Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map Update

In July 2021, the City of Dixon embarked on a comprehensive update to the City’s Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map that will result in a user-friendly Zoning Ordinance that serves as an effective tool to implement the recently adopted General Plan, shape future growth, and help realize the community’s vision of preserving and enhancing the small town character, while also providing for new growth that enhances quality of life, including new jobs that provide employment for local residents and a range of housing types that will be affordable to people of all ages. The comprehensive update to the Zoning Ordinance and Map also included some some associated minor/technical General Plan land use map and text amendments. 

This webpage serves as your one-stop shop for information about the project. We invite you to take a look around, share your thoughts, and check back often for updates on the process and to review draft documents.

Latest News

As of May 2024, the project to comprehensively update the Dixon Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map is now completed. This project also included minor amendments to the General Plan land use map and two land use designations. The City Council adopted the General Plan amendments on April 2, 2204 and also passed the first reading of an Ordinance adopting the Comprehensive Update to the Zoning Ordinance and Map.  On May 7, the City Council conducted the 2nd reading and passed the Ordinance to print. The new Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map became effective on June 6, 2024.  See below for more information on this completed project, including the "Project Documents" section which includes all past drafts, staff reports, documents and other materials associated with the update project.  

The Final Adopted Zoning Ordinance, and Zoning Map, and associated General Plan amendments are linked here. The updated zoning code will be codified into Title 18 of the Dixon Municipal Code by our Municipal Code publisher, but that may take a little time after the June 6, 2024 effective date. So, make sure to use the adopted version here in the meantime 

About

Why Update the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map?

The current Zoning Ordinance, Title 18 in the Municipal Code, has not been updated comprehensively in decades. Outdated regulations can sometimes hinder community objectives and economic development.

The recent adoption of the General Plan 2040 has created an obligation and opportunity for a comprehensive update of the Zoning Ordinance, creating a concise and user-friendly set of regulations that will clearly communicate and effectively implement the new General Plan’s policies and incorporate its carefully crafted direction for the development, maintenance, and improvement of land and properties.

What is a Zoning Ordinance?

While the General Plan sets forth a wide-ranging and long-term vision for the City, the Zoning Ordinance specifies how each individual property can be used to achieve those objectives. Zoning is the body of rules and regulations that control what is built on the ground, and what uses occupy buildings and sites. Zoning determines the form and character of development, such as the size and height of buildings, and also includes provisions to ensure that new development and uses will fit into existing neighborhoods by establishing the rules for being a “good neighbor.”

Zoning Ordinances typically do the following:

• Divide a city into various zones;
• List permitted uses within those zones;
• Provide for conditional and accessory uses;
• Establish development standards such as building heights, setbacks, lot coverage, parking, signage, and landscaping; and
• Provide for administrative procedures for variances, conditional use permits, design review and zone changes or text amendments.

What is the Process and How Long Will It Take?

The City hired Miller Planning Associates (MPA), along with RRM Design Group, in Fall of 2021 to lead the Zoning Ordinance update project. The project will moved from research and evaluation of City policies, regulations, and development to the development of an overall framework for the new Zoning Ordinance. New and updated regulations were drafted for review and considered and revised, based on input received. The community was encouraged to participate throughout the process, through updates and meeting before the Planning Commission and Council, 3 public workshops and community wide survey, and various events at which input was solicited. The update process ended up taking 2.5 years, and concluded Spring of 2024.Who Can Participate?

All residents, business owners, and other stakeholders within Dixon are encouraged to take part in this project and shape the future of the community.

How Can I Get Involved?

We are soliciting citizen participation in all phases of the project. There are many ways to get involved! See below for participation information.

Project Documents

Final Adopted Documents Zoning Ordinance, adopted 5/7/24 (Ordinance 24-002) Zoning Map (11x17" size), adopted 5/7/24 (Ordinance 24-002) Zoning Map (24"x 36" size), adopted 5/7/24 (Ordinance 24-002) General Plan amendments adopted 4/2/24 (Resolution 24-053)

City Council Adoption Hearing(s) -  April 2, 2024 and May 7, 2024 Staff Report to City Council, with attachments (2nd reading of Ordinance), 5/7/24 Staff Report to City Council, with attachments, 4/2/24  Adopted City Council Resolution No. 24-053 (Approving General Plan land use map and text amendments, April 2, 2024) Adopted City Council Ordinance No. 24-002 (Approving a Comprehensive update to Zoning Ordinance, Zoning Map and associated Municipal Code amendments, May 7, 2024 CEQA Notice of Exemption (NOE), Filed with County Clerk and CEQA, Filed 4/5/24 Memo with additional correspondence received after staff report, 3/29/24 (Posted 3/29/24)  Presentation Slide Deck, City Council meeting, 4/2/24 (Posted on Mon 4/1/24) Video from 4/2/24 City Council meeting (Posted on Wed 4/3/24)  Video from 5/2/24 City Council meeting (Posted Thurs 5/9/24) Notice of 4/2/24 City Council Public Hearing, Issued March 22, 2024

Planning Commission Adoption Recommendation Hearing - February 13, 2024  Staff Report to Planning Commission, with attachments, 2/13/24 (Posted by Tues 2/6/24) Presentation Slide Deck, Planning Commission meeting, 2/13/24  Video from 2/13/24 Planning Commission meeting (starts at 4:55 into the meeting) Adopted Planning Commission Resolution No. 2024-002 (Recommending to City Council approval of General Plan land use map and text amendments, Feb 13, 2024  Adopted Planning Commission Resolution No. 2024-003 (Recommending to City Council approval of Comprehensive update to Zoning Ordinance, Zoning Map and associated Municipal Code amendments, Feb 13, 2024

Public Review Draft    City Council Approved Zoning Ordinance (Clean version), April 2024 (Posted Posted April 4, 2024)    City Council Approved Zoning Ordinance (Track Changes version), April 2024 (Posted Posted April 4, 2024)    Prior Public Review Draft Zoning Ordinances  Memo Re Revised Public Review Draft Release (Posted March 25, 2024) - Start with this memo  Public Review Draft Zoning Ordinance - Planning Commission Recommendation (Clean version), March 2024 (Posted March 25, 2024)  Public Review Draft Zoning Ordinance - Planning Commission Recommendation  (Track Changes version ), March 2024 (Posted March 25, 2024)   Public Review Draft Zoning Ordinance (Clean version) December 2023 (Posted December 1, 2023)   Public Review Draft Zoning Ordinance (Track Changes version), December 2023 (Posted December 1, 2023)  Draft Zoning Map (Page 1) and Planned Development (PD) Overlay Map (Page 2), November 2023 (Posted December 1, 2023) General Plan Technical Amendments Memo, December 1, 2023 Draft General Plan Land Use Map Amendments, November 2023 (Posted December 1, 2023) Draft Municipal Code amendments for consistency with Comprehensive Update to Zoning Ordinance, December 2023  Parcel Data for Zoning Map Changes requiring Rezoning/Reclassification - sorted by APN (Posted December 1, 2023)  Parcel Data for General Plan land use element change-sorted by APN (Posted December 1, 2023) Parcel Data for Zoning Map Changes (Complete document, combining the two above) - sorted by APN (Posted December 1, 2023) Memo Re Public Review Draft Release(Posted December 1, 2023) - Start with this memo Notice of Availability for Public Review Draft, Issued December 1, 2023

Study Session #3 (Monday, April 24, 2023, 6:30 pm) Draft Administrative Provisions, April 2023 (Posted 4/13/23) Staff Report for April 24th Study Session (Posted 4/13/23) Video from April 24th Study Session (Posted 4/27/23)

Study Session #2 (Monday, March 20, 2023, 6:30 pm)  Draft Citywide Standards, February 2023 (Posted 3/7/23) Staff Report for March 20th Study Session (Posted 3/7/23) Video from March 20th Study Session

Study Session #1 (Tuesday, January 31, 2023, 6:30 pm) Draft District and Use Regulations, January 2023 (Posted 12/29/22) Draft Zoning Map, version 2, May 2023 (Posted 5/29/23)  Zoning Map Changes requiring Rezoning/Reclassification (sorted by APN) Zoning Map Changes requiring Rezoning/Reclassification and General Plan land use change (sorted by APN)  Zoning Map Changes (Complete document, combining the two above (sorted by APN) Staff Report for January 31, 2023 Study Session #1, (Posted 1/27/23) Video from January 31, 2023 Study Session #1

Study Session Documents for Joint Planning Commission/City Council Study Sessions in Jan, Feb and March 2023 Notice of Study Sessions, Published and emailed January 6, March 10, 2023  Study Session Flyer (English/Spanish)  Memo Re scope of three study sessions and background, Dec 21, 2022

Workshop and Survey Input Summary (September - October 2022) Workshop and Survey Input Summary, September 2022. Presentation of this summary was provided to Planning Commission (October 11, 2022) and City Council (October 18, 2022)  Planning Commission meeting staff report and video (starts at 1:09 into the meeting) from October 11, 2022 meeting City Council meeting staff report and video from October 18, 2022 meeting On-line survey and hardcopy survey available form July 20th through August 31st

Community Workshops  (July - August 2022) Flyer in English and Spanishinviting public to two community workshops Presentation Boards presented at both meetings Community Workshop Presentation Presented at both meetings Video of the workshop #1 click here. (Wednesday, July 20, 2022, from 6-7:30pm at Dixon Senior Center/Multi Purpose Room).  Video of the workshop #2 click here. (Thursday, July 21, 2022, from 10-11:30am at Dixon City Hall - City Council Chambers) Survey from workshop  - Hardcopy survey or on-line link to survey (survey will be open until August 31, 2022)

Other Resources  Spring 2022 Newsletter sent to all city residents with May 15, 2022 utility bill Recommendations Memo, Feb 2022 (Presented at the March 8, 2022 Planning Commission meeting) Presentation on introduction to the update to Planning Commission and City Council (Feb 1 and Feb 8, 2022)

Contract/RFP Request for Proposal for Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance and Map Update, Issued July 9, 2021  Contract Approval Staff Report for Miller Planning Associates, City Council October 5, 2021

Existing City Documents Current Zoning Ordinance Current Zoning Map  General Plan 2040  Specific Plans

Upcoming Meetings

None, City Council hearing on adoption occurred April 2, and May 7, 2024

Meetings to Date

• October 5, 2021, the City selects and approves contract with Miller Planning Associates to lead the Zoning Ordinance and Map Update process. 
• February 1 and February 8, 2022, the City Council and Planning Commission received the same presentation at their respective meetings. These presentations were an introduction to to the project, with an overview of zoning, the scope of project, next steps and some preliminary discussion points. A copy of the presentation can be viewed here. Video, including the presentations, can be viewed 2/1/22 City Council and 2/8/22 Planning Commission meetings.
• March 8, 2022, the Planning Commission was presented with the Recommendations Memo which summarized the principal findings of the initial assessment of the current Zoning Code and present “big ideas” for the update, which will be further developed and refined as draft regulations are created. A copy of the staff report with the recommendations memo can viewed here. Video, including the presentations, can be viewed at 3/8/22 Planning Commission meeting (Starts at 2:01:25 into the meeting)
• On Wednesday, July 20 and Thursday, July 21, 2022, the City hosted two public workshops to solicit input on the Zoning Ordinance update process. Video of the power point and audio from the room can be viewed here  - July 20th video/July 21st video. For materials from this workshop, including the survey form, presentation board, presentation slides, please see project documents above.
• January 31, 2023  - The Planning Commission and City Council held a joint study session to review  Draft Zoning Ordinance (specifically the Draft District and Use regulations and Draft Zoning Map). Video from meeting. Documents from meeting are listed above
• March 20, 2023  - The Planning Commission and City Council held the 2nd joint study session to review  Draft Zoning Ordinance (Citywide regulations). Video from meeting. Documents from meeting are listed above
• April 24, 2023 - The Planning Commission and City Council held the 3rd joint study session to review Draft Zoning Ordinance (Follow up on Corridor Mixed Use regulations and Draft ADministrative Provisions). Video from meeting. Documents from meeting are listed above
• February 6, 2023 - The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing to consider their recommendation for the adoption of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance and Map update and approval of minor General Plan amendments. Video and documents from the meeting are listed above. Documents from meeting are listed above 
• April 2, 2024 - The City Council conducted a public hearing to consider the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance and Map update and approval of minor General Plan amendments. The Council ultimately approved the General Plan amendments and waived 1st reading and introduced the Ordinance for the Comprehensive Update to the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map and associated municipal code amendment.  
• May 7, 2024  - The City Council waived 2nd reading and adopted the Ordinance for the Comprehensive Update to the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map and associated municipal code amendments.  Documents from meeting are listed above. The new Ordinance will become effective after 30 days of adoption, or June 6, 2024

Contact Us

City staff are available to answer questions or to provide additional information on the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map . Please email planningdepartment@cityofdixon.us.