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2022 General Plan Amendment
Overview
The City of Escondido is conducting an update to the Safety Element, also known as the Community Protection Chapter, of the City's General Plan. The update is required pursuant to Government Code Section ("GC §") 65302(g), and must address topics including, but not limited to, fire hazards, climate adaptation and resiliency, and evacuation routes.
In addition to the Community Protection Chapter update, the City is integrating environmental justice policies into the Community Health and Services Chapter. Changes to the Community Health and Services Chapter will include environmental justice goals, policies, and objectives, and identify environmental justice communities within the City. The purpose of the revisions to the Community Health and Services Chapter is to ensure everyone enjoys the same level of protection from environmental and health hazards, and have equal access to the decision making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, work, and exist within.
- Stay up to date on this process, email us if interested parties mailing list.
- For information email Veronica Morones or call 760-839-4548.
- Provide public input electronically
- Jump to all documents associated with the 2022 GPA
The Environmental Justice Background Report (PDF) is available for review. This report describes how the Environmental Justice Communities are identified and provides background context on what will inform EJ policy creation. The report will be shared with the Planning Commission on August 8th at 7 pm at the regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting.
Draft Map identifying City EJ communities is available for review and comment (PDF). Draft preliminary analyses show what areas within the City may be experiencing disproportionate pollution burden, based on the State guidance (PDF). Staff will incorporate localized data (such as park space or grocery store locations) over the next few months to determine where areas may be experiencing specific EJ issues. To provide input on the below draft map, or this process, submit a Comment Form.
City staff will be conducting At-Large Community Workshops (PDF) for the 2022 GPA work effort to hear from the Escondido community, and to provide more information on the 2022 GPA process. Please join us at one, or both, of the below meetings. These meetings are open to all who live, work, and/or play in Escondido.
- Sunday, August 7th, from 1 to 2:30 pm at the East Valley Community Center in the Citrus Room
- Thursday, August 11th, from 6:30 to 8 pm at the Escondido Public Library in the Turrentine Room
City staff presented to the Community Alliance for Escondido (CAFE) to provide an overview and update on the 2022 GPA. To view the presentation slides and feedback from the 19 CAFE members presented at the July 15, 2022 Cafe Meeting (PDF).
City staff conducted outreach to roughly 80 San Pasqual High School (SPHS) students in Human Geography and Government classes. Staff provided an overview of what a general plan is, and what the 2022 GPA entails. Students then provided input through a dot-activity. Students were provided with 3 green dot stickers and could either place one under each of the most important topics to them, or place all three under one topic to emphasize its importance. Overall, SPHS students find reducing pollution burdens (such as air, water, and soil), promoting food access and promoting physical activity as their top 3 most important environmental justice topics.
City staff conducted Organized Stakeholder Roundtable Meetings on April 15th and April 20th (refer to page 18 of the draft plan). The presentation slides and feedback from the attendees can be found below:
- April 15, 2022: Attendees of this session include representatives from the following organizations - California Center for the Arts, Healthy Escondido Coalition, San Diego Coastkeeper, Community Advisory Group of Climate Actions and Environmental Impacts, North County Transit District (NCTD)
- April 20, 2022: Attendees of this session include representatives from the following organizations - Chamber of Citizens, San Diego Building Industry Association, Greater Escondido Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Club North County Group, Escondido Clergy Association and Escondido Together, Neighborhood Healthcare, North County Inland Abuse Substance Program, Universidad Popular, San Diego Air Pollution Control District, and independent community organizer.
Planning Commission Request for Feedback on the Draft Community Outreach and Engagement Plan (PDF).
- Meeting Public Notice (PDF) (posted in the Union Tribune and distributed via interested parties list)
- Staff Report (PDF)
Planning Commission Kickoff Meeting
Why the City Is Updating the Community Protection Chapter
In 2020, the City of Escondido began updating the Housing Element of the City's General Plan as part of the Housing and Community Investment Study (HCIS) work program. The Housing Element update is still in progress, with City staff working to address outstanding comments received from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on August 10, 2021. As a result of the housing element update process, the City must update their Community Protection Chapter. Specifically, a jurisdiction must update their safety element upon the next revision of their housing element on or after January 1, 2020 (GC § 65302(g)(5)).
Why the City Is Creating a New Environmental Justice Element
Similar to how state legislation requires a safety element to be updated as a result of a housing element update on or after January 1, 2020, the City is responsible for adopting an environmental justice element upon the adoption or next revision of two or more elements concurrently on or after January 1, 2018 (GC § 65302(h)(2)). In this case, updates to the City's Housing and Safety Elements are currently required and will occur concurrently-thus triggering the need to create an environmental justice element.
The City will continue the update to the Housing Element, begin the update to the Community Protection Chapter of the City's General Plan, and create an environmental justice element as a concurrent work effort.
Where the City Is in This Process
Currently, staff are finalizing draft documents and preparing for public decision on the draft documents. Continue reading for a general overview of the tentative timeline for this concurrent work effort. For more information on the timeline, please email Veronica Morones or call 760-839-4548.
Community Outreach & Engagement
Escondido is dedicated to creating a sustainable and livable community for all. To move us closer to this goal, citywide policy documents must be updated to address new topics as they arise, and to ensure consistency with state statute and timeframes. City staff is currently working on a first draft of a community outreach and engagement plan (draft plan) for the concurrent work effort. Since the draft housing element is further along in process than the update to the Community Protection Chapter and new environmental justice element, the draft plan will primarily focus on outreach and engagement surrounding the Community Protection Chapter and environmental justice element.
While City staff created the initial version of the draft plan, staff aims for the draft plan to be a living document that grows and changes based on community feedback, interaction, insights, knowledge, and recommendations. Ultimately, the goal of the draft plan is to facilitate deep public participation, particularly by communities commonly excluded from the planning process-such as environmental justice communities, youth and seniors, persons with disabilities, persons experiencing homelessness, low income communities, and communities of color. The draft plan seeks to involve, collaborate, and whenever possible, defer to community members and residents.
- Community Outreach Plan (Spanish Draft) (PDF) / (ver el borrador del plan en español (PDF))
- Community Outreach Plan (English) (PDF)
- Provide feedback on the draft plan
The translated draft plan is formatted differently due to length of the Spanish translation; all content is the same as the English draft plan.
Housing Element Update
Information regarding the 6th cycle Housing Element update for the 2021-2029 planning period can be found at the City's Housing and Community Investment Study webpage.
Contact
For any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas, please email Veronica Morones or call via phone at 760-839-4548.