Frequently Asked Questions
What is a General Plan?
The General Plan is the fundamental policy document of the City of Santa Paula, providing the framework for managing the city's physical and economic resources now and in the future. A general plan acts as the "constitution" for making rational decisions regarding a city's long-term physical development. The general plan expresses the community's development goals and incorporates public policies relative to the distribution of future public and private land uses. California law requires that each city adopt a general plan for the physical development of the city and any land outside its boundaries which bears relation to its planning. Typically, a general plan is designed to address the issues facing the city for the next 20 to 25 years.
The general plan includes "topical elements," of which seven are mandatory. The state-mandated elements are: Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise, and Safety. Each of these mandatory elements is required to be included in the general plan; however, state law allows two or more of them to be consolidated as long as the required issue areas are addressed. Santa Paula’s current General Plan includes the following elements:
The Housing Element was last updated in 2013 and will not be included in this General Plan update process unless revisions are necessary to maintain consistency with other elements. The next Housing Element update must occur in 2021 pursuant to state law.
Why is it necessary to update the General Plan now, and what do we hope to accomplish?
Santa Paula’s General Plan was last updated on a comprehensive basis in 1998, and a lot has changed over the past two decades. The General Plan Update is a process of clarifying, articulating and integrating the City’s intentions and policies with the rights and expectations of the community; including residents, property owners, and businesses. The updated General Plan will be used as a blueprint for:
How long will the General Plan update take?
The General Plan Update is expected to take approximately two years, with adoption of the new Plan in Winter 2017-18. The update is being conducted in the following four major stages:
Where can I go for more information about General Plans and the update process?
How can I stay involved in the General Plan update process?
Click below if you would like to be notified of future meetings and activities regarding the General Plan update:
The General Plan is the fundamental policy document of the City of Santa Paula, providing the framework for managing the city's physical and economic resources now and in the future. A general plan acts as the "constitution" for making rational decisions regarding a city's long-term physical development. The general plan expresses the community's development goals and incorporates public policies relative to the distribution of future public and private land uses. California law requires that each city adopt a general plan for the physical development of the city and any land outside its boundaries which bears relation to its planning. Typically, a general plan is designed to address the issues facing the city for the next 20 to 25 years.
The general plan includes "topical elements," of which seven are mandatory. The state-mandated elements are: Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise, and Safety. Each of these mandatory elements is required to be included in the general plan; however, state law allows two or more of them to be consolidated as long as the required issue areas are addressed. Santa Paula’s current General Plan includes the following elements:
- Land Use Element
- Circulation Element
- Housing Element
- Conservation and Open Space Element
- Noise Element
- Safety Element
The Housing Element was last updated in 2013 and will not be included in this General Plan update process unless revisions are necessary to maintain consistency with other elements. The next Housing Element update must occur in 2021 pursuant to state law.
Why is it necessary to update the General Plan now, and what do we hope to accomplish?
Santa Paula’s General Plan was last updated on a comprehensive basis in 1998, and a lot has changed over the past two decades. The General Plan Update is a process of clarifying, articulating and integrating the City’s intentions and policies with the rights and expectations of the community; including residents, property owners, and businesses. The updated General Plan will be used as a blueprint for:
- Choices about the use of land
- Conservation and development of new housing
- Provision of infrastructure and public and human services
- Protection of environmental resources
- Safeguarding from natural and man-made hazards
- Allocation of fiscal resources
- Population growth
- Expansion of City boundaries
How long will the General Plan update take?
The General Plan Update is expected to take approximately two years, with adoption of the new Plan in Winter 2017-18. The update is being conducted in the following four major stages:
- Phase 1: Initiation and Scoping
- Phase 2: Technical Analysis
- Phase 3: Draft General Plan Preparation and CEQA Analysis
- Phase 4: General Plan Review and Adoption
Where can I go for more information about General Plans and the update process?
- California Governor's Office of Planning and Research
- California Planning Guide: An Introduction to Planning in California
- The California General Plan Glossary
How can I stay involved in the General Plan update process?
Click below if you would like to be notified of future meetings and activities regarding the General Plan update:
