With the downturn in the economy, we’re seeing a lot of our members migrating out of development review and into long range planning. There is probably no better time for us and our communities to update or prepare new general plan elements, engage in visioning exercises or push area specific plans forward in anticipation of a recovery in the real estate market. And thankfully, agency budgets are allowing this type of programming to flourish.

The table below shows responses to our informal telephone survey to area Planning Directors concerning their pending and future long range plans. As you can see, every agency in the Central Coast is making great plans! We’ll continue to follow up with area agencies and track progress on these ambitious programs. For your convenience, you can download a pdf version of the table here >>

Agency	Contact/Email/URL	Projects/Programs
Arroyo Grande	Kelly Heffernon kheffernon@arroyogrande.org http://tiny.cc/A5udq	OS and conservation element currently under review and to be updated in 2009; HE update HCD will go to HCD in the Fall of 2009; currently preparing the GHG inventory and will then move onto the Climate Action Plan; other: storm water code update and a model ordinance on landscape and water conservation for compliance with State law.
Atascadero	Kallie Taylor http://tiny.cc/fkCMz	HE is going to PC in August and potentially to HCD in October; other: the Del Rio Intersection Specific Plan consisting of commercial/Walmart is pending.
Buellton	Marc Bierdzinski marcb@cityofbuellton.com	Recently completed HE which is being reviewed by HCD for certification; other: a public visioning process to revamp development code and policy documents.
Camarillo	Bob Burough http://tiny.cc/p2lxS	HE has HCD approval and was recently adopted by City Council; currently updating circulation element and expect completion by early 2010 to be followed by an update to the community design element, then safety element and noise elements, all to be substantially completed before 2011; other: Village at the Lakes Specific Plan, currently in the EIR phase; the Dawson Drive/Industrial Specific Plan; keeping watch on SCAG priorities regarding GHG inventories and Climate Action Plan.
Carpinteria	Steve Goggia http://tiny.cc/ihI7L	Please see web site.
Fillmore	Kevin McSweeney http://tiny.cc/OWgUk	HE with HCD comments will go to City Council in September of 2009 (delayed due to Measure I Specific Plan referendum that cut residential units in half which HCD wanted reallocated to other areas); other: master plan for the Fillmore Business Park and the North Fillmore Specific Plan for 350 residential units and a public park; hoping to start a wholesale zoning ordinance revision for 2005 GP consistency in 2010.
Goleta	Dan Nemecheck dnemechek@cityofgoleta.org cityofgoleta.org	HE adopted by Council in August and has been submitted to HCD for certification; approximately 40 GPA's (referred to as Track 3) affecting Land Use, Transportation, Conservation and Open Space elements are currently being considered by the Planning commission and should be before the City Council in the October/November time frame.
Grover Beach	Bruce Buckingham bbuckingham@grover.org grover.org/commdev.htm	HE is tentatively scheduled for Planning Commission in October and the City Council in November; LU element which was last updated in 1992 is out for the 45-day public review period; other: pending RFP for the Grand Ave Specific Plan; 'demonstration' project to reduce excessive paving areas in residential neighborhoods and promote alternative forms of transportation; a trails feasibility study; expansion of the existing Amtrak station.
Guadalupe	Rob Mullane RMullane@rinconconsultants.com http://tiny.cc/vejBk	HE Update currently underway with PC recommended approval in mid August and potential adoption by City Council on September 8th.
Lompoc	Lucille Breese L_BREESE@ci.lompoc.ca.us	General Plan update affecting all elements is currently underway. Staff is currently preparing EIR.
Moorpark	Dave Bobart http://tiny.cc/FxK63	Updating entire GP by reformatting for consistency between all elements and minor policy changes within all elements, hearings expected in 2010; draft HE to be routed to HCD in October; other: the Hitch Ranch Specific Plan for 750 residential units along with circulation and drainage improvements, EIR being prepared on this and expect hearings in 2010; High Street retail street improvement plan.
Morro Bay	Bruce Ambo bambo@morro-bay.ca.us http://tiny.cc/0lPFi	City GP and LCP were combined in 2004 and is under review by the Coastal Commission; the LCP and Zoning Ord were merged in 2005, this is also under review by the Coastal Commission; HE comments back from HCD will go back to City Council for adoption in September of 2009; other: a redevelopment agency feasibility study.
Ojai	Katrina Rice Schmidt schmidt@ci.ojai.ca.us http://tiny.cc/QP4I8	Community Forest/Tree master plan with neighborhood goals for tree planting and care/maintenance; HE has gone to City Council several times to address HCD first round comments and includes an amnesty program for legalizing second units which would then count for RHNA; other mandatory elements may be started in 2010; other: affordable/green housing 'demonstration' project using stimulus funding; revision to the mixed use ordinance; the formation of residential and non-residential design guidelines; a bike and pedestrian master plan and two area master plan updates.
Oxnard	Chris Williamson Chris.Williamson@ci.oxnard.ca.us http://tiny.cc/R4RNp	Revised draft HE to be routed to HCD in October; 2030 GP by reformatting for consistency between all elements and adding a sustainable development chapter that deals with climate change, greenhouse gases, renewable energy, etc., with City Council hearings expected in early 2010; other: the Ormond Beach Specific Plan; Sakioka Farms Specific Plan for 8.5 million sf commercial and industrial uses; Ormond beach wetlands restoration; possible SOAR amendments.
Paso Robles	Ron Wisenhand rwhisenand@prcity.com http://tiny.cc/YdPu7	HE comments received by HCD, with adoption planned by Fall, 2009; currently working on circulation element update due to new traffic modeling and potential exceptions to LOS thresholds; coming soon is a LU element update in the next 2-3 years to be consistent with AB 32; other: the Uptown Town Center specific plan, using TND, with action by Council in the Spring 2010; the Chandler Ranch specific plan (1300 residential units); and the Olsen Beachwood SP/EIR will be released for public comment in the Spring of 2010.
Pismo Beach	Elsa http://tiny.cc/7xWdy	Please see web site.
Port Hueneme	Greg Brown http://tiny.cc/xKMqI	The second and adopted draft HE is to HCD for certification (big challenge was in finding redevelopment sites for housing); City may look at updating entire Comprehensive plan around 2014; other: economic development in specific areas such as Market Street and the City's Beachfront area.
San Luis Obispo	Kim Murray kmurry@slocity.org http://tiny.cc/Tb3lx	Safety element is being updated to reflect SRA zones; reviewing LU element policies; HE is being prepared by staff inclusive of HCD comments with public hearings at the PC planned for this Fall; other: GHG inventory; the Orcutt Area Specific Plan (231 acres/+1000 residential units) with anticipated adoption at the end of 2009; the South Broad Street Corridor Plan (mixed use, form based, ped and bike connectivity) with public hearings in the Fall of 2009; update to the Airport Area Specific Plan (oil tank farm/business park/commercial and open space programs).
San Luis Obispo, County of	Chuck Stevenson http://tiny.cc/S8nO8 http://tiny.cc/LKD4c	HE along with HCD comments going to BOS in August of 2009 for final action; update to Conservation and OS elements with potential approval of both in October of 2009 (last substantive changes to these elements were in 1973 and this update will include chapters on energy, agriculture, air quality, visual resources and water); next elements to be updated will be land use and transportation and expect outreach to begin in September of 2009; other: community plan for Shandon and Climate Action Plan.
Santa Barbara	Paul Casey www.youplansb.org	Plan SB is all elements of the GP with first priorities being HE, LUE and the Conservation Elements, then moving to others; DEIR around Q1 of 2010 with hopeful Council decision by Fall of 2010.
Santa Barbara, County of	Derek 'DJ' Johnson http://tiny.cc/2kOpm	HE, along with IHP changes going to HCD for comments in August, 2009 with final adoption by Board in early 2010; several community plans or updates underway in Goleta, Los Alamos, Santa Ynez, Gaviota and Summerland and Mission Canyon
Santa Maria	Larry Appel http://tiny.cc/N0So0	In public workshops for HE with a draft to HCD around the beginning of December 2009; also updating sections of the LUE and CE; other long range planning projects include a 900 acre Specific Plan for a business/industrial park, a sphere of influence study and a bicycle master plan; of note is that all long range planning projects are funded!
Santa Paula	Janna Minsk http://tiny.cc/LUqIH	Staff is responding to first round of HCD comments, expect to have 2nd draft to HCD by end of year; other: Santa Paula West specific plan (near Bender Plaza) is being reviewed by staff; East Area 1 specific plan has been approved by the City and staff is working with LAFCO on island issues; new water recycling facility has broken ground; greenbelt area being revised between City, County and Fillmore
Simi Valley	Paul Drury http://tiny.cc/aXtnO	20 year comprehensive update of entire GP: all mandatory elements including public service, air quality, economic development, all in first phase of drafting of initial elements; HE is overdue and has not been to HCD; once preferred LU plan is adopted, then HE and LUE will move forward; anticipate adoption of entire comp in Fall 2010; no specific plans at this time.
Solvang	Shelly Stahl http://tiny.cc/qVBHt	Recently completed HE which is being reviewed by HCD for certification. No other Major GPA work efforts underway.
Thousand Oaks	Pamela Leopold http://tiny.cc/0W6Xl	Please see web site.
Ventura	Lisa Wilkinson lwilkinson@cityofventura.net http://tiny.cc/MAJm2	Responding to HCD comments with a draft to Council in September and potential adoption by Summer of 2010; other: community plan updates in Saticoy/Wells with either the North Avenue or Westside community plans coming next.
Ventura, County of	Kim Rodriguez http://tiny.cc/xNxSd	Amendments to the 2008 Housing Element involving a state-mandated high density residential rezoning program and emergency shelter ordinance; revisions to the Scenic Resources Protection Overlay Zone; other: update to the parking requirements of the Non-coastal Zoning Ordinance and to the biological resources assessment procedures; Coastal Impact Assessment Program scoping; revisions to County Landscape Guidelines to include state-mandated water conservation requirements; Open Space Assembly Use Ordinance.
Westlake Village	Scott Wolfe scott@wlv.org	HE has been submitted to HCD for final approval; technical update to entire GP for maps, date and format consistency; other: specific plan for WLV Northside Business Park for redevelopment of area and infrastructure improvements, expect to select consultant by October, 2009