The Community Development Department is responsible for guiding physical development of private property in the city in a manner that complies with General Plan goals, objectives and policies and zoning, subdivision and development standards; for administering and enforcing state and city regulations applicable to construction in the City; for administering, enforcing zoning, and regulations. In addition, the Community Development Director serves as the Building Official for the City, Secretary to the Planning and Environmental Quality Commission, and Environmental Quality Officer. Major programs of the Department are:

Building Services
Includes all activities to promote and facilitate construction and maintenance of all buildings and structures on private property in a way that ultimately contributes to increasing property values in the City. This includes review of construction plans for compliance with building and construction codes; issuance of building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits; in-construction inspections to ensure construction complies with approved plans and minimum standards of construction; emergency inspections; maintenance of building records and plans; and provision of general building and construction information.

Planning and Environmental Quality Commission Support
The commission conducts public hearings, renders decisions and makes recommendations to the City Council on all significant development proposals and land use and development matters, including design and improvement of subdivisions, general plan amendments, ordinances, and other zoning, land use, or environmental policy issues. The Commission also functions as the appeal body for decisions of the Director and as the Housing and Building Appeals Board.

Community Development staff supports both Commission and Council proceedings on land use matters by scheduling and advertizing public hearings, preparing staff reports and specific recommendations, developing environmental and procedural documentation as required under state planning and zoning, subdivision and California Environmental Quality Act laws for all entitlements and land use related actions. Staff also supports Council proceedings on appeals of Commission actions. Commission meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month and Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.

Development and Planning Services

Development Services
Includes all activities to promote and facilitate development projects that are consistent with development standards and goals and policies of the general plan and that will enhance the quality of life, the economic vitality of the City, and will be compatible with surrounding existing land uses. This includes advising prospective developers and property owners, reviewing and processing development proposals either administratively or through the commission pursuant to the state development and planning laws and procedures, the State Map Act, and CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act); dispensing general zoning, planning and subdivision information; reviewing construction plans for compliance with zoning regulations, clearing business license applications, entertainment, special permits, temporary use permits and truth-in-sales for compliance with zoning and development standards.

Planning
Planning includes activities and initiatives to promote, maintain, and implement the General Plan goals and policies and guide growth and development in the City. This includes development of zoning, subdivision, and related standards and regulations to implement the General Plan; implement state mandates and monitor demographic, physical, and environmental data about the City.

PUBLIC SERVICE GOAL: To provide local building and planning services that promote high quality development and construction and maintenance of private property and thereby promote economic vitality for businesses and a higher-level quality of life for residents.

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2005-2006

Building Services
Continued to update and refine building forms.
Continued plan check monitoring system.
Continued supervision of peak load outsourcing of MEP's and Grading plan check,
and special inspection services for two residential developments consisting of 136
units; major remediation/re-grading of Honeywell 16 .
Successfully trained senior clerk as back up for building aide.
Maintained construction inspection response time to within 24 to 48 hours.
Maintained 10-day turnaround for license/permit inspections (new businesses,
entertainment).
Issued 34 Business License Certificates of Occupancy.
Maintained 15-day turnaround for truth-in-sales reports and processed 300 requests.
Identified strategy and began implementation of long-term preservation and access
to permit and plan documents, which will now be implemented citywide.

Planning and Environmental Quality Commission
Completed the update of the City's General Plan in 18 months.
Established the city's first commercial/mixed use specific plan known as the Artesia
Corridor Specific Plan.
Provided staff support on 28 public hearings before the Planning Commission and 10
public hearings before City Council.
Conducted Planning Commission study sessions on Residential Development
Standards, Wireless Telecommunication facilities, General Plan and Artesia Corridor
Specific Plan.
Reviewed and submitted written comments on enviromental impact reports from
other cities regarding Sam's Club (Los Angeles), Century Business Center
(Hawthorne), Carson Marketplace.

Development and Planning Services
Established GIS foundation for all general plan and current planning data.
Completed 2005 Congestion Management Plan Self-Certification and Local
Implementation Reports to SCAG.
Completed 2005 Residential Vacancy Survey.
Inspected 300 properties and entitlements for truth-in-sales reports required by the
GMC on sale of residential, commercial and industrial properties.
Provided zoning clearances for new businesses (over the counter), home occupation
permits (over the counter), special permits and entertainment permits.
Continued supplemental outsourcing of environmental review, staff reports, fiscal
impact analysis, to address peak load processing and technical specialties.
Inspected day care and residential facility license applications for compliance with
zoning regulations.
Adopted 2006 General Plan and EIR.