Santa Monica Planning Commission Meeting May 6, 2026

The City of Santa Monica Planning Commission convened on May 6, 2026, to discuss several key planning and zoning issues, with a strong focus on housing and development incentives in the downtown area. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing and recommending amendments related to Senate Bill 79 (SB79), which mandates upzoning near transit stops. Staff presented an exclusion ordinance proposal to maintain local land use control by selectively upzoning parcels within a half-mile radius of transit stops, particularly focusing on the Expo Bundy zone. The commission debated two options for upzoning, with concerns raised about displacement, affirmatively furthering fair housing commitments, and the impact on rent-controlled properties. The commission ultimately recommended adopting the exclusion ordinance with option two, which includes targeted upzoning of R2 and R3 parcels within the half-mile zone, while emphasizing the need for further study on fair housing impacts.

Additionally, the commission reviewed proposed amendments to the downtown housing incentive program, including increasing base density and height limits (up to 130 feet and 5.0 floor area ratio) to encourage housing development. The program includes unit mix requirements to incentivize larger family-sized units and offers options for on-site or off-site affordable housing compliance. Discussions also covered the strategic use of city-owned land and gateway sites, with proposals to exempt city-owned properties from zoning ordinances to allow more flexible development, while recommending development agreements for large commercial projects over 30,000 square feet to ensure community benefits. The commission expressed mixed views on these proposals, with some members requesting continuation of the discussion to refine the incentive program and address concerns about neighborhood impacts and tenant protections. Motions were passed to support exempting city-owned land from zoning ordinances and requiring development agreements for large commercial gateway projects, while deferring final decisions on downtown upzoning and incentive programs for further study.