The Planning and Zoning Division focuses on community design, development controls, review and general community character issues. The planners in the Division perform the following:

• Process applications and/or requests for development including site plan reviews, conditional use permits and variance requests, grading permits, height variations, view restoration permits and sign permits;
• Provide staff support to the Planning Commission;
• Review development projects for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and for consistency with the General Plan and/or Coastal Specific Plan;
• Provide and maintain tract maps and other public information files and prepare public information brochures and flyers;
• Administer the City’s Natural Communities Conservation Plan (NCCP);
• Implement the regulations of the City’s landslide moratorium ordinance, including the processing of moratorium exception and exclusion applications;
• Review and implement revisions to the Development Code and implement Affordable Housing Programs;
• Coordinate the development of long range planning projects including updating the General Plan, Coastal Specific Plan, Trails Network Plan; and,
• Coordinate with outside agencies for the implementation of regional programs, including the Congestion Management Program and South Bay Council of Governments Traffic Studies;