Title
GENERAL PLAN UPDATE - INTRODUCTION OF LAND USE ELEMENT AND SAFETY ELEMENT (PA2022-080)
Site Location: Citywide
Recommendation
Summary:
A report to the Planning Commission outlining the progress made on the City of Newport Beach’s ongoing comprehensive update to its General Plan, last revised in 2006. Following delays due to the State-mandated 6th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA), the City resumed its broader update process in 2022 with the formation of the General Plan Update Steering Committee (GPUSC) and the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC), including various subcommittees to review each Element. The update process consists of four phases; Phase 1 (Background Analysis + Visioning) is complete, and Phase 2 (Policy Development + General Plan Amendment) is nearly finalized. City staff, working closely with the GPAC, GPUSC, and consultant Dudek, developed draft goals and policies based on existing conditions reports and community input gathered through digital platforms and workshops. The Land Use Element and Safety Element are both required elements pursuant to State General Plan Law. Initial drafts have been prepared and are ready for broader community review.
City staff seeks preliminary feedback from the Commission before the draft is released for wider public review. Final drafts will return for formal endorsement by the Planning Commission in late 2025 or early 2026.
Recommended Actions:
1. Receive a brief presentation from City staff, receive and file the draft Land Use Element and Safety Element; and either
a) Form an ad hoc committee to review the draft Elements and provide comments for the Planning Commission’s consideration at a meeting in November 2025; or
b) Have Planning Commissioners review individually and be prepared to discuss and provide feedback to City staff at a meeting in November 2025.