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Council Changes Zoning Rules to Enliven Downtown

 


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By Jorge Casuso

October 25, 2024 -- The City Council Tuesday night paved the way for a more dynamic Downtown by unanimously approving updates to the City's zoning rules to allow everything from animated signs to game arcades.

The latest interim zoning ordinance will further simplify the review process for new businesses and eases restrictions in the sign code to help businesses recover from the coronavirus shutdown and a vastly changed retail landscape.

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"Encouraging a thriving business community is a key priority for our city and especially in our downtown and Third Street Promenade," said David Martin, the City's Community Development director.

"We will continue to listen and look at holistic approaches to how best to continue to support our city’s economic recovery," Martin said.

The updates allow game arcades and arcade bars -- similar to traditional bars, only with a gaming arcade theme -- on the Promenade and loosen restrictions for larger restaurants at the edges of Downtown.

The updates also expand alcohol exemptions that allow a variety of businesses to be administratively approved for alcohol services to include the west side of 2nd Street and the east side of 4th Street.

Businesses covered by the exemptions include restaurants; food halls; bars, nightclubs and lounges; convenience markets; liquor stores; commercial entertainment and recreation venues, and retail stores of up to 25,000 square feet.

The zoning rules were also updated to make way for substantially larger signs and animated signage on the Promenade and to allow "temporary signs" for up to one year with the possibility of a six-month extension.

In addition, the changes eliminated restrictions on business size on the Promenade for banks, pet stores, food halls, general personal services and their businesses.

"These changes represent a critical step in supporting the economic recovery of small businesses within Downtown Santa Monica," said Andrew Thomas, CEO of Downtown Santa Monica Inc.

"By removing unnecessary barriers and providing new opportunities for businesses to thrive, these updates will help create a more dynamic, engaging environment for both locals and visitors."

The interim zoning ordinance includes a pilot program that allows exclusively outdoor uses, such as open-air markets, to locate on private property, City officials said.

"To reduce the impact of these temporary events on residential districts," certain conditions were proposed that "limit their extent and location," City officials said.

The changes to the sign code will go into effect immediately, while the zoning ordinance will go back to council for final adoption on November 11 and go into effect 30 days later.

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