Hillside Ordinance Updates (DCA-2021-2396), Ordinance No. 638-26

Hillside Ordinance Updates (DCA-2021-2396), Ordinance No. 638-26

The “Project” is an ordinance amendment to revise Chapters 8.20 and 15.52 of the Municipal Code, and amend the City’s Development Code for the purpose of revising and updating Chapters 16.08, 16.14, 16.18, 16.22, 16.24, 16.28, and to add a new Sections 16.24.080, entitled “Exceptions”, 16.24.090, entitled “Reserved”, and 16.24.100, entitled “Hillside Overlay Map”. The main objective for bringing forward these updates is that when the hillside development standards were originally adopted in conjunction with the Comprehensive Development Code in 1997, these standards may have been over time misapplied and misinterpreted by project proponents and City staff as it relates to project review. The proposed updates will clarify and assist project proponents and City staff in the implementation of existing hillside criteria within an objective framework. This would be consistent with recent State housing legislation. Also, it should be noted that individual projects will still be subject to subsequent environmental review and site-specific analysis. Additionally, the updates being considered under Chapters 8.20 “Nuisances Generally” and 15.52, “Grading, Erosion and Sediment Control”, are proposed to be modified for consistency and referencing with the proposed modifications under Title 16. The proposed action was reviewed for consistency with the adopted Negative Declaration for implementation of the Comprehensive Development Code on October 28, 1997, and the more recently benchmarked against the certified Murrieta General Plan Final FEIR in 2011 and Subsequent SEIR in 2021. These updates have been evaluated for consistency for the current “Project” proposal utilizing this Negative Declaration and the Murrieta General Plan Final FEIR and Subsequent SEIR in 2021 (SCH No. 2010111084), by the City of Murrieta. Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21166 and CEQA guidelines 15162, the City has determined that: (1) there is substantial evidence that none of the conditions requiring preparation of a subsequent Negative Declaration exist, and (2) the City will rely on the previous environmental document, which adequately addresses this Project. The proposed project would not introduce additional impacts or increase the severity of impacts beyond those already analyzed in the 1997 Comprehensive Development Code Negative Declaration. On September 15, 2026, the City of Murrieta City Council determined that the Project qualified for a Consistency Determination pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21166 and Section 15162 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, pertaining to Subsequent Environmental Impact Reports and Negative Declarations. The City Council subsequently conducted the second reading and adopted the Ordinance on October 6, 2026. The Ordinance will become effective 30 days following its adoption, which will occur on November 6, 2026.

Murrieta

Riverside

Citywide, Southern California

Riverside