Advanced Planning Division
About the Division
The Advanced Planning Division translates the collective vision of the community into actionable plans, through expeditious, comprehensive, and responsive long‐ range planning services. Core services include: implementation and maintenance of the General Plan and other long‐range planning documents such as the Zoning Code, Subdivision Ordinance, Housing Element, and Specific Plans, annexations, and coordination with local, regional, state, and federal agencies on land use, housing, environmental and long‐range planning initiatives.
Accomplishments
Recent accomplishments of the Advanced Planning Division include:
- Releasing the Draft Central Area Specific Plan (CASP) and Environmental Impact Report in June, 2020. The CASP is for a 2,500-acre portion of the North of Boronda Future Growth Area and is expected to bring over 3,700 housing units of various types and over 205,000 square feet of commercial space.
- Hosting or facilitating over 90 outreach events for the 2020 Census in collaboration with the Salinas Census Action Team, engaging over 3,900 residents. The City has also adapted its outreach strategies due to COVID-19, increasing radio spots and social media posts, mailing over 53,000 leaflets with utility bills, installing banners and yard signs, as well as distributing over 1,500 Census Kits in coordination with small business, recreation, homelessness, and other service outreach.
- Formally adopting the Guiding Principles for the General Plan Update in March, 2020.
- Guiding the West Area Specific Plan to City Council adoption in December, 2019. This Specific Plan, also in the North of Boronda Future Growth Area, includes over 4,000 housing units and 570,000 square feet of commercial space, along with parks, schools, and open space.
What We're Working On
Creation of a well-planned city with excellent infrastructure and a high quality of life through:
- Preparing for a comprehensive update of the General Plan, which was last revised in 2002, and the creation of Salinas' first Climate Action Plan.
- Ensuring a complete count of all City residents in the 2020 U.S. Census in coordination Monterey County and the Salinas Census Action Team.
Visión Salinas and the General Plan Update
Visión Salinas is a unified and coordinated effort of three Salinas Planning Initiatives (the Alisal Vibrancy Plan, the Parks, Rec, & Libraries Master Plan, and the Chinatown Revitalization Plan), the community, and between various city departments. The Visión Salinas website will offer information and an event calendar on other related projects such as the El Gabilan Library Project, the new Public Safety Center Project, the Intermodal Transit Center Project, and the Carr Lake Visioning (a Big Sur Land Trust Initiative). Visión Salinas will also collect the public feedback comments from these planning processes and synthesize it into the guiding principles of the City’s General Plan Update! Its crucial that we hear from YOU about your vision for the City’s future. You can stay up to date by adding your contact information here (Vision Salinas “Get Involved” page), or check the Vision Salinas Calendar to see events that you can come to and help translate your vision into city policy. Please use this link to see the Vision Salinas calendar.
Public Review Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element
The Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element is available for public review. This Draft Housing Element is the result of months of intense work and reflects years of community engagement on housing. This Sixth Cycle update of the Housing will eventually replace the 2015 Housing Element, which expires in December 2023. Public comments for the Draft Housing Element may be sent to Jonathan Moore, Senior Planner, via email at [email protected], or mailed to: City of Salinas Community Development Department, C/O Jonathan Moore, 65 W Alisal Street, Ste 201, Salinas, California 93901.
The public comment period will start on May 12 and end June 20, 2023. After the public comment period, the City must take 10 business days to incorporate and respond to comments before submitting the Draft to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for their review. HCD will have up to 90 days to provide comments. Once these are received, the City will update the Draft Housing Element and rerelease for review and adoption prior to December 15, 2023, the statutory deadline for adoption.
City Awarded Clean California Grant for Alisal Projects
March 4, 2022
The “Alisal Greening, Beautification, and Safety Project” was one project out of 300 Caltrans Clean California Local Grant Program applications awarded. City staff are excited and happy because the award furthers Alisal Vibrancy Plan implementation priorities of improving the appearance, cleanliness, safety and infrastructure and parks and open space in the Alisal. Proposed improvements include litter abatement, beautification through planting drought-tolerant vegetation and trees, a bioswale, wayfinding signage, a gateway monument, banners and murals, permeable pavers, sidewalk art highlighting safe routes through the neighborhoods, and education programming to foster a safe, clean, connected, and accessible...
Join the Visión Salinas 2040 Working Group Kick-Off
January 16, 2022
The City of Salinas is kicking off the Visión Salinas 2040 working groups. At this meeting, there will be discussion on Salinas' existing conditions related to housing, parks, economic development and more.
No experience necessary! Bring your ideas and vision for what Salinas of the future looks like!
Register in advance for this virtual meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_IYjE8kV8RriizZbYCJoS4w
Questions? Contact Monica Gurmilan at [email protected] or 831-758-7409.
Imagine the Salinas of the Future!
November 22, 2021
Do you ever wonder why the buildings in the City look the way they do, where new businesses could open, why certain roads look different, or how projects are prioritized? The answers to these questions are often found in the City's General Plan. By getting involved, you’ll learn more about the why and help create a plan for Salinas’ future.
CLICK HERE to complete a brief survey! Your VISIÓN for Salinas matters!
#VisiónSalinas2040
