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
In 2015 the Division:
- Completed the 2015‐2023 Housing Element, which was praised as a model for other cities by the California Housing and Community Development Department and winner of a 2016 Award of Excellence by the California Chapter American Planning Association.
- Guided the adoption of the Reasonable Accommodation Ordinance to facilitate development that is designed for people of all abilities.
- Initiated the environmental process for the West Area Specific Plan, part of the Future Growth Area located north of Boronda Road.
- Finalized a new City/County Downtown Government Center MOU to ensure coordination of governmental facilities development.
What We're Working On
Advancement of our Economic Prosperity through:
- The entitlement and development of the North of Boronda Future Growth Area (FGA) beginning with the West Area Specific Plan.
- Implementation of funding mechanisms in the FGA for critical City infrastructure and services to be incorporated into a Development Agreement (DA).
Creation of a well-planned city with excellent infrastructure and high quality housing for all residents through:
- Collaboration with various partners to establish a Housing Trust Fund for the Region.
- Initiation of a comprehensive Farm worker Housing Study to develop regional solutions for affordable housing for farm workers.
- Removal of regulatory barriers to housing production.
Creation of a well-planned city with excellent infrastructure and a high quality of life through:
- Comprehensive update of the General Plan, which was last revised in 2002.
- Revision of the Subdivision Ordinance.
- Coordination with Public Works on traffic model and new Traffic Fee Ordinance to ensure alignment with the General Plan Update process.
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.
City Highlights Planning Efforts at El Grito Booth
September 20, 2017
Community Development participated in El Grito last Sunday, September 17th, using the event to publicize the multiple planning efforts happening in Salinas. Visión Salinas had a booth with different activities such as a drawing activity where people were asked what they wanted to see in Salinas in 10 years. The event also promoted the Alisal Vibrancy Plan and Chinatown Plan, and gave attendees the opportunity to learn more about these processes and how they could get involved. To find out more about these plans and upcoming events, visit http://www.visionsalinas.org/
Youth Interns Learn about Planning and City Government
August 8, 2017
On July 13th, Salinas Neighborhood Services Youth and Government Interns visited Community Development to learn about the General Plan, outreach efforts, and current planning initiatives. Tara Hullinger, Advanced Planning Manager gave a presentation on the General Plan, as well as giving students a tour of Community Development and its divisions. Jill Miller, a Senior Planner talked to the interns about the Lowe’s Hardware Store project, while Adam Garrett, an Assistant Planner showed the students the Visión Salinas website and talked about current planning initiatives going on in the City. Students also got a careers perspective...