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.
The General Plan Update is Coming!
April 23, 2021
The Advanced Planning Division is finalizing a community engagement framework for the City's General Plan and the establishment of different committees which will help guide the process. The General Plan Update, Visión Salinas 2040, will also include Salinas’ first Environmental Justice Element and Climate Action Plan. Every city in California is required to have a General Plan which guides the city’s future development.
We often wonder why our buildings look the way they do, where we could open a business, why certain roads look different, or how different projects are prioritized. The answers to...
Salinas is a Finalist for RWJF Culture of Health Prize
February 24, 2021
The City of Salinas was chosen as a finalist for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RJWF) Culture of Health Prize. As a 2021 finalist, Salinas is one step closer to the national Prize, which honors communities working at the forefront of advancing health, opportunity, and equity for all.
The City joins eight other finalist communities from across the country, and the winners will be announced this fall.
“We are pleased to advance as a RWJF Culture of Health Prize finalist community. To the City of Salinas community, this is a recognition of the...
Planning Manager Tara Hullinger Retires After 21 Years of Service
September 9, 2020
Advanced Planning Division Manager, Tara Hullinger, of Community Development Department retired on September 4th, 2020 after 21 years of service with the City of Salinas. Tara returned to work in Salinas, her hometown, in 1999. Tara began her career at the City as an Associate Planner, and was later promoted to Senior and Principal Planner, and became the Advanced Planning Division Manager in 2014.
Tara leaves behind a strong legacy of sustainable and innovative planning at the City of Salinas, having led the 2006 Zoning Code Update, the award-winning Housing Element Update of 2015,...
