MindMixer - Your Online Community Workshop
We're pleased to announce the launch of San Luis Obispo's Online Community Workshop - MindMixer! You can join the conversation by clicking the button below. You will be asked to register with your name, email and zip code and then you will become part of our online discussion.
Over the next several months, we will be giving people an opportunity to tell us what they think about a variety of topics related to the City's Land Use and Circulation Element Updates. Our first set of questions relates to the community's "vision" for the City's future. Residents have told us they are particularly interested in four areas, but we'll be expanding that list as the conversation continues. Keep checking back as we will be adding new topics and providing feedback from comments that are given. Have fun!
About the Update
What is a General Plan?
A General Plan can be described as the "blueprint" for the City’s future. It represents the community's vision as goals and policies to direct decision-making. California state law requires that each city adopt a general plan addressing seven mandatory components or "elements": Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise, and Safety. The City of San Luis Obispo also has a Water and Wastewater Element.
What part of the City’s General Plan is being updated?
This effort will be limited to the City’s Land Use and Circulation Elements however; the entire General Plan will be reviewed and modified if necessary to reflect any updates or changes to those two elements that may affect other elements in the General Plan.
What is covered in the Land Use Element?
The Land Use element designates the general location and intensity of housing, business, industry, open space, education, public buildings and grounds, waste disposal facilities, and other land uses. It helps guide future development and preserve environmental resources.
What is covered in the Circulation Element?
The Circulation Element includes goals and policies relating to how people, products and visitors move around San Luis Obispo. This includes cars, bicycles, pedestrians, air transportation, as well as public transportation such as buses and shuttles.
How long will the entire process take?
The entire update process will take about three years (completing by the end of 2014) to allow ample time for public involvement and environmental review of the General Plan Update.
How much will this project cost?
The total budget for the General Plan Update is $879,423, with an additional $298,021 being budgeted for the preparation of an environmental impact report (EIR) to define the environmental impacts associated with implementation of the General Plan Update.
How is this General Plan Update being paid for?
The City of San Luis Obispo applied for a grant from the State of California’s Strategic Growth Council’s Sustainable Communities, Planning Grant and Incentive Program in 2010. Funding for the grant is from the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Act of 2006, (Proposition 84). The grant funds will pay for the preparation of the General Plan Update. The costs associated with the development of the EIR will be paid by the City.
How can people get involved?
Over the next several years there will be numerous ways for the public to participate in this process. For all information related to the Update residents are encouraged to visit the project website at www.SLO2035.com. There people can sign up for electronic news alerts, participate in online surveys, interactive meetings and review all relevant documents and presentations about the Update. The City will also be working closely with local news media, community groups and faith-based organizations to get information to residents.
The City will also hold a series of Public Workshops, which will give people a chance to work with City planners and our consultant team in the development of the General Plan Update.
The City’s goal is to engage as many residents, business owners and stakeholders as possible to ensure that the Plan reflects the vision of the entire community.