Council discusses comprehensive amendment to city zoning code

Council approves lease agreements at airport

– The Paso Robles City Council met for its regular meeting yesterday. The council discussed a comprehensive amendment to the city zoning code, and rental agreements at the Paso Robles Airport, among other items.

The council began with three presentations:

1. Constitution Week proclamation- Mayor John R. Hamon, Jr. presented a proclamation recognizing Constitution Week.
2. Hispanic Heritage Month proclamation- Mayor Hamon also presented a proclamation for Hispanic Heritage Month.
3. Community Services Department summer service update- Lynda Plescia, Recreation Services Manager, and Eric Lashley, City Librarian, provided an update on the department’s summer services.

The consent agenda was approved unanimously.

A public hearing was held for a tentative map amendment for an area of the Olsen Ranch Tract. Community Development Director Warren Frace led the presentation and recommended that the item be continued to the next meeting on Oct. 1, as the applicant reportedly needed more time to get together the correct paperwork.

The second public hearing held Tuesday night was to discuss a comprehensive amendment to the city’s zoning code.

The proposed amendment included changes to municipal code titles 2 (administration and personnel), 3 (revenue and finance), 5 (permits and regulations), 7 (health and sanitation), 8 (animal control), 9 (public safety), 10 (vegetation), 12 (vehicles and traffic), 14 (water and sewers), 19 (signs), and 22 (subdivisions) for consistency with amendments to the zoning code.

It has been over 40 years since the last zoning update. Approximately 60 percent of the zoning code will remain the same, but the code overall has many proposed changes and will be reorganized.

The council discussed the proposed changes at length. Councilmembers found issues with sections related to rules for commercial vehicles, the number of animals allowed for home occupations such as pet-sitting services, rules for food trucks, and rules regarding removing oak trees.

Councilmembers expressed the desire for changes in the number of animals allowed per residence in order to facilitate home occupations such as pet sitting, keeping in mind that many pet sitters have pets of their own. Currently, the limit is three animals per residence. The council discussed increasing the allowance to six. Councilmembers also discussed the number of commercial vehicles allowed to be parked in driveways and on city streets, and the proposed changes to oak tree removal rules.

The council unanimously voted to push the changes back to the planning commission and to not approve the amended code at this time. The amendment is expected to return to the council for approval in six months.

The council also unanimously approved rental agreements with Joe’s One-Niner Diner, Soar Paso, and Mercy Air at the Paso Robles Airport, as well as approved the lease agreement with Loyd’s Aviation for full Fixed Based Operator services at the airport 4-1. Councilmember Chris Bausch voted no.

Watch the full meeting on YouTube below: