code as a supplement. This procedure will facilitate the creation and the amendment of the guidelines, which may be needed to carry out the purpose and intent of this title. The guidelines may also allow for their interpretation and administration at the staff level.
F. Words, phrases, and terms used in this title shall have the meaning assigned to them in Division 14.02. Some divisions, however, may contain their own definitions of words used within the context of that division. The word “shall,” when used within this title, requires mandatory action; the word “may” is permissive and “should” is discretionary.
(Ord. 1972, Repealed and Replaced, 02/22/2022)
14.01.010.050 Amendment to the Land Use and Development Code.
Amendments to the Land Use and Development Code shall be conducted as follows:
A. Initiation. Amendments to the Land Use and Development Code may be initiated by the City Council. The Planning Commission may initiate amendments for subjects which fall within their approval jurisdiction in accordance with Section 14.01.030.030. A private party may request in writing that an amendment be initiated by the appropriate body with jurisdiction over the subject of the request, in accordance with the provisions of Sections 14.01.030.020 and 14.01.030.030. If the City Council or Planning Commission determines that the requested amendment will substantially benefit a private party or parties, the payment of a processing fee established by resolution of the City Council shall be required prior to the review of the proposed amendment.
B. Planning Commission Recommendation. The Planning Commission shall hold a public hearing and make recommendations to the City Council on proposals to amend the Land Use and Development Code for which the Commission has the authority to review or approve the subject matter in accordance with Section 14.01.030.030. The Planning Commission shall forward a recommendation to the City Council to approve or deny the request to amend this title.
C. City Council Review. The City Council shall hold a public hearing on an application to amend the Land Use and Development Code.
D. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance. Requests to amend the Zoning Ordinance shall be processed in accordance with the procedures outlined in subsections A through C of this section, except that if the City Council modifies the amendment to the Zoning Ordinance, any modification to the proposed amendment that was not previously considered by the Commission during its public hearing shall be referred back to the Commission before City Council final action. The Commission shall not be required to hold another public hearing but shall report back to the City Council within 45 calendar days of the Council referral unless a longer period is granted by the Council. If the Planning Commission does not report back within this time period, the modification shall be deemed to be recommended for approval. Amendments to the zoning map shall be processed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 14.09.020 of this code. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance is subject to Solano County Airport Land Use Commission review if the amendment applies to land within an airport influence area and involves matters that may have airport land use compatibility implications as stated in Section 14.09.110.070.
E. Public Notice. Public notice shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.09.030.070, unless otherwise specified in the applicable chapters of this title.
(Ord. 1972, Repealed and Replaced, 02/22/2022)