Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a General Plan?

A general plan acts as the "constitution" for making rational decisions regarding a city's long-term physical development. The general plan expresses the community's development goals and incorporates public policies relative to the distribution of future public and private land uses. California State law requires that each city adopt a general plan "for the physical development of the city and any land outside its boundaries which bears relation to its planning." Typically, a general plan is designed to address the issues facing the city for the next 15-20 years.

The general plan is presented as a collection of chapters or "elements," of which seven are mandatory. The seven State-mandated elements are: Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise, and Safety. In addition to these mandated or statutory elements, the City will also adopt the following "optional" elements: Economic Development, Urban Design and Structure, and Child Care.

For more information on the structure and legal requirements of a General Plan, or to see a list of planning related terms and acronyms, please view the following sites:

What are the objectives of the General Plan Update?

The following are proposed objectives for the West Sacramento General Plan Update:

  • Involve a broad range of the community and stakeholders throughout the update process;
  • Create a new community vision that will guide decisions about development, redevelopment, and resource protection over the next 25 years;
  • Revise the General Plan Policy Document to realize this new vision;
  • Ensure the plan is consistent with current State law;
  • Update the Background Report to reflect current conditions (2006);
  • Identify which areas of the city will change and determine how they will change (i.e., new development, redevelopment) during the next 25-30 years;
  • Develop a Geographical Information System (GIS) database that will provide useful information during the General Plan Update as well as after the plan has been adopted;
  • Review the SACOG Blueprint project for application to the City of West Sacramento;
  • Incorporate Smart Growth policy statements and New Urbanism development standards; and
  • Produce a General Plan that is both functional and user friendly.

How can I get involved and provide input?

The General Plan Update has a heavy emphasis on public involvement. The City will host five sets of community workshops held between February 2007 and August 2008 that will provide residents a chance to learn about recent steps in the process and participate in interactive exercises. In addition, there are numerous other ways to learn what is going on with the Update and how to get involved in the process.

Why is an Update Needed?

The City of West Sacramento is beginning a comprehensive update of its 16-year old General Plan. West Sacramento's current General Plan consists of a collection of nine topical elements adopted in May 1990 and amended at various points since then, including a major amendment in 2000. However, some of the background information in the plan is still outdated. Even with the 2000 amendment, there are policies that do not reflect conditions in West Sacramento today or the current values of the city's residents.

How long will it take to update the General Plan?

The General Plan is scheduled to take 30 months to update, starting in January 2007 and concluding in June 2009.