Community Development

Planning Services is a division of the Community Development Department. Planning Services assists property owners, developers, and the public in matters related to the use and development of private property. This includes: providing information on the regulations and guidelines that apply to property and projects; reviewing and processing of building permits; providing assistance on project design and development; processing land use entitlements for private and public development proposals; and performing environmental review associated with development proposals.

Long Range Planning focuses on the development and implementation of the City of Ukiah General Plan. The General Plan consists of seven State of California mandated Elements and a State-certified Housing Element. Long Range Planning also develops, implements, and/or assists in the creation of special programs and projects such as the Airport Industrial Park Planned Development and creek master plans and the maintenance of the Zoning ordinance. Such efforts reflect current State law and modern planning principles.

What we do

Process land us entitlements for private and public developments proposals including major use and minor use permits, site development permits, advariances

Conduct pre-development application meetings for businesses and developers seeking projects in the City

Provide staff support to the Planning Commission, Design Review Board, Paths Open Space, and Creeks commission, Demolition Permit Review Committee, and Building Appeals Board

Our People

Budget Summary: Costs

Here is a summary of the budget unit in graphical form, illustrating direct costs and indirect costs. Click on the graph to explore greater detail of the unit's budget.

Budget Summary: Just the Numbers

Similar to the graph to the left, here is a summary of the budget unit, just the numbers. It illustrates direct costs and indirect costs. Click on the table to explore greater detail of the unit's budget.

Accomplishments

Work with Housing Division to complete update of Housing Element. Next (6th) Housing Element cycle will be 2019-2027 | Completed DEPARTMENT/DIVISION COMMENTS: Housing Element adopted by City Council on October 23, 2019 and certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development on December 5, 2019

Update Ukiah General Plan | In Progress I DEPARTMENT/DIVISION COMMENTS: General Plan Update was initiated in May 2019 and Planning Division staff have completed public outreach efforts to identify existing conditions and trends, as well as areas of issues and opportunities. Next, staff will be engaging with the community, Council, and Planning Commission to develop the vision statement for the General Plan and formulating land use alternatives

Work with the Mendocino County planning and transportation staff, Mendocino County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC), and Ukiah Municipal Airport staff to update the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP) for Ukiah Municipal Airport (UKI) | In Process | DEPARTMENT/DIVISION COMMENTS: The Technical Advisory Group appointed by the ALUC at the start of the development of UKI ALUCP and consisting of members of the ALUC, City and County planning staff, County Department of Transportation, and the City's Airport Manager have worked collaboratively with the airport planning consultant to produce an administrative draft. This draft is expected to be available for public review, including review by the City and County Planning Commissions and City Council/Board of Supervisors in late February 2020, with ALUC adoption of the document expected in March or April.

Continue organizing and digitizing documents, as well as updating information and handouts on website | On-going I DEPARTMENT/DIVISION COMMENTS: The department participated in a City-wide In-Service day and successfully completed a large amount of file organization and archiving. In addition, the Planning Permit application and other forms, as well as internal procedures have been updated and completed

Utilize customer satisfaction survey results to evaluate and re-design customer service experience. | Not Completed I DEPARTMENT/DIVISION COMMENTS: Although this task was not completed, feedback and input was collected from local and out of the area developers leading to a new implementation program within the City's adopted 2019-2027 Housing Element and awarded SB 2 Planning Grant. This implementation program, which is scheduled for completion by 6/30/20, is to design a developer packet and education program to assist housing developers in understanding and navigating the City's development process so they can more quickly complete their projects. Development of a customer satisfaction survey will be revisited in the future.

COVID-19 Budgetary Response

PERSONNEL

Being a small division (3 positions plus the Director), the freezing of the Planning Manager position, which has been vacant since April, has reduced the Planning Division’s ability to be as responsive to the needs of customers, particularly related to the processing of major planning permits. In addition to this loss in staffing, the Division has taken on administration and implementation of major CDBG and HOME housing and economic development projects and programs to bring in revenue for critical City activities. The Division has also pursued and secured planning grants. Our biggest concern is the ability to sustain this level of output, which also includes the 2040 General Plan Update and implementation of the 2019-2027 Housing Element, with reduced staffing and resources.

SERVICES AND OTHER OPERATING

The Planning Division has cut its non-personnel budget by nearly 40%. Contractual services have been cut 50%, with a plan to do more of these services with existing planning team members.

CAPITAL

The Planning Division does not have any capital projects. However, the Division is responsible for the 2040 General Plan Update, which although being delayed due to the postponement of a key community workshop, will be resumed fully (with reduced staff and resources) in 2020-21.

Future Objectives

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Objectives will be reviewed and adjusted throughout the year.

NEAR-TERM

Implement Housing Plan Implementation Programs due in FY 2020-21 as part of the Housing Element. DEPARTMENT/DIVISION COMMENTS: These include Zoning Code updates related to development of flexible parking standards, objective design standards, reduction of development standards, etc. intended to facilitate the production of housing

Initiate the implementation of activities funded through the City’s 2019 award of SB 2 Planning Grant Program funds for: Zoning Code revisions to streamline multi-family and by-right housing production Streamlining the permit application and submission process Development of building plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) DEPARTMENT/DIVISION COMMENTS:

Complete the update of the ALUCP for Ukiah Municipal Airport with Mendocino County planning staff, the ALUC, and members of the ALUCP technical advisory group DEPARTMENT/DIVISION COMMENTS:

Complete the update of the General Plan and develop standardized procedure for implementation and annual monitoring and reporting DEPARTMENT/DIVISION COMMENTS:

INTERMEDIATE-TERM

Complete the update of the General Plan and develop a standardized procedure for implementation and annual monitoring and reporting DEPARTMENT/DIVISION COMMENTS:

Pursue annexation, Sphere of Influence and Municipal Service applications with the Local Agency Formation Commission DEPARTMENT/DIVISION COMMENTS:

Update the Zoning Code to reflect vision and policies in the Housing Element and updated General Plan DEPARTMENT/DIVISION COMMENTS:

LONG-TERM

Achieve a reputation for providing the highest level of planning services and outstanding customer service DEPARTMENT/DIVISION COMMENTS:

Implement programs and goals in updated General Plan, Housing Element, and associated advanced planning documents and plans DEPARTMENT/DIVISION COMMENTS: