Consultant Services for Zoning Code Amendments to Implement State Housing Legislation

The City of Vista is located in the northern portion of San Diego County, and it is bordered by the County of San Diego to the north and east as well as several other jurisdictions, including the cities of Oceanside, Carlsbad and San Marcos to the west, south, and east respectively (see Attachment 1). The City of Vista occupies a total area of approximately 19 square miles that represents the incorporated portion of the city. According to the State Department of Finance, the City has a total population of approximately 102,098 persons. Vista presents a mixture of residential product types with commercial corridors adjacent to SR 78, and a large employment base with light industrial business centers in the southern portion of the city. Vista’s climate provides mild winters and cool summers for year-round outdoor activities. On January 1, 2020, several new housing-related bills were made effective in the State of California, which trigger required updates to the City’s zoning code, Chapter 18 of the Vista Development Code, to maintain conformity with State law. Those include revisions to the City’s zoning code related to accessory dwelling unit requirements and Density Bonus requirements, as well as new standards for housing project review, including streamlining provisions and objective development standards for housing, and new application materials for housing development projects, such as a preliminary application form/checklist.