County of San Diego County of San Diego Resource Protection Ordinance & Grading Ordinance Community Workshops October 2020 10/1/2020 1
We Want to Hear from You! Me Meeting ting Pu Purpose • Share information on Resource Protection Ordinance (RPO) & Grading Ordinance • Receive feedback on proposed actions & options Tentative Project Schedule 20 Oct. 2020 8 Oct. 2020 9 Dec. 2020 Community Workshop #3 Community Workshop #1 Board of Supervisors Hearing Revisions based on 14 Oct. 2020 feedback Community Workshop #2 Submi bmit f feedback and comme mments b by Oc October 1 16 Email: PDS.AdvancePlanning@sdcounty.ca.gov Phone Number: (858) 694-2460 10/12/2020 2
Board of Supervisor Direction • Oct October er 10, 2 0, 2018 : : Report on Options to Improve Housing Affordability in the Unincorporated County • Acti tion on RR RR-2: Resource Protection Ordinance (RPO) • Actio ion LDC DC-1: : Grading, Clearing, and Watercourse Ordinance (Grading Ordinance) 10/12/2020 3
Project Objectives & Timeline Phase Phase 1 Phase Phase 2 Conduct Prepare Gather PC & Conduct Gather Receive CEQA Draft Stakeholder Board Research Stakeholder Board Environmental Ordinances Feedback Hearings & Analysis Input Direction Analysis We are here! 10/12/2020 4
Resource Protection Ordinance Ordinance Background Proposed Updates & Amendments Options 10/12/2020 5
RPO – Background • Adopt opted in in 1989 (last updated in 2012) • Restri rict cts impact cts to na natura ral re reso source ces s inclu ncluding ng: • Wetlands & Wetland Buffers • Floodplains • Steep Slopes • Sensitive Habitat Lands • Historical Sites • RPO PO now dupl plic icativ ive wit ith n new l loc ocal, st stat ate, and nd federa ral regu gula lations ns 10/12/2020 6
RPO – Three (3) Categories of Amendments 1 2 3 Consistency Consolidation Modification 10/12/2020 7
RPO – CEQA • All amendments must ensure environmental impacts are avoided or mitigated in accordance with state and federal law. • Require preparation of subsequent environmental analysis under CEQA: • CEQA Exemption (Exemption), • Negative Declaration (ND), • Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), or • Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
RPO – Consistency Align with Reduce Provide CEQA Review Consolidate Current County Applicant Consistency across Required Definitions Ordinances Practices Confusion Replace Floodway C-1 ND Definition Replace Floodplain C-2 ND and Floodplain Fringe Definitions Add Legal Non- C-3 Conforming Uses ND Definition & Exemption • Reduce applicant confusion by providing definition consistency across County ordinances • Align definitions and regulations to meet current County practices and terminology covered under other County ordinances 9 10/12/2020 RPO & Grading Ordinance
RPO – Consolidation Align with Reduce Remove Provide CEQA Review Current County Applicant Consistency across outdated Required Ordinances Practices Confusion requirements Remove Sensitive CO-1 Habitat ND Lands Definitions & Regulations Remove All Flood C0-2 EIR Related Definitions & Regulations • Reduce applicant confusion by removing outdated regulations covered by other County ordinances Provide consistency across County ordinances by removing conflicting requirements • • Remove language to align regulations to meet current County practices covered under other County ordinances 10/12/2020 RPO & Grading Ordinance 10
RPO – Modification Align with Reduce Pr ovide CEQA Review Consolidate Current County Applicant Consistency across Required Definitions Ordinances Practices Confusion Wetland nd D Definition Option ons Clarify how RPO Wetland Definition M-1 ND Relates to State/Federal Definitions Replace RPO Wetland Definition M-2 EIR with RWQCB Definition • Reduce applicant confusion by clarifying wetland definition to align with State and Federal regulations Provide definition consistency across County ordinances • • Consolidate definitions for reduction of conflicting terms and definitions Align definitions to meet current County practices and terminology covered under other County ordinances • 10/12/2020 RPO & Grading Ordinance 11
RPO – Modification Amendment Options Protect Higher CEQA Review Save Project Provide Project Eliminate Need for Wetland & d & Wet etland Buffer er Quality RPO Exemptions Required Time & Costs Flexibility Wetlands Regulations ons O Options ons Allow Mitigation for M-3 EIR Impacts to Wetlands & Wetland Buffers M-4 Extend County Road EIR Exemption Allow Average Wetland M-5 MND/EIR Buffer Width Conditionally Permit M-6 MND/EIR Trails & Pathways in Wetland Buffers Remove all Wetland M-7 MND/EIR Related Definitions & Regulations 10/12/2020 RPO & Grading Ordinance 12
Grading Ordinance Ordinance Background & Potential Options 10/12/2020 13
Grading Ordinance – Background • Adopted in n 1996 996 to regu gula late: • Movement of earth (grading) and removal of vegetation (clearing) • In Includes s lim imit itat atio ions to o ad address ss im impac pacts s to: o: • Sensitive habitat and other biological resources • Aesthetics • Archaeological resources • Erosion control • 200 2001 1 • Limited scope of exemptions for agricultural grading and clearing to enhance stormwater protections • 2003 2003 • Consolidated Grading, Clearing and Watercourse Ordinances • Established streamlined approval processes for agricultural grading • 2008 2008 • Addressed watershed protection and stormwater requirements • Must st com ompl ply wit ith st stat ate an and federal al require irements 10/12/2020 14
Grading Ordinance – Administrative Permit • Require res Admini nistra rative Permit for r br brushi hing ng, clearin ing, an and g grad adin ing • Single Family Residential: Can clear up to 5 acres by right • Typical cost ranges from $20,000 to $50,000 • Since nce 20 2012: 12: • 53 applications submitted • 23 applications withdrawn 10/12/2020 15
Grading Ordinance & MSCP South County North County East County Plan Plan Plan Adopted in 1997 In Process Future • Agricultural Clearing Exemption if: • Lengthy and complex • Not within Pre-Approved effort • Budget and Mitigation Area or Floodplain • Competing priorities Staffing • Consistent with BMO • Changing legislation constraints • Agricultural clearing allowed for up and guidelines to 3,000 acres total Grading Ordinance Options are consistent with MSCP and will identify mitigations which will save time and costs to future applicants 10/12/2020 16
Grading – CEQA • Both options must ensure environmental impacts are avoided or mitigated in accordance with state and federal law. • Require preparation of Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) under CEQA: • Identify impacts and mitigations • Prepare findings and overrides for significant impacts that cannot be mitigated • Mitigation could include: • Setting Land Aside to mitigate impacts to habitats • Future programs to mitigate grading impacts • Habitat Conservation Programs
Grading Ordinance – Options 1 2 Waiver Exemption 10/12/2020 18
Grading Ordinance – Options Requires Permit Allows Self- Preparation of Occurs By-Right Certification Streamlining PEIR G-1 Waiver G-2 Exemption 10/12/2020 19
RPO & Grading Ordinance – Potential Options RPO: O: Grad Grading O ing Ordinanc inance: • Floodway/Floodplain Definitions • Waiver Consistency & Nonconforming • Exemption Uses • Remove All Sensitive Habitat Lands and Flood Definitions & Regulations • Wetland & Wetland Buffer Options 10/12/2020 20
Questions? • Email: Pds.AdvancePlanning@sdcounty.ca.gov • Phone: (858) 694-2460 10/12/2020 21
County of San Diego County of San Diego Resource Protection Ordinance & Grading Ordinance RPO Amendment Options Website https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/pds/advance/RPOUpdate.html Grading Ordinance Amendment Options Website https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/pds/advance/GradingOrdUpdate.html 10/12/2020 22
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