Advance Planning Projects

Board Policy I-1 and I-1A Revisions

General Plan Implementation Zoning Cleanup

Design Review Compliance Checklist and Parking Design Manual

Design Review Compliance Checklists

Zoning Ordinance Update No. 29

Site Implementation Agreement

Ramona Town Center Plan

San Dieguito General Plan Amendment

Wind Energy Ordinance

Equine Ordinance Amendments

Residential Design Guidelines

Board Policy I-63

Groundwater Ordinance

Digital Billboards

POD 12-008 Digital Billboards

On September 26, 2012 the Board of Supervisors directed staff to work with local billboard operators, local community planning groups and any other interested parties to investigate options that would change the County's sign ordinance to allow the conversion of traditional billboards to digital LED billboards throughout the unincorporated areas of the County and report back to the Board in 120 days.

 Revised ordinance options shall include the prohibition of animation and not allow an increase in the number of billboards that already exist; and shall explore an appropriate conversion ratio of existing traditional billboards to digital billboards addressing impacts such as light pollution and driver safety.

Digital Billboard BOS Report and attachments

Heather Lingelser (858) 495-5802

Email: Heather Lingelser

San Dieguito Specific Plans General Plan Amendment GPA 12-008

The County’s General Plan adopted by the Board of Supervisors in August 2011 was comprehensive, complex and large in both scope and scale.  As such, it was anticipated that unforeseen inconsistencies and mapping errors would emerge during plan implementation that would require correction. 

The proposal is a General Plan Amendment (GPA) to correct inconsistencies with the General Plan Land Use Map, the San Dieguito Community Plan and approved specific plans.  The GPA addresses errors and inconsistencies relative to the San Dieguito Community Plan and four associated specific plans, including the El Apajo, Fairbanks Ranch, Santa Fe Valley and 4S Ranch Specific Plans.  The project does not include changes to community plan or specific plan text related to the Rancho Cielo or Cielo Del Norte Specific Plans.

Planning Commission:  March 1, 2013

Board of Supervisors:  April 10, 2013

Public Review Cover Letter

Proposed Community Plan Changes (strikeout - underline)

Community Plan Specific Plan Area Maps (to be inserted into Community Plan)

Maps showing areas of Land Use Designation changes to Specific Plan Area

Existing San Dieguito Specific Plans

Existing San Dieguito Community Plan 

Ramona Town Center Plan

PDS staff is currently in the process of working with the Ramona Village Design Committee and various stakeholders to formulate a Form Based Code (FBC) for the Ramona Town Center (RTC). Form based codes address the relationship between building facades and the public realm, the form and mass of buildings in relation to one another, and the scale and types of streets and blocks. The regulations and standards in FBCs, presented in both diagrams and words, are keyed to a regulating plan that designates the appropriate form and scale (and therefore, character) of development rather than only distinctions in land-use types. This is in contrast to conventional zoning's focus on the micromanagement and segregation of land uses.

The FBC for the RTC will serve as a stand-alone regulatory document intended for the development of Ramona’s village.  The FBC will be incorporated into the zoning ordinance either as a separate chapter or by reference.  The FBC is intended to be an all-inclusive regulatory document as to how the RTC can be developed.  Like the zoning ordinance, the FBC will include provisions on allowed uses, setbacks, height, and information on development process.  However the FBC will also focus on detailed design and architectural requirements, landscaping and provide information to applicants on required street and trail improvements so that applicant’s get a full picture as to what is involved in order to develop the site

The FBC for the RTC is currently being reviewed by the Ramona Village Design Committee and Ramona Community Planning Group.  It is expected the FBC could be presented to the Board of Supervisors for their review early in 2013.

Joe Farace (858) 694-3690

Email: Joe Farace

On March 28, 2012 (5), the Board of Supervisors directed staff to make the following revisions to Board Policies I-1 and I-1A: 

• Require training before community planning and sponsor group members are seated;
• Require annual training to group members either in person or online;
• Make legal defense and indemnification from the County dependent upon community planning and sponsor group members completing training and maintaining a good standing;
• Modernize Board Policy I-1 requirements for community planning and sponsor group management;
• Identify that when community planning and sponsor groups make specific requests of an applicant that such requests are made through the County Project Manager; and
• Create a meeting agenda template that all community planning and sponsor groups must utilize. 

In addition, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to return with options for a chairperson rotation process.  Lastly, staff is proposing to combine Board Policies I-1 and I-1A into one policy along with other revisions aimed at improving the process and clarifying policies and procedures.  

Public review: September 7 – October 8, 2012

Board of Supervisors: December 5, 2012

 

Board Policy I-1 Public Review Cover Letter

Draft Board of Supervisors Policy I-1 Revisions

CPG-CSG Chair Rotation Options

Public Review Draft Ordinance & EIR: February 4 - March 20, 2013

Planning Commission:  June 2013

Board of Supervisors:  July 2013

On December 7, 2011 the Board of Supervisor adopted a new Board Policy I-63 related to General Plan Amendment Guidelines.  The Board Policy establishes guidelines and procedures for the processing of amendments to the County General Plan.   The new Board Policy incorporates a flexible two step review process for General Plan Amendment requests consisting of an optional preliminary review and a Pre-Application meeting that is required pursuant to existing department procedures.   Additionally, in conjunction with the new Board Policy the Board will adopt an ordinance establishing a new flat processing fee for the optional preliminary review process.  The flat fee will become effective on February 10, 2012. 

On May 2, 2012 (2), the Board of Supervisors adopted the residential subdivision design guidelines as a reference document providing direction and guidance on how best to design residential subdivisions that meet the objectives of the General Plan, Community Plans, and Conservation Subdivision Program, while maintaining the existing character of unincorporated communities in San Diego County.  The Board also delegated staff authority to modify and update the design guidelines as necessary provided that the Board is notified of all changes and there is public review for any substantive changes.  Staff was also directed to report on the effectiveness of the residential subdivision design guidelines with the General Plan Annual Report.  The Board of Supervisors will give consideration to adopting the residential subdivision design guidelines as regulations after sufficient time has passed to identify any issues and determine overall effectiveness. 

Stakeholder Review:  January 26, 2012 - February 25, 2012

Planning Commission Hearing: April 13, 2012

Board of Supervisors Hearing: May 5, 2012

The Department is proposing amendments to the County Groundwater Ordinance provisions related to Borrego Valley (POD 11-006).  The proposed amendment would require applicable future projects to offset their proposed groundwater demand by requiring elimination of existing water uses elsewhere in Borrego Valley and creating a “tool-box” to implement the water offset measures.  Additionally, the proposed amendment will recognize water credits created through the Borrego Water District.

Currently, the Groundwater Ordinance (Section 67.720) requires certain types of projects within Borrego Valley to perform a groundwater investigation to evaluate whether the project will have adequate groundwater resources.  Rather than require a groundwater investigation to summarize what is already known about the overdraft condition in Borrego Valley, the Groundwater Ordinance amendment will replace the requirement for a groundwater investigation with the requirement for water use offset measures.  This change to the process will lead to cost and time savings to project applicants by not having to perform a groundwater investigation.

Public Review:  September 12, 2011 -  October 28, 2011

Board of Supervisors:  January 30, 2013

 

Draft Ordinance
 

Draft Memorandum of Agreement between County of San Diego and Borrego Water District

Assumptions for Water Calculations

On February 6, 2013 (2), the Board of Supervisors adopted a comprehensive update to the off-street parking regulations in the Zoning Ordinance.  The County’s off-street parking regulations, which have not been updated since 1985, were not consistent with contemporary requirements for parking area design and did not adequately address a broad range of land uses.  A comprehensive update to the off-street parking regulations was needed to reflect current and reasonable parking requirements for the various land use types that exist throughout the unincorporated County; to improve upon the organization of the parking standards to make them easier to read, understand, and enforce; to incorporate new standards for parking design and sustainability, such as requiring electric vehicle parking; and to help implement General Plan goals and policies.

Public Review:  March 23, 2012 - April 23, 2012

Planning Commission Hearing:  June 8, 2012

Board of Supervisors Hearing: February 6, 2013

Marcus Lubich (858) 694-8847

Email:  Marcus Lubich

During the Summer of 2013, the Board of Supervisors will consider adoption of a Zoning Ordinance Amendment (POD 11-005) creating a new community design review checklist procedure.  The proposed Design Review Checklists contain clear, objective design standards based on the community design guidelines that have been adopted for each community.  The checklists establish a level of transparency that allows applicants to know exactly what is needed in order to secure approval of their permit.  From the community’s perspective, projects that comply with the checklists will be consistent with established adopted community design guidelines.  Projects that comply with the checklists would receive a waiver to the Site Plan Permit process and would only require a ministerial permit. 

The new procedure requires the creation of design review compliance checklists for each of the nine communities with existing Community Design Guidelines.  The Fallbrook Design Review Checklist was out for public review in March 2012 and the Ramona Design Review Checklist will be processed concurrently with the Ramona Town Center project.  Design Review Checklists for the remaining seven communities are being prepared at this time and will be presented to the Board of Supervisors by the Summer of 2013.  The remaining communities include Alpine, Bonsall, I-15 Corridor, Lakeside, Spring Valley, Sweetwater, and Valley Center.

Community Planning Group/Design Review Board Review:
June 27, 2012 to August 13, 2012

Public Review: October 1, 2012 to October 31, 2012

Planning Commission:  June 2013

Board of Supervisors:  July 2013

Zoning Ordinance Amendments Information Copy
Zoning Ordinance Amendments Clean Copy
Alpine Design Review Checklist
Bonsall Design Review Checklist

Fallbrook Design Review Checklist
I-15 Design Review Checklist
Lakeside Design Review Checklist Commercial
Lakeside Design Review Checklist Industrial
Lakeside Design Review Checklist Multifamily
Lakeside Design Review Checklist Town Center

Ramona Design Review Checklist
Spring Valley Design Review Checklist
Sweetwater Design Review Checklist
Valley Center Design Review Checklist

 

Marcus Lubich (858) 694-8847

Email:  Marcus Lubich

This Policy and Ordinance Development project (POD 11-004) is an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance and the County Code.  Proposed amendments will include the addition of definitions, and minor revisions to various sections of the ordinance.  This action also proposes to make minor changes to the County Regulatory Code and the County Administrative Code.  

Ordinance Summary

Planning Commission Hearing Report with Attachments
 

Adopted Zoning Ordinance Amendments (Ord. No. 10204),
effective April 27, 2012

Adopted County Code and Administrative Code Amendments
(Ord. No. 10211), effective June 1, 2012

 

Topic:

Wind Energy Ordinance, POD 10-007

Summary:

Wind Energy Ordinance and General Plan Amendment
The Wind Energy Ordinance project is an amendment to the County of San Diego Zoning Ordinance consisting of clarifications, deletions, and revisions to provide an updated set of definitions, procedures, and standards for review and permitting of wind turbines and meteorological testing (MET) facilities. The project also includes a General Plan Amendment to modify the Boulevard Community Plan to allow more flexibility for large wind turbine projects and an amendment to the Borrego Springs Community Plan to allow more flexibility for small turbine projects.  

The draft Environmental Impact Report(EIR) was circulated for public review November 8, 2011.  The EIR identified potentially significant environmental impacts to aesthetics, agriculture and forestry resources, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, hazards, land use, noise, and transportation/traffic.  

Status:

Wind Energy NOP Public Review:  September - October 2010

Wind Energy Draft EIR Public Review: November - December 2011

Planning Commission Hearings: April 13, April 27, May 11, May 18, July 20 & October 5, 2012

Board of Supervisors Meetings: May 8, 2013 & May 15, 2013

Links:

November 2011 Wind Energy Ordinance draft  Environmental Impact Report and General Plan Amendment

Planning Commission Agenda and Staff Report April 13, 2012

April 2012 Wind Energy Ordinance draft Environmental Impact Report with draft response to comments

May 11^th Workshop Agenda and Staff Report 

July 20th PC Staff Report

October 5th PC Staff Report

  Attachment A

  Attachment B

May 8, 2013 Board of Supervisors Meeting Report

Contact:

Matt Schneider (858) 694-3714

Email:  Matthew.Schneider@sdcounty.ca.gov