The Planning Division ensures that all proposed development projects comply with the standards and requirements set forth in:

• City of Calabasas Calabasas Municipal Code (Title 17 of the City of Calabasas Municipal Code)
• CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act)
• City of Calabasas 2030 General Plan
• and all other applicable Master Plans and development guidelines.

Land Use and Development Code

(Title 17 of the City of Calabasas Municipal Code)

Calabasas Municipal Code contains the city’s zoning, subdivision and other land use regulations. Additional building construction requirements and other aspects of development and land use can be found in other titles of the Calabasas Municipal Code.

Scenic Corridor Development Guidelines

The Scenic Corridor Development Guidelines provide a set of design parameters that are applied to development projects being constructed within 500 feet of the City’s four Scenic Corridors: Mulholland Highway, Las Virgenes Road, Old Topanga Canyon, and the Ventura Freeway. Development projects which are visible from a Scenic Corridor, but located further than 500 feet from the corridor, are also subject to the Scenic Corridor Development Guidelines.

Mapped Ridgeline Development Standards

A ridgeline is defined in the Calabasas Municipal Code as a line connecting the highest points along a ridge and separating draining basins or small scale drainage systems from one another.

Significant Ridgelines are visually prominent features within the City and are mapped in the City’s Open Space Element of the General Plan (Figure III-4). The City’s General Plan also contains policies that seek to protect these ridgelines. To implement the City’s General Plan Policies, all properties (map) containing a mapped ridgeline must comply with Section 17.20.150 of the Calabasas Municipal Code. These standards generally describe development standards related to grading, site planning, architectural design, landscape treatment, slope maintenance and hazards.

Story Pole Procedures

The Story Pole Procedures outline the process by which story poles are to be placed on a property for which a development project is being proposed and for which a public hearing is scheduled.

Oak Tree Preservation & Protection Guidelines

The Oak Tree Preservation and Protection Guidelines describe methods, procedures and application materials required by the City to ensure that proper consideration is given to oak trees and their habitat in connection with development and other requests. These guidelines expand upon the statutory requirements provided by the City’s Oak Tree Ordinance (Section 17.32 of the Calabasas Municipal Code).

Sign Programs

Sign programs are required for all new shopping centers, or remodels of existing shopping centers, with five or more tenants, where new tenant spaces are created or changes are proposed to the exterior of the building. The purpose of a sign program is to integrate a project’s signs into the architectural design of a site and to ensure visibility of all signs.

Existing Sign Programs within the City of Calabasas

• 24100 Calabasas Road
• 24400 Calabasas Road
• Calabasas Park/The Commons Office
• Calabasas Place
• Courtyard at The Commons
• Creekside Village
• Gelson’s Village
• Las Virgenes Village
• Mercedes-Benz of Calabasas
• Old Town
• The Avanti, 23500 Park Sorrento
• The Commons
• The Park Calabasas
• The Summit at Calabasas
• Rondell Hotel Sign Program

Community Development Forums

The Community Development Forum Guidelines for larger development projects reflects the input of Calabasas residents, stakeholders, and public officials, and aids implementation of the Calabasas 2030 General Plan. In accordance with City Council Ordinance No. 2018-353, two Community Development Forums must be conducted for any commercial development project, or new residential subdivision or apartment project, which involves one or more of the following:

1. General Plan Amendment;
2. Development Plan Amendment;
3. Development Agreement;
4. Zone Change;
5. Variance;
6. Tentative Tract Map.
7. Proposed new construction on undeveloped land, proposed new construction to fully replace an existing structure(s), or any proposed addition of 10,000 square feet or more to an existing building in a Commercial, Recreational, Multi-family or Planned Development zone.

The first public forum must be conducted prior to application submittal, and the second forum must be conducted prior to a determination by staff that the project application and plans are complete. Details about the purpose and process for the community development forums are found within Section 17.60.055 of the CMC[MK1] .  The following resources may be used to prepare a notice for a Community Development Forum:

Forum Notice Template