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Placewks presents draft General Plan 2050 to San Bernardino council; timeline, programs and housing obligations outlined
Summary
Placewks presented the draft General Plan 2050—three linked components (general-plan update, code update and downtown-specific plan)—describing new mixed-use designations, expanded bike/pedestrian priorities, a roughly 225–250 program implementation list and a public-adoption timeline extending into late 2026.
Mark H., principal with Placewks, introduced the draft General Plan 2050 and told the City Council the update combines a revised land-use map, a development-code update and a downtown-specific plan intended to guide growth, housing, mobility and environmental justice through 2050.
"El plan general 2050 tiene tres partes interrelacionadas," Mark said, summarizing the scope: an updated general plan, code revisions and a downtown-specific plan. He described consolidation of several land-use designations, three new mixed-use categories along corridors and a community-design guide to steer future development.
Key points: The draft contains 12 chapters and an implementation program the consultant described as roughly 225 programs to operationalize policies across housing, mobility, open space, public safety, utilities, environmental justice and cultural resources. Placewks emphasized revised circulation policies, about 40 new or upgraded bicycle lane projects, stronger water and energy conservation policies and an expanded environmental-justice/health element that elevates public-health metrics in land-use decisions.
Costs and timeline: During Q&A staff and council discussed funding and timeline. Placewks and city staff outlined an adoption schedule that includes public review of draft elements, an environmental-impact review (EIR) with public comment, planning-commission hearings in fall 2026 and City Council hearings expected after the EIR is circulated. A figure cited during the discussion placed available program funding and consultant costs in the multi-million-dollar range; staff later referenced approximately $37 million in total program/cost assumptions for portions of the process during implementation discussion.
Housing obligations: Placewks noted the city must plan to accommodate RHNA numbers; staff referenced an obligation in the tenor of several thousand units over the current RHNA cycle (transcript reference to "8,000" additional units in the housing element discussion), and councilmembers asked the consultant how the plan would accommodate those targets.
Next steps: Placewks will publish draft plan elements for a 45-day public comment period, prepare an EIR (finalized timeline cited as September 2026 for an administrative draft), convene planning-commission hearings and return to City Council for adoption hearings in late 2026. Several councilmembers asked for more outreach to ensure community voices are included in the EIR process.
