Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
City staff preview Salinas 2040 general plan draft and outreach plan
Loading...
Summary
Senior planner Oscar Resendiz presented the public-review draft of the Salinas 2040 general plan, the city's first comprehensive update since 2002, highlighting expanded elements such as a climate action plan, environmental justice, multilingual outreach and an expected draft EIR and public comment period this spring.
Senior planner Oscar Resendiz presented the public-review draft of the Salinas 2040 general plan to the commission on March 11, describing it as the first comprehensive update since 2002 and a policy framework intended to guide the city’s development through 2040.
Resendiz said the update incorporates outcomes from more recent planning efforts — including the Alisal Vibrancy Plan, Chinatown Revitalization Plan and the Parks, Recreation and Library Master Plan — and adds a climate action plan and an environmental justice element. He described a broad outreach program that included more than 23 workshops and webinars, eight working groups, pop-up events in community locations and contracted multilingual outreach (Spanish and indigenous-language engagement were highlighted).
Resendiz outlined the timeline for review: staff expect to release the draft environmental impact report and the revised general plan for a 45‑day public-comment period in the spring; subsequent study sessions and commission reviews would precede final adoption later in 2026. Commissioners asked about where this commission's comments fit into the approval chain; Resendiz said staff will present the draft to other regulatory commissions as required and continue a ‘roadshow’ of outreach events to solicit feedback.
Why it matters: The general plan sets long‑range policy on housing, land use, transportation, parks and open space, and public safety. Resendiz said the draft refocuses transportation planning to include sidewalks, bike paths and multimodal connectivity rather than just lane expansion, and that implementation will include zoning-code updates to align regulations with the general plan.
Public participation: Commissioners and commenters urged more localized, district‑level engagement so residents who cannot travel to central events can weigh in. Staff invited commissioners and the public to review the draft online and submit comments by the posted deadline; Resendiz said staff would circulate the exact closing date and continue to accept comments during subsequent revisions.
Next steps: Staff will circulate the draft EIR and revised general plan for public review and continue outreach through commission roadshows and targeted events in the coming months.
