On April 17, 2012, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed amendments to the Planning Code that consolidated 13 restaurant definitions into 3 categories and established operating conditions for bars and restaurants.
The three new categories are Restaurant, Limited-Restaurant, and Bar. A Restaurant is any restaurant that serves food, including those that serve beer, wine or liquor for on-site consumption. A Limited-Restaurant is any restaurant that serves food but does not serve beer or wine for on-site consumption. A Bar serves beer, wine or liquor for on-site consumption.
The San Francisco Chronicle captures how much of a difference this legislation will make for restaurants in San Francisco. Prior to the adoption of these amendments to the Planning Code, Read more…
Laguna Beach Planning Commission Considers Amending Zoning Ordinance For Second Residential Units
On April 25, 2012, the Laguna Beach Planning Commission will consider amending the Zoning Ordinance for Second Residential Units. The Planning Commission will consider a formula to determine the maximum second unit size, consider additional parking for larger units, consider removing the requirement that either the main unit or the second residential unit be owner-occupied, and reference the City’s Residential Design Guidelines in the Ordinance.
The Planning Commission will also consider an accompanying amendment to Read more…
During the middle of the twentieth century, residential and commercial uses replaced most agricultural uses in Orange County. Sixty years later, Fresno County is facing large scale development of agricultural land into solar electrical generation facilities. In response to this new demand, Fresno County has introduced new regulations for these new facilities.
According to Fresno County, Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Facilities are now processed through the Unclassified Conditional Use Permit (UCUP) process of the County Zoning Ordinance. A UCUP is a discretionary land use application brought before the County Planning Commission at a public hearing and is appealable to Read more…
City of Pinole Restores Ban On Gun Sales In Residential Zones After Inadvertently Omitting Ban During Zoning Code Revision
The Pinole City Council voted to ban gun sales in residential zones and restrict them to commercial zones. The City of Pinole had a ban on home gun sales, until 2010, when city officials inadvertently dropped specific mention of the ban during an overhaul of the city’s zoning code. Restoring the ban would be “a clerical correction” to the zoning code, said one Pinole resident.
In late March, the Pinole Planning Commission unanimously recommended to Read more…
Riverside Planning Commission to Consider Permit for Riverside Indoor Tennis Club on April 19, 2012
The Riverside Indoor Tennis Club is requesting a Conditional Use Permit to establish an indoor tennis facility within a portion of a building located at 6250 Sycamore Canyon Boulevard. The Riverside Indoor Tennis Club is proposing to offer four (4) full-sized tennis courts and a badminton/warm up court within the proposed space. The facility will also include a parent lounge, player stretching area, a ping pong table, restrooms, a business office, pro shop and break area.
The property is located in the BMP-SP – Business and Manufacturing Park and Specific
Plan (Sycamore Canyon Business Park) Overlay Zones and the B/OP – Business/Office Park General Plan designation. The B/OP- Business Office Park General Plan land use designation and the Industrial Subarea of the Sycamore Canyon Business Park Specific Plan are intended to allow Read more…
Planning Commission Approves Conditional Use Permit For Microdistillery To Open In Fortuna
From The Times-Standard – A chemist, who recently returned to his hometown of Fortuna, cleared his first hurdle in an effort to establish a small-batch microdistillery in the downtown area.
Abe Stevens received a conditional use permit from the Fortuna Planning Commission on Tuesday. He said he still has to obtain a federal distilling license and a license from the California Alcohol Beverage Control Office before opening. Stevens added that his next hurdle is working with the Arcata Economic Development Corporation to help with the distillery’s start-up expenses.
Once he gets the distillery up and running at 735 10th Street, Stevens said, he will be producing small batches of fruit brandy made from local apples and pears, as well as other types of liquor such as whiskey and vodka. The distillery would also Read more…
Who is Phil Bacerra?
Phil Bacerra is a dynamic problem solver with many years of experience in planning, zoning, permitting, public administration, government relations and marketing.
A graduate from the University of Southern California, Mr. Bacerra has Read more…
