Current Planning Division

About the Division

The Current Planning Division promotes a vibrant and sustainable Salinas by ensuring that development conforms to our General Plan and Zoning Code or any other applicable regulations and standards. Specifically, Current Planning is tasked with efficiently processing various applications including: General Plan and Zoning Code Amendments, Zone Variances, Planned Unit Development Permits, Tentative and Parcel Maps, Conditional Use Permits, Site Plan Reviews, Temporary Use of Land Permits, Home Occupation Permits, and Sign Permits. Staff also coordinate environmental evaluations (CEQA) for all development projects.

Accomplishments

In 2015 the Division:

Processed approximately 450 permits and planning entitlements
Facilitated several key developments including the Northridge Mall and new JCPenney, Taylor Headquarters Building, Hampton Inn, Mission Tortilla, and Creekbridge Apartments
Completed a 2015 update to the planning fees to achieve greater cost recovery
Assisted approximately 2,400 customers at the public counter.

What We're Working On

Enhancement of Permit Center Operations to further Economic Prosperity through:

Improved case management of key economic development projects to streamline review process.
Reduction in time to process applications.
Enhanced coordination between Permit Services, Code Enforcement, and Current Planning Staff in order to manage cases seamlessly through the process.
Identification of challenges or issues with the existing General Plan and Zoning Code to eliminate barriers to healthy economic development.

Current Planning Assumes Cannabis Permitting Responsibility

February 8, 2019

In December of 2018 responsibility for commercial cannabis business permitting was transferred from the City Manager’s Office to the Community Development Department, Current Planning Division. The decision was made because Current Planning and the Permit Center are already extensively involved in the commercial cannabis business permitting in processing applicable building permits, processing zoning information letters, providing data for GIS mapping, fee intake, and communication with the commercial cannabis business operators.

Current Planning has contracted with Rincon Consultants, Inc. to provide assistance on all cannabis-related permitting tasks. Rincon provides services in permit processing throughout the...

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