Planning Division

The planning section is a division of the Community Services and Water Department and is responsible for the development and oversight of the City's General Plan. The General Plan establishes a long-range plan to serve as a guide for the physical development of the City.

The City of Vernon's Comprehensive Zoning was enacted to establish development rules for the community in compliance with the goal and policy's of the General Plan. The Zoning Ordinance contains the development standards including parking and loading standards, minimum lot size, and setback requirements.

Section 26.3.5 thru 26.3.9 of the zoning ordinance establishes the permitted uses and those uses requiring a conditional use permit for each of the zones. See link for a copy of the zoning map.

Conditional Use Permit

The City has determined that certain uses could be detrimental to the surrounding community. The City therefore only allows these uses subject to a Conditional Use Permit, the City Council at its discretion may place conditions on the use in order to protect the environment and neighboring properties. As part of the application process the proponent must provide an operations plan, hazardous waste inventory plan, a traffic report and an environmental checklist. City staff evaluates the application for completeness. All Conditional Use Permits are subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Through the guidelines established by the State the City determines if the project could potentially produce significant impacts to the environmental. After the appropriate CEQA document is developed City staff prepares a report and schedules a public hearing for input from the community. After the public hearing is concluded the City Council must make a determination to either deny, approve or approve with conditions the permit application.

Variance

A property owner or developer may be unable to meet or is of the opinion that certain zoning regulations are impractical given their particular situation. In this instance a person may seek a variance from the zoning code requirements. Persons seeking a variance must submit an application detailing why a variance is necessary and what unusual condition exists that makes it impractical to meet the regulations of the zone, City staff evaluates the application for completeness, prepares a report on the situation and sets a public hearing. After careful consideration the City Council either decides to deny, approve or approve with conditions the variance application.

Parcel Map, Lot Line Adjustments and Lot Mergers

The planning division in conjunction with the public works and building departments review all parcel maps, lot line adjustments and lot merger applications. The zoning ordinance establishes minimum lot sizes and set back requirements. All newly created lots, either by a parcel map or lot line adjustment must conform with all building and zoning code requirements. All parcels must be individually served with utilities. The public works section is responsible for checking all legal descriptions, the building department is responsible for building code compliance while the planning division is responsible for zoning compliance and the environmental review process.