HomeMy WebLinkAbout0013_1_CC Staff Report Parcel Merger Ordinance
REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GRANT YATES, CITY MANAGER
DATE: MARCH 22, 2016
SUBJECT: Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance of the City of Lake
Elsinore, California, Amending Title 16 of the Lake Elsinore
Municipal Code To Add Chapter 16.22 Regarding Voluntary Merger
of Contiguous Parcels
Recommendation
Waive further reading and introduce by title only Ordinance No. 2016-___; An Ordinance
of the City of Lake Elsinore, California, Amending Title 16 of the Lake Elsinore Municipal
Code to add Chapter 16.22 Regarding Voluntary Merger of Contiguous Parcels.
Background
Currently, LEMC 16.20.080 provides for the administrative merger of four or fewer parcels
without requiring a preparation of a tentative map or reversion to acreage. While this
section imposes no requirement that any of the parcels be unsuitable for development,
the section fails to address situations where several substandard parcels should be
merged in order to accommodate an otherwise suitable individual development.
Discussion
The City has been approached by many property owners regarding bringing their lots into
compliance with zoning requirements in order to build on them. The majority of those
contacting the City have been property owners within the Country Club Heights area.
These lots in this area were mostly subdivided in the late 1800s and early 1 900s, at a
time when subdivision standards were much less stringent. In many cases, the property
owner has more than four contiguous parcels.
The proposed ordinance will allow property owners of small or otherwise undevelopable
individual parcels to “merge” those lots in a less costly and time-consuming manner than
would be required if a tentative tract map was required. Under the proposed ordinance,
an application can be submitted to the Director of Community Development and
Ordinance Regarding Voluntary Merger of Continuous Parcels
March 22, 2016
Page 2 of 2
processed administratively. Both the Director and City Engi neer must approve the lot
merger. Once approved, a notice of merger is recorded with the County Recorder’s
Office.
In the event that the Director believes that neighboring property owners might be
adversely affected by the merger, the Director can require a public hearing be held by the
Planning Commission. Nearby adversely affected property owners would receive notice
of the public hearing.
Fiscal Impact
Costs have been incurred for staff time to research, draft, and process the ordinance. No
increase in expenditures or revenues is anticipated as a part of this Municipal Code
Amendment. The applicant will bear the cost of processing a Voluntary Merger of
Continuous Parcels.
Prepared by: Dina Purvis
Senior Engineering Technician
Reviewed by: Grant Taylor
Director of Community Development
Approved by: Grant Yates
City Manager
Attachments:
1. Ordinance No. 2016-_____: An Ordinance of the City of Lake Elsinore,
California, Amending Title 16 of the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code to Add
Chapter 16.22 of the Regarding Voluntary Merger of Contiguous Parcels