Division
Manager:
Patrick Kelly, AICP
pkelly@modestogov.com
Main Number:
(209) 577-5267
Planning Division Overview:
The Planning Division plays a critical role in achieving
the City Council’s goals and objectives relative to the physical
development of the community. This includes current planning
and advance planning sections.
The mission of the Planning Division is to ensure a superior
quality of life for the City of Modesto’s current and
future residents by addressing matters concerning growth and the
environment. Effective long-range planning processes seek to
manage growth and change. The Planning process must balance the
need to facilitate private investment in the community with
these goals.
The Division manages all functions and services that facilitate
the development and implementation of Modesto’s future through
long- and short-range planning. The Division supports,
facilitates, and expedites private investment in the community
as well as enhancing the health, safety, and welfare of the
community through effective planning for future needs, early
identification of planning issues, and timely and efficient
services in the area of land use entitlements.
The Division is responsible for administering the City’s land
use planning and entitlement system, managing and coordinating
the General Plan, Specific Plans, zoning and land division.
The Division also assists in the management of the Capital
Improvement Program (CIP), oversees California Environmental
Quality Act review, and manages implementation through
annexations, precise plans, zoning, use permits, variances, plot
plans, and subdivision maps.
In furtherance of these goals, the Division serves as staff to
the Planning Commission and
Board of Zoning Adjustment and often
engages the Council’s Economic Development Committee on policy
direction.
Draft Neighborhood Compatibility Documents
The draft Neighborhood Compatibility documents consist of three parts:
Neighborhood Compatibility Guidelines, Heritage Tree Ordinance and Multi-Family
Design Guidelines.
The purpose of the Neighborhood Compatibility Guidelines is, as the name implies,
to ensure compatibility of new homes and additions with the surrounding neighborhood.
It is meant to provide guidance for homeowners and city staff for review of proposals
for new homes and additions to existing homes.
The purpose of the Heritage Tree Ordinance is to protect oak and heritage trees.
The draft document sets forth the “Intent and Purpose” of the Ordinance, definition of terms,
prohibited acts as they pertain to oak and heritage trees, criteria to protect trees during
construction, and permit / appeal procedures for those individuals who wish to pursue removal
or modification of qualifying trees.
The purpose of the Multi-Family Design Guidelines is to encourage high quality multi-family
development that emphasizes safety, livability and long-term viability. The Guidelines include
an Introduction and six sections: Site Planning, Circulation and Parking, Building Design,
Landscaping, Miscellaneous Site Elements and Safety.
All of these draft documents are available here for public review:
Current Planning Activities
- Tentative and Parcel Maps
- Zone Changes
- Use Permits
- Variances
- Plot Plans
- Environmental Assessment
- Lot Line Adjustments
- Abandonment of Public Right of Way
- Planned Developments (PD Zoning)
Long Range Planning Activities
- General Plan Management
- General Plan Master EIR
- Management
- Urban Growth Policy Review
- Master Development Plans
- Annexations
- Review of Outside Agency Referrals
- CEQA support
Activities: