August 29, 2009

City plans update on land-use guidelines
Document hasn't been changed for 2 decades

By Tanya Mannes
Union-Tribune Staff Writer

ENCINITAS - Encinitas is preparing to update its citywide land-use plan for the first time in more than two decades.

City officials will spend the next two years holding publicmeetings and working on revisions to its general plan, a state-requireddocument that sets policies for growth.

The general plan affects many "quality-of-life" issues for thiscity of 64,000 residents. It sets parameters for development, and showswhere commercial and residential buildings will be located. It alsoaddresses circulation and traffic. And the plan sets policies onhousing, noise, safety, recreation, conservation and open space.

Mayor Maggie Houlihan said she is encouraging residents toparticipate in upcoming community meetings; no dates have beenannounced yet. "This is a chance for everyone to have a say in thedirection we're pursuing," Houlihan said.

"This is all about the future of Encinitas; we have an excellentgeneral plan, but it's dated," Houlihan said. "Now we're lookingforward and we're going to be incorporating more about sustainability."

City Councilman Jerome Stocks said he expects the process to provoke debate, but said the update is necessary.

"I think it's very good for the city to do a littleself-examination to see if our guiding document is still relevant withthe community we've become," Stocks said.

The city is spending a total of $1,137,000 for three consultants -MIG, Austin-Foust Associates and CTG - to handle the general plan,according to a city staff report. The consultants will organizecommunity meetings, and handle technical studies of housing, trafficand environmental effects.

The public outreach will be extensive. The City Council willappoint a steering committee made up of community representatives. Theoutreach will include nine public workshops, as well as surveys,comment cards and community walking tours.

Councilwoman Teresa Barth said the general plan update is "the mostimportant project we will undertake as a city since incorporation." Thecity was incorporated Oct. 1, 1986.

"General plans are often called a city's constitution - a statementof who we are and what we value as a community," Barth said. "It iscritical that the community stay informed and engaged in this process."

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Tanya Mannes: (619) 498-6639;

Related Terms: Encinitas