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HEARING - To consider the recommendation for approval from the Planning Commission on Planning and Building Department, Long Range Planning Unit, proposed amendments to Title 120 (Subdivisions) and Title 130 (Zoning Ordinance) of the El Dorado County Code, and staff recommending the Board of Supervisors take the following actions:
1) Find Ordinance 5266 and Ordinance 5267 Statutorily and Categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under Sections 15061(b)(3) (General Rule), 15274 (Family Day Care Homes), and 15305 (Minor Alterations to Land Use Limitations) of the CEQA Guidelines; and
2) Approve and Adopt Ordinance 5266 to amend Title 120 of the El Dorado County Code - Subdivisions (Attachment C) and Ordinance 5267 to amend Title 130 of the El Dorado County Code - Zoning Code (Attachment E).
Funding: General Fund.
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Discussion / Background
On January 7, 2025, (Legistar File No. 24-2155) the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved a Resolution of Intention (ROI) directing the Planning and Building Department, Planning Division, Long Range Planning Unit (LRP), to initiate the preparation of administrative amendments to the County Code. Specifically, the ROI allows for administrative proposed amendments in the following categories: A) Minor corrections and text modifications for clarity; correcting errors, ambiguity, or omissions; and consistency; B) Minor procedural changes that are not controversial or clarify industry standard practice; C) State law requirements that allow or restrict by right uses; D) Incorporation of Director’s Interpretations of various sections of the Zoning Ordinance that have not been appealed; E) Consolidate or renumber previously adopted zoning regulations not included in the 2015 Zoning Ordinance Update; and F) Incorporation of implementation measures outlined in elements of the General Plan. In alignment with the ROI, a process was established by LRP staff to prioritize and consolidate necessary administrative Zoning Ordinance amendments on an annual or as needed basis, after which the bundled amendments would be submitted to the Director of Planning and Building (Director) to confirm that they qualify as administrative and fall within the scope of the approved ROI. Upon the Director’s approval, the consolidated amendments would then be forwarded to the Planning Commission (Commission) for consideration and potential recommendation to the Board.
On May 28, 2026 (Legistar File 26-0832), the Commission considered the Administrative Zoning Ordinance Update (AZOU) during its public hearing. While the Commission agreed that the majority of the proposed amendments were routine, the Commission discussed one (1) Director’s Interpretation related to allowable uses in the Research and Development (R&D) zone, specifically the classification of fulfillment centers as Industrial-Specialized uses that are not permitted in the R&D zone. The Commission expressed interest in a separate broader evaluation of R&D zone uses, noting this type of policy review extends beyond the scope of the AZOU and would require further Board direction.
Based on that discussion, the Commission forwarded its recommendations for CEQA findings and approval of the AZOU and added a third recommendation for the Board’s consideration. The Commission separately recommended the Board evaluate whether to establish an ad hoc committee to assess allowable uses within the R&D zone, with particular attention to the El Dorado Hills Business Park, and determine whether a future ROI should be pursued to initiate such a policy review. The item before you today remains administrative and does not include policy changes to the R&D zone beyond the Director’s Interpretation. Any broader evaluation of R&D related policy questions would require a separate Board-directed effort outside of the AZOU process.
For the current amendment cycle, the AZOU package includes proposed revisions that fall within the six (6) ROI categories and have been confirmed by the Director to be administrative in nature. The proposed amendments are provided in Attachment C (Title 120 Ordinance Revision) and E (Title 130 Ordinance Revisions), with further explanation in Attachment F (Proposed Summary of Changes). Three (3) Director’s Interpretations that have been incorporated into the proposed revisions are included in Attachment G, and Attachment H contains Urgency Ordinance No. 5136, which temporarily modified restrictions on the use of recreational vehicles as a temporary housing option.
Key proposed changes to Title 130 include restructuring specific zoning sections, removal of outdated regulations such as Ordinance 5136 related to temporary RV use, and updates implementing SB 234 to ensure family daycare homes are allowed where residential uses are permitted. Additional highlights include adjustments to certain permit requirements, updates to setback exceptions for small animal keeping, telecommunication facility public notification posting requirements, amendments to recreation-related use classifications, and updated parking standards for parks to be consistent with industry standard practice. The proposed update also includes an administrative procedural amendment to Title 120 reducing the number of map copies required for an application submittal from thirty (30) to five (5). The changes are more fully detailed in Attachment F.
The proposed amendments would become effective 30 days after adoption by the Board.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board may choose not to approve the 2026 AZOU. However, should the Board choose not to approve the 2026 AZOU, the proposed revisions to the Zoning Ordinance would not be enacted and existing code language, including sections identified for clarification, administrative cleanup, consistency with state law, and Director’s Interpretations, would remain in effect until a future amendment is initiated.
The Board may also choose to incorporate the additional Commission recommendation and direct staff to work with the Board to establish an ad hoc committee to evaluate allowable uses within the R&D zone, with particular attention to the El Dorado Hills Business Park, and return to the Board with options for a future ROI based on the committee’s findings.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
On January 7, 2025, (Legistar File 24-2155) the Board approved ROI 002-2025, directing the Planning and Building Department, Planning Division, LRP to initiate the preparation of administrative amendments to the County Code.
On August 19, 2025 (Legistar File 25-1386), the Board approved and adopted Ordinance 5240 (2025 AZOU), amending Title 2 (Administration and Personnel) and Title 130 (Zoning Ordinance) of the El Dorado County Code.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost associated with this item. Funding for the staff time associated with this item has been included in the Fiscal Years 2025-26 and 2026-27 Budgets.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on the Ordinances.
2) Clerk of the Board will forward one (1) certified copy of the signed Ordinances to the Planning and Building Department, Long Range Planning, attention of Patricia Soto.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
Contact
Thea Graybill, Planning Manager, Long Range Planning Unit
Planning and Building Department