General Plan Update - General Plan

What is involved in the Update Process? Begun in early 2007, the update process will include the following steps over a period of approximately 24 months, through 2009.

Step 1 Document Existing Conditions
Step 2 Conduct a Visioning Process
Step 3 Develop a Land Use Plan
Step 4 Prepare Updated General Plan
Step 5 Prepare an Environmental Impact Report
Step 6 Conduct Public Hearings to Adopt the Updated General Plan & EIR

Step1: Document Existing Conditions

The first step in updating a General Plan is to understand existing conditions and the current issues relative to the community’s growth and development. This involves an analysis of the current conditions, including the City’s land use, economy, housing, circulation, etc. This information is compiled into a Technical Background Report that will be used as the basis for the formulation of the updated General Plan as well as preparation of the Environmental Impact Report. A critical part of analyzing the existing conditions is preparation of a series of “white papers” or Issue Papers that summarize and discuss each of the key issues identified within the context of existing conditions and the City’s current vision.

Step 2: Conduct a Visioning Process

During this task, the consultants and City staff will meet with community stakeholders and the general public in a Community Visioning Workshop to establish a Vision Statement that will be used to guide preparation of the updated General Plan. The Vision Statement will be confirmed by the General Plan Advisory Committee (established by the City to provide guidance for the General Plan Update process), Planning Commission, and City Council. Following the visioning process, a set of Guiding Principles will be developed. These non-negotiable principles will guide formulation of updated General Plan policies and will be defined by community stakeholders in consideration of the Vision Statement, the Technical Background Report, and input received from review of the Issue Papers. Check the Upcoming Events section for details of the Community Visioning Workshop.

Step 3: Develop a Land Use Plan

Based on the information from the Technical Background Report and the Community Visioning Process, an updated Land Use Plan will be prepared. Developing a Land
Use Plan includes four key steps: (a) identifying growth and land use development options; (b) testing of these according to their impacts and acceptability; (c) selection
of a preferred growth and development scenario; and (d) formulation of policies and programs that comprehensively address community development, infrastructure, services, social, environmental, and public health, and community safety issues
and values.

Identifying the land use development options will involve identifying areas of the City where land uses will be preserved and areas where new development will be targeted. In areas where new development will be targeted, the Land Use Plan will specify what types of land uses are appropriate, including the density and character of uses within these areas. These scenarios will be tested to determine their impacts and acceptability to the community, and a preferred growth and development scenario will be selected.

Once a preferred Land Use Plan is selected, goals, objectives, policies, and programs will be formulated for each chapter of the General Plan to reflect the issues, vision, and planning principles agreed upon by the community. They will also reflect public input, as the General Plan Advisory Committee, the Planning Commission and City Council will be asked to review and confirm these preliminary policies. These General Plan events will be posted in the Upcoming Events section when dates for these activities are determined.

Step 4: Prepare an Updated General Plan

Based on the input received from the previous task, a draft updated General Plan will
be prepared. This will be published for public review and posted on this website
along with all other General Plan Reports and Documents prepared throughout
this process.

Step 5: Prepare an Environmental Impact Report

Before considering the updated General Plan, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be prepared to evaluate the potential impacts of growth allowed under the updated General Plan on all affected resources. These resources include, but are not limited to, air, water quality and open space. For those resources that will be negatively impacted, the EIR will recommend ways to reduce or eliminate the impacts. Once the EIR is completed, the updated General Plan will be presented to City Council for adoption.

Step 6: Conduct Public Hearings to Adopt the Updated General Plan and Certify the EIR

Upon completion of the draft General Plan and EIR, the Planning Commission and City Council will conduct public hearings during which the updated Draft General Plan will be presented for adoption and the Draft EIR will be considered for certification.