Etna City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
72 USE PERMITS AND VARIANCES
§ 17.72.010 Administrative permits.
A.
Uses Requiring an Administrative Permit. Uses shall be required to obtain an administrative permit as specified in this section.
B.
Application.
1.
Application for an administrative permit shall be made on a form prescribed by the city clerk and accompanied by a fee established by the city council. If the applicant does not own the property for which a permit is requested, the application shall be signed by the owner of the property.
2.
No public hearing is required for the review and processing of an administrative permit.
3.
The city clerk or their designee may grant or deny an application for an administrative permit under the provisions of this section.
4.
Written notice of decision shall be provided within 10 days of the date of decision to the applicant and to all parties who submitted comments or who provided contact information to receive notice. The notice shall include:
a.
The application request as acted upon by the city clerk or their designee;
b.
The action taken by the city clerk or their designee;
c.
A brief statement explaining the criteria and standards considered relevant to the decision;
d.
A statement of the standards relied upon in rendering the decision;
e.
Findings as listed for each entitlement for the decision based on the criteria, standards, and facts set forth; and
f.
The deadlines, criteria, and fees for filing an appeal.
C.
Revocation. After providing a 10-day notice to the permittee and holding a hearing, the city council may revoke any administrative permit that has been granted pursuant to the provisions of this section upon finding any of the following, based on substantial evidence:
1.
Any of the terms or conditions of the permit have been violated.
2.
A law, including any requirement in this title, has been violated in connection with the permit.
3.
The permit was obtained by fraud.
D.
Appeals. If the applicant or any other person is dissatisfied with a city staff action regarding an administrative permit, they may appeal said action pursuant to Section 17.120.020 (Appeals of administrative action).
(Ord. 230, 12/22/2025)
§ 17.72.020 Conditional use permits.
A conditional use permit may be issued in the manner specified in this chapter for any of the uses or purposes for which such conditional use permits are required by the terms of this title.
(Ord. 230, 12/22/2025)
§ 17.72.030 Variances.
A.
The city council may approve variances from the terms of this title only when, because of special circumstances applicable to the property, including size, shape, topography, location or surroundings, the strict application of this title deprives such property of privileges enjoyed by the other property in the vicinity and under identical zoning classification.
B.
Any variance granted shall be subject to such conditions as will assure that the adjustment thereby authorized shall not constitute a grant of special privileges inconsistent with the limitations upon other properties in the vicinity and zone in which such property is situated.
C.
A variance shall not be granted for a parcel of property which authorizes a use or activity which is not otherwise authorized by the zoning district governing the parcel of property.
(Ord. 230, 12/22/2025)
§ 17.72.040 Application.
A.
Application for a conditional use permit shall be made to the city council in writing on a form prescribed by the city clerk and shall be accompanied by a site plan of sufficient detail to show the detail of the proposed use of land or building. Such application shall be accompanied by a fee established by resolution of the city council.
B.
Application for a variance shall be made to the city council in writing on a form prescribed by the city clerk and shall be accompanied by a detailed statement justifying a variance and plans and elevations necessary to show the detail of the proposed variance. Such application shall be accompanied by a fee established by resolution of the city council.
C.
The city shall have 30 days to determine if the application is complete and will give written notice of any additional information required to make the application complete.
(Ord. 230, 12/22/2025)
§ 17.72.050 Public hearing.
A public hearing by the city council shall be held within 45 days after the filing of an application for a conditional use permit or variance that has been determined complete for processing provided that compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act has been completed. Notice of the hearing shall be given in the manner set forth in Section 17.120.010 (Notice required).
(Ord. 230, 12/22/2025)
§ 17.72.060 Action by the city council on a use permit.
A.
In order to grant any conditional use permit, the findings of the city council shall be that the establishment, maintenance or operation of the use or building applied for will not, under the circumstances of the particular case, be materially detrimental to the health, safety, peace, comfort and general welfare of persons residing or working in the neighborhood of such proposed use, or be materially detrimental to property or improvements in the neighborhood or to the general welfare of the city.
B.
The city council may designate such conditions in connection with approval of a conditional use permit as it deems necessary to secure the purposes of this title and may require that such conditions will be complied with by the permittee.
C.
The city council shall render its decision on any conditional use permit within 35 days following close of the public hearing. Failure of the city council to render its decision within the period shall be deemed to be a denial of the application. The granting of any use permit, when conforming to the provisions of this paragraph, is an administrative function, the authority and responsibility for performing which is imposed upon the city council, and the action thereon by the city council shall be final and conclusive.
(Ord. 230, 12/22/2025)
§ 17.72.070 Action by the city council on a variance.
In order to grant any variance, the findings of the city council shall be:
A.
Because of special circumstances applicable to the property, including size, shape, topography, location or surroundings, the strict application of the zoning ordinance deprives such property of privileges enjoyed by other property in the vicinity and under identical zoning classification.
B.
That the adjustment thereby authorized shall not constitute a grant of special privileges inconsistent with the limitations upon other properties in the vicinity and zone in which such property is situated.
C.
The variance is not for and does not authorize a use or activity which is not otherwise permitted in the relevant zoning district.
(Ord. 230, 12/22/2025)
§ 17.72.080 Modification of site plan for which a use permit has been granted.
Any use permit granted pursuant to this chapter shall be conducted only in accordance with a site plan submitted pursuant to Section 17.76.020 (Site plan) and approved at the time of issuance of the use permit. In the event the holder of a use permit desires to modify said site plan, an application shall be filed for modification of the site plan for approval or disapproval of the city council, in accordance with the same procedure for the issuance of a use permit as provided in this chapter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, minor alterations of the site plan may be granted by the city clerk or their designee, if they find that such modification does not materially change the site plan or have the potential to adversely impact adjacent property owners and is otherwise in full compliance with all other provisions of this code or any other laws, rules, or regulations relating thereto.
(Ord. 230, 12/22/2025)
§ 17.72.090 Revocation of use permits.
A.
The city may move to revoke an approved use permit if: the use permit is not used within one year from the date of approval, in the event the use permitted is abandoned or not utilized for a period of one year, or the permittee fails to comply with the conditions of approval of the permit.
B.
Any use permit granted in accordance with the terms of this title may be revoked if any of the conditions or terms of such permit are violated, or if any law or ordinance is violated in connection therewith, or if the city council finds that the continuance of the use permit will endanger the public health, safety, or welfare.
C.
The city council shall hold a hearing on any proposed revocation after giving written notice to the permittee at least 10 days prior to the hearing.
(Ord. 230, 12/22/2025)
§ 17.72.100 Revocation of variances.
A.
The city may move to revoke an approved variance if not used within one year from the date of approval, or in the event the use for which the variance is approved is abandoned or not utilized for a period of one year.
B.
Any variance granted in accordance with the terms of this title may be revoked if any of the conditions or terms of such variance are violated or if any law or ordinance is violated in connection therewith, or if the city council finds that the continuance of the variance will endanger the public health, safety, or welfare.
C.
The city council shall hold a hearing on any proposed revocation after giving written notice to the permittee at least 10 days prior to the hearing.
(Ord. 230, 12/22/2025)
