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Norco staff say draft general plan to protect 'Norco character' will be released for public review this summer
Summary
City planning staff reported progress on a multi-year general plan update aimed at preserving Norco’s equestrian and agricultural character while directing change to commercial corridors. A draft general plan and draft environmental impact report are due for public review in summer, with an adoption targeted by year-end.
Norco planning staff told the City Council that a draft of the city’s updated general plan and a draft program environmental impact report (EIR) will be released for public review this summer, as part of a roughly 2½-year update process.
Jean Ward, the city’s planning manager, said the work seeks to “keep Norco Norco” — an explicit guiding phrase the city has used during public outreach — by protecting equestrian and agricultural character while identifying targeted opportunity areas for gradual change, primarily along the Hamner and Sixth Street corridors.
Ward said the update is required by state law and that the current plan contains elements more than 20 years old. The draft plan will include revised policy language, a community “road map” illustrating conservation and targeted change areas, and alternatives that visualize possible land-use outcomes for commercial corridors.
“The primary focus of discussion in subsequent engagement after we established this has really been on how to make the best use of the commercial corridors to help generate revenues for the city while also preserving the character and values of Norco,” Ward said.
Ward said the project has included extensive public engagement over the prior 18 months: community workshops, study sessions and online outreach. She told the council the draft general plan and program EIR will be circulated for public comment this summer and proceed through the public hearing process later in the year with a goal of adoption by the end of the calendar year.
Councilmembers praised the outreach and the emphasis on place-based planning. Ward said the plan’s early materials aim to balance revenue generation on key corridors with protection of the city’s rural, equestrian identity.
Ending
Staff urged residents to consult the project web page for updates and documents as they become available and said additional public hearings and workshops will follow the draft release.
