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City of San Leandro <br />Meeting Date: June 4, 2018 <br />Staff Report <br />Agenda Section:File Number:18-164 ACTION ITEMS <br />Agenda Number:10.C. <br />TO:City Council <br />FROM:Jeff Kay <br />Interim City Manager <br />BY:Tom Liao <br />Community Development Director <br />FINANCE REVIEW:Not Applicable <br />TITLE:Staff Report Regarding Discussion of a Potential Merger of the Planning <br />Commission and the Board of Zoning Adjustments <br />SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS <br />Merging the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustments would result in measurable <br />efficiency and cost-saving benefits and would bring the City’s entitlement process in line with the <br />majority of other cities and counties in California. For these reasons, Staff recommends that the <br />City Council direct Staff to return to the City Council with the necessary legal and procedural <br />actions for a merger of the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustments beginning in <br />2019. If so directed, Staff would then return to the City Council with a draft ordinance and <br />resolution as necessary to formalize the merger. <br />BACKGROUND <br />Under State law (California Government Code Section 65100, et seq.), every city and county in <br />California must have a planning agency with the authority to fulfill functions and decisions related <br />to planning and zoning laws as established by the City Council. The City Council’s authority <br />includes the ability to establish (or disestablish) a planning commission, board of zoning <br />adjustment, board of appeals, zoning administrator, and/or hearing officers. Each of these bodies <br />has a specific purpose and function defined under State law. If neither a board of zoning <br />adjustment or a zoning administrator has been established, State law stipulates that the planning <br />commission is responsible for their functions and duties. (Gov. Code Section 65902.) <br /> <br />Of these bodies, a board of zoning adjustment (BZA) can be established for the specific purpose <br />of hearing and deciding upon conditional use permits, variances and any other permits granted <br />by local ordinance. (Gov. Code Section 65901.) In San Leandro, the BZA has the added <br />responsibility of approving certain Site Plan Review applications and Parking Exceptions. The <br />BZA primarily decides on current planning applications and, in most instances, is the final <br />Page 1 City of San Leandro Printed on 5/30/2018 <br />224