Arroyo Grande council reviews preliminary general plan draft and narrows changes for focus areas

The Arroyo Grande City Council held a lengthy study session on the city's preliminary public review draft of a comprehensive general plan update, reviewing the document's ten elements and asking staff to refine policies before the formal environmental review process begins.

Community development director Brian Pradady summarized the process that began in 2023 and said the draft incorporated community input and state-required elements. "This draft reflects that input," he told the council.

Consultants outlined the plan's structure: goals for each element, clearer policies and implementation programs intended as actionable "promises" for the city. Key changes in the draft include a new parks land-use designation, a strengthened safety element to meet state requirements, and an expanded approach to economic development and health and equity.

Public commenters raised a range of concerns. Joel Fishbine urged protection of open space and more infill; Trish Wilson, representing local tennis players, asked staff to reconcile the general plan with an ongoing Sodto Sports Complex master planning process; and property owners and representatives for the Frederick family and North Fair Oaks focus area sought clarity on boundaries, percentages for open space and timing of infrastructure improvements.

Council direction and staff responses included:

- Frederick focus area boundary: staff agreed to revise the draft to ensure the focus-area boundary includes all relevant parcels as requested by an owner.

- Open-space/recreation flexibility: council signaled that percentage targets for North Fair Oaks (for example, the 20% open-space target discussed in the draft) should be treated as a community-derived starting point and kept flexible for refinement in a future specific plan.

- Phasing of road/trail improvements: staff agreed to clarify policy language that trails, connector roads or other improvements would not be constructed through or across active agricultural operations until the property owner has ceased active agricultural use or coordination and phasing are addressed in the specific plan.

- Agricultural preservation: council opted to retain draft policies that encourage participation in programs like the Williamson Act and continue to discourage subdivision practices that would fragment agricultural operations; council asked staff to return with mitigation options (for example, mitigation fees) to address prime agricultural soils when conversion is proposed.

Next steps: staff said they will incorporate council direction into the official public review draft, then start the environmental impact report (EIR) and continue public outreach. The EIR and refined plan are scheduled to move forward later this year; staff said the EIR will analyze full buildout conditions as required by law.