Council updates circulation element to emphasize complete streets; transportation guidelines paused after court ruling

The Rancho Santa Margarita City Council unanimously adopted an update to the General Plan circulation element designed to advance “complete streets” policies and to align the circulation element with other recent plan updates.

City staff said the circulation element (not updated since 2014) updates regulatory language, integrates safety policies, and would provide guidance for transportation-study evaluations on future development projects. Staff noted they have paused proposed transportation-study guidelines after a recent court decision altered how the city may rely on Office of Planning and Research (OPR) guidance; the guidelines are expected to return for council consideration in the coming months.

During the public-hearing portion, a resident asked whether the circulation element covers traffic and whether the city’s license-plate-reader system (the "flock" cameras) is part of circulation planning. The police chief said the cameras are an investigative tool used to capture still license-plate photos in criminal investigations and are not continuous traffic-recording devices. Staff clarified the circulation element addresses all types of circulation — vehicular and nonvehicular.

Council adopted the CEQA addendum and the circulation-element amendment in a unanimous vote. The city will continue to refine transportation-study guidance in response to the court decision and return those guidelines for consideration.