Zoning Code Reformatting ORD17-0002
Summary
SCH Number
2021020486
Public Agency
Sonoma County
Document Title
Zoning Code Reformatting ORD17-0002
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/25/2021
Document Description
With the assistance of a code consultant, Permit Sonoma staff prepared draft municipal code articles that reformat and reorganize the land use and development standards in the Zoning Code to create a user-friendly format. No substantive changes were made to existing policy or regulations with the exception of updates necessary to maintain consistency with state law. On February 9, 2021, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance amending Sonoma County Code Chapter 26 (Zoning Regulations) to reformat, reorganize, consolidate and delete redundancies and make limited additional text amendment to clarify existing policy and as necessary for conformity with state law.
Contact Information
Name
Doug Bush
Agency Name
Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Sonoma
Regions
Countywide
Cross Streets
Not site specific
Other Information
County Wide
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
Adoption of the Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to the “common sense exemption” of CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3). The common sense exemption provides that where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. The proposed amendments to Chapter 26 Zoning Regulations are limited to changes in formatting, organization, numbering, and consolidation of redundant and outdated text. The Ordinance would not change the substance of land use and development requirements from what is currently provided under the General Plan, Zoning Regulations, related permits or guidelines, and controlling state law. With respect to the amendments needed for state law conformity, those amendments are narrowly drafted to ensure conformity with state law that is in effect and overrides conflicting local ordinance. Accordingly, because it may be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment, adoption of the Ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3). Alternatively and for the foregoing reasons, adoption of the Ordinance is not a project subject to CEQA in the first instance, because the action has no potential for causing either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. (CEQA Guidelines section 15378(a).)
County Clerk
Sonoma
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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