Santa Monica, CA Planning Board
Sundays tracks every public Planning Board meeting in Santa Monica, CA and summarizes what was decided — master-plan re-examinations, redevelopment areas, rezonings and land-use ordinances. Land-use items are kept off the weekly Sundays email (they're a specialist read), but every one is archived here and verified against the official meeting record. 50 items on file; most recent August 30, 2026.
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Policy Updates (Facilities/Construction): Bids, CUPCCAA Procedures, Lease-Leaseback/Design-Build References, and Facilities Master Plan
Staff presented updates to facilities and construction policies and regulations, including clarifying bidding procedures, defining maintenance, prequalification requirements for state-funded projects, emergency actions, and public project bidding procedures. Staff also presented a facilities master plan policy update reflecting new law and standards including green building and ADA considerations.
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Item 12A: Downtown Community Plan Amendments—City-Owned Sites Exemption and Gateway Sites Upzoning/Process Changes
Council adopted actions to amend the Downtown Community Plan and introduce zoning text changes to exempt certain city-owned downtown sites from zoning standards and to upzone three gateway master plan sites. Council also provided policy direction on entitlement thresholds, excluding hotels from administrative approval, and applying a tiered community benefits system.
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Recusals Announced for Items 12A and 12B
Before items 12A and 12B, the Mayor Pro Tem recused due to employment with the Housing Action Coalition, and Councilmember Hall recused due to residence within 500–1,000 feet of a gateway master plan parcel and a city-owned site affected by the proposed exemptions.
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Item 12C: Emergency Interim Zoning Ordinance for Light Fleet-Based Service (Autonomous Vehicles)
Council introduced and adopted an emergency interim zoning ordinance establishing standards and procedures for autonomous vehicle fleet operations. The ordinance created a new land use classification and tiered permitting framework with operating conditions, including additional restrictions near residential zones.
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Councilmember Travel/Conference Reports
Councilmembers reported on recent conference attendance, including the U.S. Conference of Mayors, a Mayor’s Institute on City Design, the Local Progress national convening, and the Independent Cities Association. Topics included airport reuse, AI/data centers, housing models, ambulance services, and litigation impacts.
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Commissioner Discussion Item: Concept of Impact Fees Based on Number of Parking Spaces
A commissioner raised a discussion concept about impact fees based on the number of parking spaces rather than square footage, referencing an idea proposed by a UCLA colleague. No action was taken.
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Receive and File Item 13A (Acknowledgement)
The Commission addressed item 13A as a receive-and-file item and acknowledged the submittal without taking a formal vote.
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Approval of Item 12A (Moved to Consent and Approved)
A commissioner requested that item 12A be placed on the consent calendar as a minor item. The Commission voted to approve item 12A.
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Item 7B: Direction/Action Related to Unbundled Parking (Discussion and Approval)
The Commission discussed item 7B regarding unbundled parking (separating parking costs from rent/ownership), including state law AB 1317 and administrative enforcement challenges. The Commission approved item 7B and requested staff return with options for applying unbundling to smaller projects.
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Approval of Consent Item 7A (with 7B Pulled)
The Commission voted to approve consent item 7A after item 7B had been pulled for separate discussion.
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Parks and Recreation Vision Plan Update: Initiation of Beach and Pier Vision Plan
Public Works staff provided an update on progress implementing the Parks and Recreation Vision Plan and introduced the start of a new Beach and Pier Vision Plan process, describing scope, timeline, outreach plans, and coordination with the Local Coastal Program.
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Agenda Management: Move Item 8A Next
After concluding item 11A, the Commission voted to move item 8A to be the next agenda item.
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Applicant Rebuttal and Commissioner Q&A (Conditions, Enforcement, Phasing, and Good Neighbor Agreement)
The applicant rebutted concerns and offered additional commitments, including a proposed “three strikes” policy for parent violations and limiting outdoor play to 4:00 p.m. Commissioners questioned enforcement, event limits, phasing of enrollment, and whether monitoring should include good neighbor agreement compliance and pedestrian safety.
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Public Comment on Item 11A (Opposition and Support for Child Care Expansion at 1029 26th Street)
Multiple residents and parents spoke on the proposed expansion of the childcare facility at 1029 26th Street. Opponents cited parking, traffic safety, noise, alley access, and neighborhood character impacts; supporters emphasized childcare shortages, walkability, the operator’s practices, and community benefits.
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Applicant Presentation: PlayGroup House Expansion to 40 Children at 1029 26th Street
The applicant and operator requested approval to expand an existing daycare to a 40-child early education facility for ages 2–5, describing operations, outdoor play schedule, staffing, parking/loading procedures, outreach, and commitments including expanded drop-off windows and use of driveway spaces.
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Mobility Staff Q&A on Parking/Loading Operations Plan (PLOP) and Safety
Mobility staff answered commissioner questions about curbside loading, use of the driveway, street cleaning impacts, parking availability during peak times, and pedestrian safety at the 26th Street/Washington Avenue traffic circle intersection.
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Ex Parte Disclosures for Item 11A
Commissioners disclosed contacts with the applicant, representatives, and community members, including Zoom calls, emails, texts, and a site visit to the childcare center on the day of the meeting.
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Agenda Management: Move Item 11A to the Top of the Agenda
The Commission voted to move agenda item 11A to the top of the agenda due to the number of attendees, including many young children in the audience.
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Consent Calendar: Pull Item 7B; Approve Remaining Consent Items
A commissioner requested to pull item 7B from the consent calendar for later discussion. The Commission approved the remaining consent calendar items by voice vote.
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Agenda Management: Move Childcare Item Earlier; Public Input on Non-Agendized Items (None)
The Chair announced the childcare item would be moved earlier on the agenda and reminded attendees about speaker request forms. The Chair then opened public input for non-agendized items; no speakers came forward.
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Planning Commissioner Announcements (Commission Vacancy and Mobility Presentation Request)
Commissioners announced an upcoming Planning Commission appointment process and discussed scheduling. A commissioner requested a future presentation from the City’s mobility team on traffic calming, bicycle safety, and the Santa Monica Boulevard plan.
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Director’s Report (Upcoming Meetings, Council Actions, Interim Zoning Ordinance, and Community Announcements)
Staff provided updates on upcoming Planning Commission and board meetings, recent City Council actions on multiple planning items, an emergency interim zoning ordinance related to fleet-based autonomous vehicles, and announcements including Open Streets events and the Local Coastal Program update timeline.
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Overview of implementation options for Senate Bill 79 (SB79) and direction to initiate zoning ordinance amendments
Staff presented SB79 requirements and three implementation approaches; Council directed staff to pursue an approach combining an exclusion ordinance (approach two) and a TOD alternative plan (approach three), with updates and anti-displacement tools to be explored.
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Commission Discussion Item: Survey of People Evacuated from the Palisades Fire
A commissioner referenced research surveys of people evacuated from the Palisades fire and suggested it was relevant to disaster preparedness and disaster response planning topics that arise in meetings.
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Receive and File Written Communications (Post-Distribution Item)
The Commission moved to receive and file written communications associated with item 13A. No substantive discussion was recorded.
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Direction to Incorporate Commissioners’ Comments into Future Resolutions/Recommendations
The Commission approved a follow-up motion directing staff to incorporate commissioners’ comments from the evening into the development of the forthcoming resolutions/recommendations. The motion passed unanimously on roll call.
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Adoption of Resolutions of Intention (Amended to Remove Boulevard Low-Scale Incentive Components)
The Commission adopted two resolutions of intention, amended by deleting the boulevard low-scale incentive program components (including related recitals and numbered sections). The amended resolutions passed unanimously on roll call.
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Commission Deliberation: Realignment Plan Concepts (Heights, Unit Mix, AHPP, Displacement, City-Owned Sites, and Process)
Commissioners debated the proposed incentive concepts, raising concerns about waiving AHPP and downscaling boulevards, displacement of tenants and small businesses, feasibility and legal defensibility of fee reductions, and the need for pilots and modeling. Several commissioners supported increasing downtown height and exploring city-owned land strategies, with cautions about parks and gateway urban design.
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Study Session: Realignment Plan Implementation and Draft Concepts (Staff Presentation and Q&A)
Staff presented draft, “not fully baked” concepts to implement portions of the City Council’s realignment plan authorization, focusing on boulevard low-scale housing incentives, a downtown housing bonus/incentive program, and flexibility for downtown city-owned/gateway sites. Commissioners asked detailed questions about feasibility, affordability requirements, height, unit mix, legal constraints, and displacement impacts.
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Approval of Consent Calendar (Including Item 7B)
The Commission approved the consent calendar without pulling any items. The motion passed on a voice vote.
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Public Comment on Consent Calendar (Extension Item 7B)
A member of the public spoke on consent calendar item 7B, stating the extension appeared to be a “done deal,” noting prior opposition due to a neighboring high-rise, and encouraging more public engagement in Santa Monica planning decisions.
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Planning Commissioner Announcements (Community Events and Scheduling)
Commissioners announced upcoming community events, including a May 18 housing/transportation panel event and a fire service day, and a May 17 block party celebrating the Santa Monica Conservancy’s Shotgun House. Commissioners also discussed availability for June 3 and June 17 meetings, including potential remote attendance.
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Planning Director’s Report (Upcoming Meetings, Boards/Commissions, and City Council Update)
Staff reported the May 20 meeting would be canceled, with June 3 held and June 17 expected to include SB79 realignment plan items. Updates were provided on Architectural Review Board and Landmarks Commission activity, and on City Council direction regarding SB79 implementation and other upcoming Council items.
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Realignment Plan Implementation: Downtown Housing Incentive Program, City-Owned Sites, and Gateway Sites (Resolutions 2609 and 2610)
Staff presented proposed amendments to implement the City’s realignment plan, focusing on a downtown housing local bonus incentive program, increased downtown development standards, flexibility for city-owned sites, and upzoning/streamlined review for three gateway sites. After public comment and commission debate, the commission advanced city-owned site flexibility and gateway site changes (with a development agreement threshold for larger commercial projects), continued the downtown housing incentive/upzoning components, and directed staff to return with a new ROI on boulevard/neighborhood commercial issues and tenant protections.
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Recommendation to City Council: Amendments to Exclude Eligible Sites Under Senate Bill SB79 (SB79 Exclusion Ordinance)
Staff presented an SB79 exclusion ordinance and analysis of eligible sites and bus stops. The commission discussed mapping, displacement and fair housing concerns, and two upzoning options for the Expo/Bundy zone. The commission voted to recommend the exclusion ordinance with targeted upzoning option two and related cautions, after rejecting amendments to allow SB79 in downtown commercial areas.
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Public Input (Non-Agenda): Hotel/Restaurant Impacts and Permit Enforcement; Urban Forest Task Force and Digital Billboard/Tree Concerns
Public speakers raised concerns about intrusive events and alleged permit violations at a property near the Third Street Promenade and requested City enforcement and clarity on approvals. Another speaker, representing the Urban Forest Task Force, opposed removing healthy trees for electronic billboards and announced the task force’s upcoming meeting.
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Director’s Report: Upcoming Meetings, Commissions, City Council Updates, and Staff Tools
Staff provided updates on upcoming Planning Commission, Architectural Review Board, and Landmarks Commission items; City Council actions and upcoming budget adoption; and new public-facing mapping tools for historic resources and ministerial housing applications, including updates on digital sign proposals.
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City Council's Direction on Ordinance Updates for SB9 Implementation
The City Council discussed amendments to Santa Monica's zoning ordinance to align with SB9 state law, addressing duplexes and lot splits in single-family zones. Key points included the removal of owner-occupancy requirements and setting a minimum guaranteed unit size at 1,500 square feet.
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Planning Director's Report on Realignment Plan and Housing Strategies
The Planning Director provided updates on the city's Realignment Plan, housing strategies, and upcoming meetings. Topics included incentivizing housing downtown, compatibility with commercial boulevards, and the initiation of the Downtown Gateway Master Plan.
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Realignment Plan Update
This resolution focuses on updating the City of Santa Monica's Realignment Plan, emphasizing housing development downtown, compatibility along commercial boulevards, and maximizing city-owned sites for residential use. It also includes a strategy for the Downtown Gateway Master Plan site, reflecting council directions from October 2025.
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SB9 Implementation Amendments
This ordinance updates Santa Monica's zoning ordinance to align with SB9, allowing duplexes and lot splits on parcels zoned for single-family residences, with provisions for guaranteed unit sizes and owner occupancy requirements.
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Director's Report on Upcoming Meetings and Updates
The Director provided updates on upcoming meetings, including cancellations, significant city planning projects, and administrative reminders such as Form 700 filing. Key topics included SB79 study session plans and zoning amendment implementations.
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Zoning Amendments and Land Use Streamlining Process
The City Council adopted zoning amendments to streamline land use processes, effective April 9th, aimed at improving clarity for property owners and brokers.
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Zoning Amendments and Land Use Streamlining
The City Council approved the second reading of zoning amendments aimed at streamlining land use processes, codifying interim control ordinances (ICOs), and aligning them with emergency orders.
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City Council Updates on Zoning Amendments
The City Council addressed zoning amendments related to land use streamlining and implementation of new processes.
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Permanent Adoption of Emergency Ordinances and Zoning Amendments
Santa Monica City Council approved the permanent adoption of several emergency ordinances and zoning amendments to streamline land use and permitting processes across the city. The changes aim to enhance economic activity and support businesses.
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Massage Establishment Ordinance
This ordinance formally adopts provisions of the Interim Zoning Ordinance for massage establishments, streamlining their permitting processes and addressing public health and safety concerns.
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Sidewalk Dining Ordinance
This ordinance makes permanent the provisions of the Interim Zoning Ordinance related to sidewalk dining, allowing restaurants to expand outdoor dining spaces with reduced bureaucratic obstacles.
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Downtown Interim Zoning Ordinance
This ordinance formalizes provisions of the existing Downtown Interim Zoning Ordinance (ICO), aimed at streamlining alcohol permits, retail conversions, and other land-use requirements to facilitate economic recovery in Santa Monica's downtown area.
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City Council February 2026 Actions
The City Council approved a final map for SP9 and paused work on the Mills Act program to explore new options. They also redefined the Landmarks Commission's work plan and addressed zoning amendments.