The purpose of this Section 415A.5 is to provide for the efficient review and approval of requests for modifications to conditions of approval, conditions on a project permit, or notice of special restrictions, for projects eligible for such modifications under Section 415A. The Planning Commission shall be responsible for reviewing and approving such requests, or may delegate those functions to the Planning Director.
(a) Planning Commission Review. Notwithstanding Section 415A.5(b), any modification of the conditions of approval, conditions on a project permit, or notice of special restrictions consistent with Section 415A that would result in the significant modification of approved plans shall require review and approval by the Planning Commission under the modification process otherwise applicable to the project, including but not limited to Planning Code Sections 303(e), 309(j) or 329(f)(7))1
. All modifications pursuant to this subsection 415A.5(a), including any appeal of such modifications, shall be granted prior to November 1, 2026. A significant modification shall include, but is not limited to:
(1) a change in the number of Residential or Group Housing units by more than 20%, or a change of more than 10% in Gross Floor Area; or,
(2) a change of use from Dwelling Units to Group Housing.
(b) Administrative Modifications. Notwithstanding Section 415A.5(a), if the Planning Commission has delegated its authority to the Planning Department to review and approve requests for modifications consistent with Section 415A.5, the following modifications shall be reviewed and approved by the Director of the Planning Department, and the Planning Commission shall not hold a public hearing for discretionary review. Modifications under this subsection 415A.5(b) shall not be subject to review under Planning Code sections 303(e), 309(f), 309(j) or 329(f)(7). Any modifications pursuant to this Section 415A.5(b) must be granted prior to November 1, 2026. If so delegated, the Planning Director shall be authorized to modify:
(1) the applicable inclusionary fee required consistent with Section 415A.4(a).
(2) the applicable percentage of off-site units required consistent with Section 415A.4(b).
(3) the applicable percentage of on-site units required, consistent with Section 415A.4(c).
(4) for projects that elected to develop using the State Density Bonus Law, Government Code section 65915 or State Density Bonus Program: Individually Requested, under Planning Code section 206.6, the number of on-site Affordable Units, and the affordability levels of those units if such levels require modification for the project to continue to qualify for the same amount of density bonus previously approved, and findings required by Section 206.6(e) related to eligibility for a density bonus, concessions and incentives and/or waivers of development standards, consistent with Section 415A.4(e). Notwithstanding the previous sentence, modifications to a density bonus project that are significant as set forth in subsection (a), shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission.
(5) performance standards consistent with Section 415A.4(d), including the time of validity, expiration and renewal.
(c) Additional Conditions. Any modification to conditions of approval under this Section 415A.5 shall include a condition that a project must secure a First Construction Document on or before May 1, 2029 and if a project sponsor fails to secure a First Construction Document on or before May 1, 2029, the inclusionary requirements applicable to the project shall be those requirements in place at the time a First Construction Document is secured applicable to a project of the same size, location, and tenure.
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