The purpose of this article is to establish an Escondido business enhancement zone to induce and facilitate projects that provide significant public benefit and strengthen the image and appearance of the city of Escondido. Projects submitted under this section shall be evaluated pursuant to the criteria established in city council policy which was adopted by Resolution 2001-191 and most recently amended by Resolution 2006-56.

The Escondido business enhancement zone shall include those areas which are within and regulated by Article 16 (Commercial Zones), Article 26 (Industrial Zones) and any area approved for commercial, industrial, or office use under Article 18 (Specific Plans) and Article 19 (Planned Development) of the Escondido Zoning Code, and those portions of residential zones which have been approved for specific commercial use such as a bed and breakfast establishment or the downtown specific plan area. These regulations shall apply only to induce and facilitate developments within these zones. Nothing in this article shall relieve any applicant from compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act, the Subdivision Map Act or any other applicable federal, state or local regulation, including provisions of the zoning code for each of the articles identified above, unless otherwise stipulated in this article.

To accomplish the purpose and intent of this article, the city council may establish an economic incentive fund which shall be available to provide incentives for projects in the business enhancement zone. Funds shall be used as credit to reduce or eliminate otherwise applicable development or connection fees. The city council also may grant relief from parking, landscape and related requirements through the use of an administrative adjustment, expedite processing as provided below, provide for lot consolidation or street closure if otherwise permitted by law, and provide any other incentives which may induce and facilitate development which is consistent with the purpose and intent of this article. Any incentives granted by the city council under this section shall be fully used within one year from the time of approval unless extended by the city council. A request for extension shall be submitted to the city manager or designee and placed on the next available city council agenda.

In addition to incentives otherwise offered by this article, the city may provide funding for the aesthetic enhancement of developed commercial properties, which already exist within this zone. Such funds may be utilized for façade and property improvements, landscape and hardscape improvements, or other exterior aesthetic improvements in accordance with the program criteria and which have been approved by the city and will benefit the property and the area in which the property is located. Requests for funding pursuant to this section shall be filed as a separate submittal to the economic development and planning divisions. Funding for such improvements shall only occur pursuant to guidelines adopted from time to time by the city council and administered by the economic development division.

Those standards set forth in sections 33-335 and 33-336 of Article 16, section 33-569 of Article 26, section 33-765 of Article 39, sections 33-1326, 33-1327, 33-1328, and 33-1333 of Article 62, in Chapter 5 of the South Centre City Specific Plan, and Figure 11-2 of the Downtown Specific Plan shall be eligible for administrative adjustments. Adjustments of up to 25% may be approved or conditionally approved by the director of community development upon demonstration that the proposed adjustment will be compatible with and will not prove detrimental to, adjacent property or improvements. The director of community development shall give prior notice of an intended decision to provide an administrative adjustment pursuant to Article 61 of this chapter. Any applicant for an administrative adjustment shall pay a fee for such adjustment in an amount to be established by resolution of the city council.