The following administration procedures are included in this chapter:

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003)

Part 2: Pre-application Process

The purpose of the pre-application process is to acquaint the applicant with any applicable policies and procedures identified in City codes and improvement standards, to identify significant development opportunities or constraints and provide written feedback to allow an applicant to understand the feasibility of a project.

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003)

(a)    The application shall be filed with the Community Development Department with any applicable fee. The fee for a pre-application shall be credited towards the cost of the formal application. A limit of one pre-application per year shall be allowed for each property within the City of Watsonville.

(b)    Submittal for a pre-application process does not constitute a formal filing of a project and is intended solely to assist the project applicant and City in the review of conceptual plans to identify major issues associated with a project.

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003)

Part 3: Administrative Review Permit

The purpose of the Administrative Review Permit is to assure, prior to establishment of an otherwise principally permitted use within an existing facility or new construction not requiring Design Review, that the provisions of this Code including zoning, parking, signage, and other appropriate State and local regulations are met.

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003)

(a)    An application for an Administrative Review Permit shall be filed with the Community Development Department along with appropriate fee, as established by resolution, by the property owner or an agent authorized to act on the owner’s behalf.

(b)    The Zoning Administrator shall review the application to ensure compliance with this Code. No conditions may be attached to an approval other than those directly related to ensuring compliance with established standards and provisions of this Code.

(c)    An Administration Review Permit is valid for a period of one hundred and eighty (180) days from issuance and shall expire if not acted upon within such period.

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003)

Part 4: Design Review Permit

(a)    Development subject to Design Review shall include all new construction, exterior remodeling, additions, or changes in use requiring additional parking, which involves structures used for multi-family residential, commercial, industrial or public purpose and are identified as permitted subject to Design Review in the specific zoning districts. No Building Permit shall be issued for a development subject to Design Review until a Design Review has been approved in accordance with this chapter and conditions of approval have been met.

(b)    The following uses are exempt from the Design Review requirements:

(1)    Interior remodels which do not result in substantial changes in the character of the occupancy or use or cause greater impact on traffic, water or sewer usage as determined by the Zoning Administrator;

(2)    Repair and maintenance of structures or parking areas constrained by the existing structure and not altering existing drainage patterns or easements;

(3)    Replacement or repair of a structure partially destroyed by fire, flood or other natural occurrence, when the repair of such structure is determined by the Zoning Administrator to be consistent with the design, use and intensity of the original structure and consistent with the Zoning and General Plan designations;

(4)    Reductions of floor or building area within a previously approved Design Review where it is determined that the modification would not result in a significant change in site design, building design, or functionality of the site;

(5)    Single-family residential development.

(c)    The following projects are subject to minor Design Review:

(1)    Expansions of multi-family residential, institutional, commercial or industrial buildings of less than twenty-five (25%) percent in total floor area, where the proposed expansion will not cause increased impacts on existing infrastructure and public services, as determined by the Zoning Administrator;

(2)    Changes in use requiring additional parking, where the proposed parking can be accommodated, and the use will not cause increased impacts on existing infrastructure and public services, as determined by the Zoning Administrator, and the use is proposed in existing structures;

(3)    Exterior remodel;

(4)    Residential multi-family projects consisting of two (2) or three (3) dwelling units.

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003, as amended by § 1, Ord. 1411-20 (CM), eff. November 26, 2020)