Inglewood, CA Zoning Ordinance

Amendments to any provision of this Chapter, including, but not limited to, the zoning or rezoning of any property, or to the permitted uses or densities of any property, or to the regulation of properties generally, shall be enacted in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article whenever the public necessity, convenience and general welfare so require.

(Ord. 2070 7-30-71; Ord. 2348 7-31-79; Ord. 2446 7-12-83; Ord. 87-5 5-5-87)

Proceedings to amend any provision of this Chapter or to rezone any property may be initiated in any of the following manners:

Written Application. An owner of property desiring that it be rezoned, or a tenant or lessee of property desiring same with the written authorization of the property owner, shall file a verified application with the Planning and Building Department Director. The application shall describe the subject property and shall specify the reasons for the request to rezone. Such application shall be accompanied by application and notification fees as specified in the Master Fee Schedule.

Motion of the Commission or Council. The Planning Commission or the City Council may, by motion, direct the Planning and Building Department Director to schedule a public hearing before the Planning Commission to consider any matter described in Section 12-99.

Initiation by Director. The Planning and Building Department Director may, on his or her own initiative, schedule a public hearing before the Planning Commission to consider any matter described in Section 12-99.

(Ord. 1887 11-4-66; Ord. 2348 7-31-79; Ord. 87-5 5-5-87; Ord. 08-05 4-22-08; Ord. 13-04 11-5-13)

Any applicant may request, in writing, an amendment to the zone change application at any time prior to the close of the Planning Commission hearing, provided that:

Prior to the publication of mailing of the public notice, an application amendment may be requested with no additional fee required. However, such request may cause a postponement of the public hearing date not to exceed forty-five additional days.

After the publication or mailing of the public notice, an application amendment may be requested if accompanied by an amendment fee and an additional notification fee as specified in the Master Fee Schedule.

No application amendment may be filed after the close of the Planning Commission public hearing. Any further amendment must be filed as a new application.

(Ord. 1887 11-4-66; Ord. 2348 7-31-79; Ord. 87-5 5-5-87; Ord. 13-04 11-5-13)

It shall be the responsibility of the Planning and Building Department Director, or a designee of the Director, to give all notices required by this Article, unless specified otherwise.

Zone Change. On all considerations for a change of zone, notices specifying the date, time and place of the public hearing, the location (street address and legal description) and the nature of the proposed zone change shall be both:

Published in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Inglewood at least ten days prior to the date of the hearing; and

Sent by first-class mail at least ten days prior to the date of the hearing to all owners of property located within a five hundred foot radius of the exterior boundary of the subject property proposed for rezoning, using for this purpose the last known name and address of the property owners as shown upon the assessment roll of the County. No alternative type of notification shall be used in lieu of individually mailed notices. This requirement for notification by mail shall not apply to tenants who are not specifically listed upon the assessment roll of the County. Such tenants should rely upon receiving notification from the individual or firm that is specifically listed.

Text Change. On all considerations for a change to the text of this Chapter, a notice specifying the date, time, and place of the public hearing and the nature of the proposed text change shall be posted on the City Hall bulletin board and shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Inglewood at least ten days before the date of the hearing.

The failure of any person to actually receive any notice of the type described in this Section shall not affect the validity of any zone change or text change nor prevent the Planning Commission or City Council from proceeding with the hearing or making a decision on the request.

(Ord. 2348 7-31-79; Ord. 87-5 5-5-87; Ord. 08-05 4-22-08)

Date of Hearing. Upon receipt of any application satisfactorily filed for a zone change or text change, the Planning and Building Department Director shall set the matter for public hearing before the Commission within sixty days. Otherwise, the date of hearing shall be determined by the motion of the Planning Commission or the City Council, or by the determination of the Director.

Continuation of Hearing. The Planning Commission shall hear the matter at the time and place set forth in the notice and may continue the public hearing from time to time for purposes of considering further evidence, or to consider an amended application pursuant to Section 12-99.2(B) of this Article.

(Ord. 2348 7-31-79; Ord. 87-5 5-5-87; Ord. 08-05 4-22-08)

In addition to any other considerations, the Planning Commission shall determine whether the following criteria are satisfied prior to approving any proposal for a zone change or text change:

A change of zone classification, or a change to the text of this Chapter, will be consistent with the land use designation and any other applicable designations of the general plan.

A change of zone classification will be appropriate for the subject property in terms of the adequacy of the site to accommodate land uses permitted by the proposed zone.

A change of zone classification will not constitute the granting of a special privilege to the property owner inconsistent with the current or designated uses or limitations of other properties in the vicinity.

A change to the text of this Chapter will not constitute the establishment of unique standards, offering special privilege to a particular individual or group of individuals, that is inconsistent with the general intent of the provisions of this Chapter or that may be detrimental to the general welfare of the community.

(Ord. 87-5 5-5-87)

Following the public hearing, any decision to recommend approval or denial of a zone change or text change shall be made by formal resolution and announced not more than forty days after the close of the public hearing. Failure to make its decision within forty days shall constitute a decision by the Commission for denial.

Within ten days of the decision of the Planning Commission, the Planning and Building Department Director shall have copies of the decision filed with the City Clerk and mailed to the applicant.

(Ord. 87-5 5-5-87; Ord. 08-05 4-22-08)

Except when the Planning Commission denies a zone change or text change initiated by motion of the Commission, all other recommendations by the Planning Commission shall be scheduled for a public hearing before the City Council. Notice for the public heating shall be given by the City Clerk in accordance with the provisions of Section 12-99.3.

The date for the public hearing shall be determined by the City Council; however, the hearing for any matter initiated by written application shall be conducted within sixty days of the date of the Planning Commission decision. Furthermore, when the Planning Commission recommends denial of any matter initiated by motion of the City Council, a public hearing before the City Council may be scheduled at the Council's discretion. The Planning Commission's denial shall become final, however, if the City Council fails, within thirty days of the City Clerk's receipt of the Planning Commission's decision, to set the matter for public hearing.

(Ord. 87-5 5-5-87)

At the time, date and place specified in the public notice, the City Council shall conduct a public hearing and consider the recommendations of the Planning Commission.

The City Council may continue the hearing to a future date to consider additional evidence or, at any time before or after the close of the hearing, refer the matter back to the Planning Commission for further study.

The City Council may approve, approve in part, modify, or disapprove the recommendation of the Planning Commission; provided, however, that any modification of any proposed zone change or text change not previously considered by the Planning Commission at its public hearing shall, prior to adoption by the City Council, be first referred to the Planning Commission for its report and recommendation, but no public hearing by the Commission need be held. Failure by the Planning Commission to report back to the City Council within sixty days after its referral shall be deemed to constitute an approval by the Commission of the proposed modification.

Approval by the City Council of any change of zone or change of text of zoning regulations shall be by adoption of an ordinance pursuant to the provisions of the Inglewood Municipal Code.

Failure by the City Council to make any determination within ninety days of the close of its public hearing shall be deemed to constitute disapproval of the matter by the City Council.