June Solstice Begins One Night Early for City Council

It figures to be a long and lively Tuesday evening at City Hall as the City of San Juan Capistrano City Council holds its regularly scheduled meeting, highlighted by a public hearing on the city operating budgets for 2012-13 and 2013-14, and the adoption of an ordinance approving a Land Use Code Amendment that would settle the definition of church assembly use.

An amendment to change Title 9, Article 3 of the Land Use Code and Appendix "A," Definitions of the Municipal Code Regarding Assembly Uses came about after a semiweekly home Bible study drew complaints from neighbors and  when the .

The City Planning Commission has spent since November 22, 2011 to try and come up with a uniform standard for what constitutes a nuisance.

Currently, the city’s Municipal Code Title 9 Land Use only pertains to "religious, fraternal, or nonprofit organizations", which includes "churches, temples, synagogues, monasteries, religious retreats, and other places of religious worship. Appendix A of the Land Use Code does not define nor provide guidance pertaining to what is, or is not, a "religious organization, fraternal organization or a "nonprofit organization" despite these terms being listed as "uses" within all zone districts.

amendment and expressed concern with language in the two proposed definitions for "church" and "assembly use routine” as well as with a 50-person cap for assembly uses consistent with the Building Code.

Then, on May 8, the Planning Commission reviewed the draft code amendment that had been simplified by removing the proposed definition of "assembly use, routine", and removed the 50 person occupancy provision. The definition of church was revised by the Planning Commission and the district tables were amended to be consistent with the revised church definition.

Finally, on June 5, the Planning Commission settled on the first reading and introduction of the ordinance amending Title 9, Land Use Code and the Appendix A Definitions related to "assembly uses,” and recommended sending the ordinance to the City Council for approval.

That ordinance is listed as the last item on the council’s agenda. Before that will come two public hearings: the Landscape Maintenance Districts Assessments for Fiscal Year 2012-13 for a half-dozen housing tracts; and the Operating Budgets for Fiscal Years 2012-13, a Seven-Year Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2012-2019, the establishment of an Appropriation Limitation for 2012-2013, and the establishment of Property Tax Rates for Open Space for two years.

Following that will be approval of the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 budgets for the city’s Public Financing Authority, the Housing Authority agenda, and the Sewer Maintenance District agenda, along with 29 items on the Consent Calendar that either will be enacted by one motion or one vote, or moved to the next City Council meeting on July 17 for discussion.

Yes, one day short of June Solstice—the longest day of the year—promises to be the longest night at City Hall.