Title 16 (Subdivisions) and Title 17 (Zoning) Amendments to Implement State Planning Law and Provide Various Minor Zoning Changes and Clarifications (Case No. 2
Summary
SCH Number
2025120131
Public Agency
City of Goleta
Document Title
Title 16 (Subdivisions) and Title 17 (Zoning) Amendments to Implement State Planning Law and Provide Various Minor Zoning Changes and Clarifications (Case No. 2
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/3/2025
Document Description
The proposed amendments to Title 16 (Subdivisions) and Title 17 (Zoning) of the Goleta Municipal Code address State law consistency, remedy issues identified during implementation of Title 17, and provide clarity to existing regulations in Title 17. The topics for these amendments include:
• State law implementation related to Single-Family Residential Development Pursuant to Senate Bill 450 (2024), Community Clinics Providing Reproductive Health Services, State Density Bonus Law, Parking Waivers, Noticing for Changes in Allowed Uses, and Low-Barrier Navigation Centers.
• Minor revisions related to Fence and Retaining Wall Heights, Trash Enclosures, Inclusionary Housing, Projects Approved Prior to Title 17, Consolidated Expiration Dates, Stay of Design Review Board Appeals, Changes to Prior Permits and Approvals, Timelines for Design Review Levels, Height Modifications, and Automobile Uses.
• Other clarifying revisions.
Contact Information
Name
Andy Newkirk
Agency Name
City of Goleta
Job Title
Supervising Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Cities
Goleta
Counties
Santa Barbara
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
Citywide
Other Location Info
Citywide regulations
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
PRC §21083.3; CEQA Guidelines §15183, 15060(c)(3), 15378(a), 15378(b)(5), 15061(b)(3); GC §66441.7(n), 65852.21(k)
Reasons for Exemption
The amendments are not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (California Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et seq.) pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines (Title 14, Chapter 3 of the California Code of Regulations) because the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378(a) but it is an organizational or administrative activity by government that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment pursuant to Section 15378(b)(5).
The amendments are also exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because the activity is covered by the general rule which exempts activities that can be seen with certainty to have no possibility for causing a significant effect on the environment.
Furthermore, pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21083.3 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15183, projects that are consistent with the development density of existing zoning, community plan, or General Plan policies for which an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was certified shall be exempt from additional CEQA analysis, except as may be necessary to determine whether there are project-specific significant effects that are peculiar to the project or site that would otherwise require additional CEQA review. There is no new substantial information indicating that the impacts of adopting the amendments will be more severe than described in the General Plan EIR and there are no cumulative or off-site impacts from the proposed amendments that were not addressed in the General Plan EIR.
Finally, amendments to Title 16 and Title 17 to implement Senate Bill 450 (2024) are exempt from CEQA pursuant to Government Code Sections 65852.21(k) and 66441.7(n). These provisions state that a local agency ordinance to implement the provisions of Senate Bill 9 (2021), as amended by Senate Bill 450 (2024), are not a project under CEQA.
County Clerk
Santa Barbara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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