On July 15, 2016, the City Council passed and adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 2869 imposing a moratorium on the approval of permits or land use entitlements for mortuaries and crematoriums. The principal purpose of Urgency Ordinance No. 2869 is to prohibit any new such uses pending a full and complete zoning study leading to appropriate zoning regulations applicable to these uses.

Urgency Ordinance No. 2869 is valid for 45 days, but can be extended for an additional 10 months and 15 days or 22 months and 15 days.  Staff is recommending that Urgency Ordinance No. 2869 be extended for the first statutory period of 10 months and 15 days. It is anticipated that permanent zoning regulations will be processed through the Planning Commission and presented to the City Council prior to the expiration of the 10 month 15 day extension of the moratorium imposed by Urgency Ordinance No. 2869.

During the initial 45-day period, Planning Department staff commenced studying and developing the regulations that would best protect the health, safety, and welfare concerns identified in the Legislative Intent and Findings of Section 1 of Urgency Ordinance No. 2869.

Government Code section 65858 requires that a public hearing be held as a part of the extension process.  The adoption of this urgency ordinance extending the moratorium imposed by Urgency Ordinance No. 2869 requires 4 affirmative votes of the City Council.

Notice of the public hearing was provided by the City Clerk's Office pursuant to Government Code section 65858.

It is recommended that the City Council:

• Adopt Urgency Ordinance No. 2870 entitled AN URGENCY INTERIM ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GARDEN GROVE APPROVING A 10 MONTH AND 15 DAY EXTENSION OF URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 2869 IMPOSING A MORATORIUM ON THE APPROVAL OF MORTUARIES AND CREMATORIUMS PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65858.