The Santa Ana Planning Commission on August 31 recommended that the City Council approve the draft Comprehensive Zoning Code Update. This significant regulatory revision seeks to update the city's land use rules, which were last comprehensively revised in the 1960s. While no public hearing has been scheduled, the City Council may begin to consider the draft Zoning Code Update as early as October.
The City of Santa Ana has indicated that a modernized Zoning Code is essential for guiding growth in a manner that reflects the community's present needs and future aspirations. The existing code, established decades ago, predates substantial changes in the city's population, economy, and work patterns. Furthermore, the city notes increasing state intervention into local regulatory matters, particularly concerning housing and parking standards. An updated Zoning Code is presented as a means to retain local control by establishing clear procedures and standards for property owners and developers.
This comprehensive update follows the adoption of a new General Plan in 2022, which established Santa Ana's long-term vision after extensive community participation. The Zoning Code serves as the mechanism to translate this vision into practical, predictable regulations for both residents and businesses. According to the City, the proposed update is intended to help strengthen neighborhoods, create economic opportunity, and protect public health. It also seeks to ensure Santa Ana remains a place where families and businesses can thrive.
While the city has historically been a regional leader in housing production, the updated code aims to maintain this success while fostering new opportunities for businesses compatible with the community to open in Santa Ana. The overarching goal expressed by the City is not merely growth, but rather "thoughtful growth" designed to reinforce community strengths and create new opportunities.
City officials have also clarified what the Zoning Code update does not entail. The update does not mean the City is taking private property through eminent domain. It does not require businesses to close, nor does it displace tenants from their homes or places of work. Moreover, a change in a property's zoning classification does not automatically trigger redevelopment. Instead, zoning establishes the standards for how property may be used and developed over time, consistent with the vision established in the 2022 General Plan. Decisions regarding whether and when to invest in or develop property ultimately rest with property owners, subject to the City's regulations in the Zoning Code.
The City recognizes that residents, businesses, and property owners may have questions about the potential implications of these changes for their neighborhoods and holdings. Public opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback about the proposed changes will continue until and during the hearing process before the City Council. Residents, businesses, and property owners are encouraged to learn more about the changes and share their input as the process moves forward.
