17.400.040 Application decision procedures

17.400.040 Application decision procedures.

This section establishes procedures and requirements for the preparation, filing, and processing of permit applications required by the Zoning Code.

A. Decision-Making Authority. Table 17.400-1 identifies the decision-making body that is responsible for reviewing and making decisions on each type of permit required by this Zoning Code. Application for any of the decisions identified in Table 17.400-1 shall be filed with the Planning Department by completing an application form provided by the Department and accompanied by the appropriate filing fee.

1. Multiple Approvals. If more than one planning approval is required for a single project, the applications may be processed concurrently, with all the permits being considered and acted upon by the highest applicable review authority, with the exception of the Design Review Board and Tree Board which will act separately on permits.

Table 17.400-1. Zoning Permit – Decision-Making Authority
Type of Zoning Permit	Applicable Zoning Code Chapter	Role of Reviewer or Decision-Maker¹
Type of Zoning Permit	Applicable Zoning Code Chapter	Planning Director²	Design Review Board	Planning Commission	City Council
Administrative Permit	17.405	Decision	-	Appeal	Appeal
Adjustment	17.410	Decision	-	Appeal	Appeal
Conditional Use Permit	17.415	Recommend/ Decision	-	Decision	Appeal
Variance	17.420	Recommend	-	Decision	Appeal
Reasonable Accommodation	17.425	Decision	-	Appeal	Appeal
Temporary Use Permit, six months or less	17.430	Decision	-	Appeal	Appeal
Temporary Use Permit, more than six months	17.430	Recommend	-	Decision	Appeal
Downtown Noise Permit, small event	17.435	Decision	-	Appeal	Appeal
Downtown Noise Permit, large event	17.435	Recommend	-	Decision	Appeal
Development Agreement	17.440	Recommend	-	Recommend	Decision/Appeal
General Plan Amendment, Text or Map	17.445	Recommend	-	Recommend	Decision/Appeal
Zoning Code Amendment, Text or Map	17.445	Recommend	-	Recommend	Decision/Appeal
Design Review, Planning Director	17.450	Decision	Appeal	-	Appeal
Design Review, Design Review Board	17.450	Recommend	Decision	-	Appeal

1“Recommend” means that the review authority makes a recommendation to a higher decision-making body; “Decision” means that the review authority makes the final decision on the matter; “Appeal” means that the review authority may consider and decide upon appeals the decision of an earlier decision-making body, in compliance with Chapter 17.455 SMC.

2The Planning Director may defer action and refer the request to the Commission, so that the Commission may instead make the decision.

(Ord. 1116 § 9, 2018; Ord. 1111, 2018)