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ORD 571 Bedroom ConversionsORDINANCE NO. 571 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, ADDING SECTION 9.50.100 AND AMENDING SECTION 9.60.100 OF TITLE 9 OF THE LA QUINTA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO STANDARDS FOR MODIFICATION OF EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS THAT RESULT IN ADDITIONAL BEDROOMS WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of La Quinta, California did, on the 5th day of June 2018, hold a duly noticed public hearing for review of a City-initiated request of Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2018-0003 to amend sections of Title 9 of the La Quinta Municipal Code; and WHEREAS, previous to said Public Hearing, the City Council of the City of La Quinta did, on May 15, 2018, hold a Study Session and discussed modifications to the Planning Commission recommendations for Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2018- 0003; and WHEREAS, previous to said Study Session, the Planning Commission of the City of La Quinta did, on April 24, 2018, adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2018-005 to recommend to the City Council adoption of said code amendments; and WHEREAS, the Design and Development Department published a public hearing notice for this request in The Desert Sun newspaper on May 25, 2018, as prescribed by the Municipal Code; and WHEREAS, Title 9 of the Municipal Code contains the chapters that address development standards for single-family dwellings; and WHEREAS, the proposed amendments are the result of the code amendments requested by the City Council at their regular meeting on January 16, 2018, to develop standards that address non-bedroom conversions for single-family dwellings within residential districts; and WHEREAS, the proposed zoning text amendments are necessary to ensure residential occupancies and densities do not increase beyond those intended for single-family zoned neighborhoods, and WHEREAS, at said public hearing, upon hearing and considering all testimony and arguments, if any, of all interested persons wanting to be heard, the City Council did make the following mandatory findings to justify adoption of said Zoning Ordinance Amendment: Ordinance No. 571 Amendment to Title 9 Zoning Adopted: June 19, 2018 Page 2 of 6 1. Consistency with General Plan The zoning text amendment is consistent with the goals, objectives and policies of the General Plan. The proposed amendments are supported by Program LU- 1.1.b, that the Zoning Ordinance will include design standards in all zoning districts that assure high quality development and Policy LU-3.1, to encourage the preservation of neighborhood character and assure a consistent and compatible land use pattern. 2. Public Welfare Approval of the zoning ordinance amendment will not create conditions materially detrimental to the public health, safety and general welfare. The amendments assist in implementation of the General Plan 2035 to maintain neighborhood character by ensuring residential occupancies and land uses densities are not increased beyond those intended for residential districts. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of La Quinta does ordain as follows: SECTION 1. TITLE 9 shall be amended as written in “Exhibit A” attached hereto. SECTION 2. The proposed zone text amendment has complied with the requirements of "The Rules to Implement the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970" (CEQA) as amended (Resolution 83-63). The zone text amendments are consistent with the previously approved findings of the General Plan 2035 EIR (Environmental Assessment 2012-622) as the proposed amendments implement the goals, policies, and programs of the General Plan. SECTION 3. That the City Council does hereby approve Zoning Text Amendment 2018-0003, as set forth in the attached “Exhibit A” for the reasons set forth in this Ordinance. SECTION 4. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty (30) days after its adoption. SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall, within 15 days after passage of this Ordinance, cause it to be posted in at least three public places designated by resolution of the City Council, shall certify to the adoption and posting of this Ordinance, and shall cause this Ordinance and its certification, together with proof of posting to be entered into the Book of Ordinances of the City of La Quinta. SECTION 6. That the City Council does hereby grant the City Clerk the ability to make minor amendments to “Exhibit A” to ensure consistency of all approved text amendments prior to the publication in the La Quinta Municipal Code. Ordinance No. 571 Amendment to Title 9 Zoning Adopted: June 19, 2018 Page 4 of 6 EXHIBIT A 9.50.100 Additional Bedrooms This section provides the following minimum developmental standards applicable to the addition to an existing single-family dwelling or modification to the floor plan configuration of an existing single-family dwelling that results in additional bedrooms. A. Existing single-family dwelling units may not exceed maximum bedrooms as follows: SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS LIVABLE AREA IN SQ. FT. BEDROOMS MAX. No 2,000 or less 4 2,001-2,850 5 2,851-3,500 6 greater than 3,500 8 B. The total area of all bedrooms shall not exceed 40% of the total livable area of the dwelling. The calculation of bedroom area shall not include closets or bathrooms. C. When as a result of new construction or modification of a single-family dwelling the number of bedrooms is proposed to equal or exceed four (4), an additional garage space of 10 by 20 feet shall be provided. Access to the additional garage space shall be from existing driveways and not result in new street curb cuts. D. Bedrooms added as a result of new construction or modification of a single- family dwelling shall be used only by the occupants of the main residence, their non- paying guests, or domestic employees. No additional bedrooms may be rented or used as a short term vacation rental (“STVR”) except upon application and issuance of a STVR permit pursuant to Chapter 3.25 of this code. 9.60.100 Guesthouses. A. Purpose. This section provides standards and criteria for the establishment of guesthouses where such units are permitted in accordance with Section 9.40.040 and are not detached accessory dwelling units subject to Section 9.60.090(D). B. Definitions. See Chapter 9.280 Ordinance No. 571 Amendment to Title 9 Zoning Adopted: June 19, 2018 Page 5 of 6 C. Limitations. One guesthouse may be established on any single-family residential lot as a permitted accessory use. In the cove residential, medium density residential, medium-high density residential and high density residential zones, only one guesthouse may be permitted on a lot, unless otherwise approved through a specific plan. In the very low density residential and low density residential zones, more than one guesthouse may be permitted with director approval. D. Standards for Guesthouses. Guesthouses shall not be permitted when duplexes, triplexes, or apartments occur on the lot. All guesthouses shall conform to the following standards: 1. Detached guesthouses shall conform to all applicable building code standards and all development and design standards of the zoning district in which they are located. In addition, the height of the guesthouse shall not exceed seventeen feet and shall not be more than one story. 2. Guesthouses shall be architecturally compatible with the main unit. 3. The floor area of the guesthouse shall not exceed thirty percent of the existing living area of the principal residence. 4. The placement of a guesthouse on a lot shall not result in violation of the lot coverage maximums set forth in Section 9.50.030. 5. If a private sewage disposal system is used, approval of the local health officer shall be required. 6. When constructed with tract homes or prototypical residential units, guesthouse location and design shall be reviewed and approved as a part of the site development permit process. On an individual single-family lot of record, guesthouses shall be reviewed and approved for conformance with these provisions during the building permit plan check process. 7. Guesthouses shall have no more than two bedrooms.