DATE: January 27, 2026
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Development Services Director
SUBJECT
Title
Business-Friendly Hayward Project Update: Review of Draft Municipal Code and Zoning Maps Revisions Related to the Business-Friendly Hayward Project
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the City Council provides feedback on the draft Municipal Code and Zoning Map revisions related to the Business-Friendly Hayward project.
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SUMMARY
The Business-Friendly Hayward Project aims to accomplish a series of Strategic Roadmap projects and Downtown Specific Plan implementation programs by focusing on the following objectives:
* Streamline entitlement and permitting processes for desirable businesses across the City's commercial and mixed-use zoning districts.
* Activate vacant and underutilized properties and storefronts Downtown.
To date, City staff have reviewed best practices from nearby jurisdictions, analyzed Hayward's existing codes and practices related to commercial and mixed-use districts, conducted an analysis of commercial businesses in the Downtown area, and facilitated a series of public outreach efforts aimed at getting feedback from businesses, the public, and other community stakeholders.
Based on these efforts and feedback received from the Planning Commission and Council, revisions to the Municipal Code and Zoning Map have been drafted for the Council's feedback. These include a new organization and simplification of the Commercial Districts section of the Zoning Ordinance; relaxed permitting requirements for popular business types; strategic new land use controls; new simple permit types to better support emerging businesses and activation of our commercial areas; and rezonings to simplify the Zoning Map.
At this work session, staff is requesting feedback from the Council on the following:
* Are the draft Municipal Code revisions, new permit types, and proposed rezonings appropriate for...
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