Commission appoints two members to technical advisory committee for city land use update

Community Development Director Michael Allen asked the Recreation and Parks Commission to appoint two commission members (one primary and one alternate) to a technical advisory committee (TAC) that will advise on the city’s land use element update.

“This is a 2 year process. … The land use element essentially is … the city’s blueprint for development,” Allen told the commission, and he said the land use element study and associated environmental analysis will likely cost about $886,000 for the element work the city is proposing.

Allen said the TAC will include representatives from several commissions, plus two city council members and department staff, and will provide policy‑level feedback to the consultant team during a series of meetings over the next two years. He characterized the committee as advisory only: the formal recommendation on the eventual plan will come from the planning commission and then city council.

Commissioners asked how the TAC will operate and who will make final decisions. Allen reiterated that council makes policy decisions and that the TAC’s role is to provide technical and community‑informed feedback to staff and the consultant. He also confirmed the school district would be treated as a stakeholder and met separately by the consultant team.

Commissioners Julie and Dave volunteered to serve (with Julie noting potential attendance constraints), and a motion to nominate Julie and Dave to the TAC carried unanimously, 5‑0.

Why this matters: the land use element guides zoning, development priorities, circulation and open‑space planning for decades; Allen said the element sets a long‑range vision (e.g., “El Segundo 2050”) and that implementation actions (zoning changes, circulation amendments) would follow later if the plan envisions them.

Next steps: staff will convene the TAC when consultant scheduling allows and notify the appointed commissioners of meeting dates and expectations.