What is the General Plan?

The General Plan serves as the “constitution” for the city. It is a set of policies and programs that serves as the blueprint for physical development. Its purpose is to establish a long-range vision for the community and to plan for important community issues, such as new growth, housing needs, public services, and environmental protection. The General Plan expresses broad community values and goals, gives a picture of how the community should look in the future, and outlines steps to get there. Objectives such as “create economic development,” “preserve open space,” and “support sustainable practices” are translated into policies, maps, and specific actions that are tangible and can be implemented. The plan is a basis for land-use decision-making used by policymakers, such as the Planning Commission and the City Council. All cities and counties in California are required by law to have a general plan.

Why is a General Plan required?

State law mandates that each city and county in California adopt a "comprehensive, long-term general plan." The purpose is to plan for important community issues, such as new growth, housing needs and environmental protection. A general plan is also used to project future demand for services, such as sewer, water, roadways, parks and emergency services.

What goes into the General Plan?

There are State-mandated "elements," or chapters, that go into a general plan. These elements make up the framework for decision-making regarding growth and development in the City. State law requires that a general plan cover at least eight mandated topics: Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise, Safety and Environmental Justice. General plans may also address topics like economic development, air quality and public health.

Phase 1 of the Oceanside General Plan included development of the Economic Development Element (EDE), Energy and Climate Action Element (ECAE), and Climate Action Plan (CAP). In this phase, the rest of elements of the General Plan will be developed, including Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Conservation and Open Space, Community Facilities, Safety, and Noise. 

What is the difference between the General Plan and the Zoning Ordinance?

The General Plan establishes long-term policies to guide future development. It describes generally how land uses will be distributed throughout the City and allowable ranges of density for each land use. The Zoning Ordinance implements General Plan policies through detailed development regulations, such as specific use types and building standards. State law requires that the Zoning Ordinance be consistent with the General Plan.

What is the Local Coastal Program (LCP Also Being Updated)?

The City's Coastal Zone includes all property from the inland side of Coast Highway to the Pacific Ocean, as well as property in proximity to portions of the San Luis Rey River, Loma Alta Creek, and Buena Vista Lagoon.  The Coastal Zone is defined under State law. An updated of the City’s LCP, assessment of sea-level rise impacts and coastal resources vulnerability is being undertaken separately; for information on that project, please go to: https://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/gov/dev/planning/local_coastal_program_update/local_coastal.asp

What is an Environmental Impact Report?

The Oceanside General Plan will be developed concurrently with an Environmental Impact Report on the plan. Environmental Impact Reports (or EIRs) are State mandated documents governed by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). EIRs inform the public and public agency decision-makers of significant environmental effects of proposed projects, identify possible ways to minimize those effects, and describe reasonable alternatives to those projects.

How can I get involved?

We need resident participation in all phases of General Plan development! Please visit the Participate page for details on upcoming events or contact us directly with your thoughts or questions.