Planning Commission Agenda Packet 102225 (1)

P25-0352, PMC Amendments Planning Commission 2 of 9 • PMC Chapter 18.144 (appeals): Modifying the appeal period and clarifying appeal procedures. • Other amendments throughout PMC Title 18 to align with the comprehensive overhauls noted above and clean up the Code. BACKGROUND In recent years, growing concerns have been raised by City Council members, Planning Commissioners, and the public that the City’s current application review processes are burdensome and not user-friendly. On July 15, 2025, the City Council conducted a workshop to identify its top priorities for the next two Fiscal Years. This direction was affirmed at the City Council’s August 19, 2025, meeting to include, as a priority project, amending the Pleasanton Municipal Code and improving processes to simplify permitting, reduce delays, streamline Design Review, and support business and retail attraction. Further, during the City Council budget discussions this past year, it was identified that the City would be making a series of budget reductions, including to “Internal Services and Operational Support.” With that reduction, it was stated that the City will return to a more limited neighborhood notice requirement, aligned to the requirements of the Government Code rather than the City’s current, very expansive, noticing procedures. Based on this direction, staff conducted a review and analysis of two key areas for potential improvement: 1) the Design Review process, and 2) the PMC’s noticing, appeals, and call-up procedures more generally. These areas were selected as a priority for assessment because Design Review applications are the most common type of application processed by the City, and, in staff’s observation and experience, the noticing and appeals procedures are a main cause of delays and extended timeframes in project processing. Permit Types Almost all projects involving physical changes to property require some form of City permit or approval. At a basic level, City approvals include building permits, planning permits, or both. Some of the key elements distinguishing these approvals are outlined below: Building Permits: • Typically, non-discretionary or “ministerial” in nature • Applications are submitted digitally to the City’s Building & Safety Division, which then routes the permit for review to all necessary City divisions (e.g., Fire, Engineering/Land Development, Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Traffic). • Review limited to evaluation for compliance with respective codes, policies, and adopted plans, typically based on objective standards (e.g., setbacks, height requirements; City-adopted public works standards; parking and traffic thresholds, Building and Fire Codes). • Public noticing is not required. Planning Permits: • Typically discretionary in nature, with approval based on compliance with PMC- specified findings or criteria. • Planning approval must be secured prior to occupancy and before a project can be submitted to the Building & Safety Division for Building Permits. The approval process varies by permit type, but may be either “administrative” (where the approval body is the