May 2012 Housing Workshops - Community Status Update
Next Steps:
In an effort to maintain a high level of customer service, Encinitas is initiating a city-wide strategic plan in 2013. With help from the community, the City will condusct Strategic Visioning and develop a working blueprint that provides strategic goals for providing services while maintaining our fiscal responsibility.
The Element Advisory Committee, General Plan Advisory Committee, and Planning Commission have recently made presentations to Council regarding their recommendations on density, land use, and housing policies. It is anticipated that Council will further discuss the May 2012 Workshop results and housing strategies developed by advisory groups during/after the Strategic Visioning process. After potential land use scenarios have been identified, the City will analyze all potential impacts and ask the public for comments about the project and environmental analysis. For more information on the Strategic Visioning process, please contact the City Manager's office. To learn more about the General Plan Update planning process, please refer to the information provided below.
*UPDATED NOTE (March 5, 2013): The draft General Plan should be used only as a reference document. The City will continue to implement the existing General Plan to make local decisions about land use, housing, circulation, open space/resource management, public safety, etc.
What is the General Plan?
All cities are required to adopt a General Plan according to State of California planning law. General Plans are often called a city’s “blueprint” for guiding future development and is used as a tool for making local government decisions. The City’s current General Plan includes the required elements by state law (Land Use, Housing, Circulation, Resource Management, Noise, and Public Safety) and an optional element (Recreation). These elements address issues that directly affect your community and quality of life such as air and water quality, fire response, traffic, parks, environmental initiatives adequate housing for different housing needs, design of buildings, and preservation of open space.
Comprehensive General Plan Update (CGPU)
The Encinitas General Plan has not undergone a major comprehensive update since its adoption in 1989. To ensure our General Plan continues to be a useful tool, in early 2010 the City embarked on a Comprehensive General Plan Update (CGPU) to keep pace and provide workable solutions to the issues facing the City, such as sustainable communities, climate change, storm water cleansing, and green building.
In March 2010, the City hosted community specific workshops in each of the City's five communities (New Encinitas, Old Encinitas, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Olivenhain, and Leucadia). Citywide public workshops were also held in May 2010, November 2010, March 2011, and September 2011. On September 1, 2011 the City released the draft General Plan for public comment.
In early, 2012, City Council determined to put "everything on hold" and re-engage the community in a series of open houses and workshops to discuss land use and housing in the City. Advisory committees and the Planning Commission were also asked to develop a series of housing policy recommendations.
At this point, the draft document should be used a resource only. Please take this opportunity to review some of the new goals and policies that were included in the draft’s release.
For more information on the public workshops, please click here.
Draft General Plan and Draft Zone Changes
Major CGPU Components
In addition to the aforementioned workshops, there were a number of other important ways community members participated throughout the update process or comment on its progress. The City's comprehensive public outreach plan and associated documents can be accessed at the links below:
How You Can Stay Involved
Write or email your comments and ideas about the CGPU work program, visit updates to the City’s website, and attend meetings as they occur throughout the process. Subscribe to City e-alerts at http://www.cityofencinitas.org/E-SubscriptionsLogin/ and select your preferred email notification/newsletter topics to receive email notifications of upcoming events.
Other Resources
Current General Plan
State of California General Plan Guidelines (OPR)
Regional Transportation Plan (SANDAG) *Please note this file is large in size and may take significant time to download. You may also visit the project site at www.sandag.org
Regional Housing Needs Allocation Plan (SANDAG)