EDC Spotlight

Town Council adopts Ordinance No. 1179 on August 22, 2023, to allow Planning and Zoning Amendments to further Economic Development.  

In response to the San Anselmo EDC 2022 Action Plan Item No. 2, “Retain, Attract, and Enhance Local Businesses”, the Planning Department has worked closely with the EDC over the last year to identify strategies to “Achieve and maintain a balanced and complementary mix of businesses serving residents and visitors.”  The culmination of these efforts has resulted in the following changes to the Town's Planning and Zoning regulations:

1. New Title 10, Chapter 3, Article 3, Land Use Table 3A:

• Reorganized and Updated Land Use Tables that follow the names and classifications associated with the Northern American Industry Classification System (NAICS).  The NAICS is a classification of business establishments by economic activity (process of production) and used as an industry standard in Canada, Mexica, and the United States of America.
• Professional Offices will now require a Conditional Use Permit to locate on the ground floor with the downtown, C-2 Zoning District. Ground floor offices in the C-1 and C-3 Zoning District are permitted and do not require a Conditional Use Permit.
• The Planning Director is authorized to take action on Temporary Events on private property in all commercial zoning districts. A Temporary Event may include “Pop-Ups”.

 2. Modifications to Title 10, Chapter 3, Article 4, Development Standards Table 4A:

• Increased the residential densities in the C-3 and C-L Zoning District from 20 to 30 dwelling units to the acre.  
• Increased the Floor Area Ratio in the C-1, C-3, and C-L Zoning District
• Increased the height of buildings in the C-3 and C-L Zoning District from 30-feet to 35-feet in height.

3. Amendments to Title 10, Chapter 3, Article 5, Parking Standards Table 5A:

• Removed additional parking requirements in the C-2 Zoning District when there is an intensified or expanded change in use.
• Reduced Commercial and Residential parking requirements.
• Joint Use Parking provision for Planning Commission consideration of granting approval of underutilized parking areas to be used for other uses when the uses do not have conflicting operating times. 

 4. Repealed and replaced Title 10, Chapter 3, Article 17, Definitions, of the San Anselmo Municipal Code to correspond to the new Land Use Table 3A.

• Title 10, Chapter 3, Article 17, Definitions, has been replaced in its entirety. 

Ordinance No. 1179 goes into effect on September 21, 2023.

The Planning Department would like to extend a special “Thank You” to the EDC working group of former EDC Chair Jessica Rising, current Co-Chair Javier Fernandez, EDC Member Frank Gomez, and frequent community contributor to the EDC and economic expert, Richard Berkson, the EDC, the Planning Commission, and the Town Council for supporting these efforts.

Please contact Heidi Scoble, Planning Director at hscoble@townofsananselmo.org if you have any questions.