Planning commission recommends front-yard rewrite, adds Kirsten Court and citywide front-lot-line definition

The Sierra Madre Planning Commission voted unanimously Sept. 17 to recommend that the City Council adopt Resolution 26-13 (Municipal Code Text Amendment 26-06), which would change front-yard setback standards in the commercial zone, copy a front-lot-line definition into the citywide definitions, and add Kirsten Court to the list of main commercial streets.

Senior Planner Wolf, who presented the amendment, said the proposal mirrors the commission's 2020 recommendation and would eliminate a zone-wide 5-foot front-yard requirement by allowing a 0-foot setback on designated main commercial streets while keeping a 5-foot requirement on other commercial frontages and 15 feet for residential: "As proposed or as it reads today that there is a 5 foot setback throughout the entire commercial zone. And as proposed, that eliminates the 5 foot, zone wide and rec and instead has no front yard requirement that is adjacent to a main commercial street." Chair Denison said the commission should send a single, consolidated package to council: "I think it's best if we send 1 package up to to council on commercial zone rather than break it up into pieces."

Commissioners debated whether copying the residential front-lot-line definition into the general definitions would create conflicts for corner lots and noted potential ambiguity where side-yard requirements and main-street zero setbacks intersect. Staff said those conflicts could be handled by an administrative interpretation for the few affected corner lots and asked the commission to confirm adding the definition to Section 17.08.020 (general definitions). Wolf outlined the proposed schedule: continuation options for Oct. 1, first reading at City Council on Oct. 13, a second reading Oct. 27 and an effective date of Nov. 26 if the council adopts the ordinance as recommended.

The motion to approve Planning Commission Resolution 26-13 with the additions (front-lot-line definition in the general definitions and inclusion of Kirsten Court as a main commercial street) was made by Commissioner Brennan, seconded, and carried unanimously. The commission did not adopt additional door-setback amendments at this time; staff will include the agreed clarifications in the resolution forwarded to council.