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WHEREAS, stair has prepared amendments to the Ordinance based on comments provided by HCD and, as the Ordinance was previously reviewed by the Planning Commission, is presenting these amendments to the City Council for its consideration; and WHEREAS, on August 20, 2020, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing to provide an opportunity for all interested parties to be heard, to consider all public comments and consider the proposed amendments to the Ordinance in response to the comments provided by HCD; and WHEREAS, The Town recognizes its responsibility to adopt rules and regulations that are aligned with state law and believes that this ordinance complies with the intent and application of the adopted legislation as written and Government Code Section 65852.2 which seek to facilitate and allow for the development of an accessory dwelling unit and junior accessory dwelling unit on any lot with an existing or proposed single-family dwelling, while also ensuring that the resulting development activity does not harm the public health, safety, or welfare, maintains an acceptable level of fire protection and does not significantly impact the environment or sensitive habitats; and WHEREAS, the amendments to the Ordinance are adopted based on the following facts: (1) The Town's Housing Element has identified the development of accessory dwelling units (also known as secondary dwelling units) as a primary method to achieve the affordable housing units necessary to meet the Town's regional housing needs allocation (RHNA) for the eight-year period of 2015-2022. (2) The Town's Land. Use Element includes goals to maintain the semi -rural character of the community while providing for residential uses, open space, and the minimum public and. private facilities and services needed to serve residents on a continuing basis, and to ensure that all development occurs in a manner that minimizes disturbance of natural terrain, vegetation and wildlife, and maximizes the preservation of natural resources and open space, and provides policies to support these goals as follows: • Policy 1.1 - Uses of land shall be consistent with the semi -rural atmosphere of the community, minimize disturbance to natural terrain, minimize removal of the natural vegetation, and create the maximum compatibility of development with the natural environment through site design and landscaping. • Policy 2.2 - Residential densities shall be guided by considerations of topography, vegetative cover and significant physical limitations inherent in the natural environment. • Policy 2.5 - Steep slopes, canyons and ravines generally in excess of 30% slope, as well as natural swales and drainage channels, and geologic hazard areas within areas designated for residential development shall be left undisturbed and preserved in their natural condition to the maximum extent feasible. • Policy 2.6 - Limits on the development of individual residential lots shall be determined based on evaluation of such factors as natural vegetation, topographic characteristics, soils and geology. Ordinance 591 page 2