Calexico City Council
February 22, 2025

1 City of Calexico
General Plan Overview
City Council Workshop
February 22, 2025
2 Agenda
I. What is a General Plan?
II. Mandatory Elements
III. Specific Plans
IV. Summary of Elements
V. Housing Element Overview
VI. Implementation
VII. Relationship to Strategic Plan/Capital Improvement Program VIII.Current Status
IX. Next Steps
3 What is a General Plan?
4 Mandatory Elements
• Land use
• Circulation
• Housing
• Conservation
• Open Space
• Noise
• Safety
• Environmental Justice & Air Quality*
• Optional elements
5 Mandatory Elements
• Goals and Objectives
• Policies and Programs (for implementation)
• Annual Progress Report
6 What is a Specific Plan?
7 Mandatory Elements
• Land use
• Circulation
• Housing
• Conservation
• Open Space
• Noise
• Safety
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. Land Use
Elements include a Land Use Map that is
similar to a Zoning Map, however land uses
therein are referred to as land use
designations rather than zones.
8 Mandatory Elements
• Land use
• Circulation
• Housing
• Conservation
• Open Space
• Noise
• Safety
The Circulation Element identifies the general
location and extent of existing and proposed
roads, bikeways, airports, public utilities and
facilities. It must be correlated with the Land
Use Element.
9 Mandatory Elements
• Land use
• Circulation
• Housing
• Conservation
• Open Space
• Noise
• Safety
The Housing Element is a comprehensive
assessment of current and projected housing
needs for all economic segments of the
community. The Housing Element must be
correlated with the Land Use Element as the
Housing Element Sites Inventory often
necessitates modification of the Land Use
Element Map
10 Mandatory Elements
• Land use
• Circulation
• Housing
• Conservation
• Open Space
• Noise
• Safety
The Conservation Element addresses the
conservation, development, and use of
natural resources including water, soils,
rivers, and mineral deposits.
11 Mandatory Elements
• Land use
• Circulation
• Housing
• Conservation
• Open Space
• Noise
• Safety
The Open Space Element details plans and
measures for preserving open space for
natural resources and the identification of
agricultural land. The Open Space Element is
often combined with the Conservation
Element.
12 Mandatory Elements
• Land use
• Circulation
• Housing
• Conservation
• Open Space
• Noise
• Safety
The Noise Element identifies noise problems
within the community and sets noise
thresholds and criteria for siting noisesensitive uses near high noise areas such as industrial operations, high traffic arterial
roadways, airports and railroads. Noise
contour maps are incorporated into the Noise
Element for these noise producing areas.
13 Mandatory Elements
• Land use
• Circulation
• Housing
• Conservation
• Open Space
• Noise
• Safety
The Safety Element establishes policies and
programs to protect the community from
risks associated with seismic, geologic, flood
and wildfire hazards.
14 What is the Housing Element?
• Identifies the existing and future housing growth needs for all economic segments of the community
• Expresses goals, policies, programs, and qualified objectives to guide current and future housing needs for all incomes in Calexico • Requires review and certification by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for compliance with state laws, every 8 years
15 A “Certified” Housing Element
• What does it mean to have a “Certified” Housing Element? • Demonstrates substantial compliance with state laws
• Benefits of Certification
• Eligibility for state-sponsored assistance programs
• Eligibility for grants and alternative funding sources • Demonstrates ability to meet future growth needs
• Avoid state-mandated fines or penalties for non-compliance 16 Residential Sites Inventory
• The Residential Sites Inventory within a Housing Element is a detailed list of land parcels within a jurisdiction that are considered suitable for residential development, including information about their size, zoning, potential development capacity, and suitability for different income levels, used to determine the area's ability to accommodate new housing and meet RHNA housing capacity requirements. In order to identify adequate capacity the Sites Inventory includes sites that must be upzoned, which entails a corresponding Land Use Element update.
17 Implementation
Implementation of each General Plan element’s policies and programs is primarily done through the City Council’s legislative powers via the Municipal Code. The Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Ordinance are the primary vehicles by which the Land Use Element is implemented, and the Official Zoning Map must align with the Land Use Element Map. Hence, a Change of Zone is often accompanied by a General Plan Land Use Element Amendment. 18 Implementation
19 Relationship to Strategic Plan/Capital Improvement Program Often the Strategic Plan informs the General Plan, especially on aspects pertaining to the community’s long-term vision for the City. General Plan policies and procedures may also influence the City’s Capital Improvement Program, particularly in prioritizing projects. For example, policies of the Housing Element may require prioritizing infrastructure improvements in the most disadvantaged census tracts within the City.
20 City’s General Plan Status
• The City’s currently adopted General Plan was last updated in 2007, exclusive of the Housing Element, which was adopted in 2014. • The General Plan includes three optional elements: Parks & Recreation, Public Facilities, and Economic Development/Community Design • In 2015, the City initiated a comprehensive update to the General Plan that would have added an Agricultural Element, however, the update is missing the Noise Element and it appears that the corresponding Environmental Impact Report was never completed.
21 Next Steps
• Conduct a Workshop on Housing Element Status/Sites Inventory • List all Goals, Objectives, Programs and Policies of each General Plan Element and coordinate with all departments on the General Plan Annual Progress Report (April 2nd City Council Meeting)
• Provide Housing Element Annual Progress Report (April 2nd CC Meeting) • Finalize Housing Element Sites Inventory/Authorize to submit revised Draft HE to HCD (April 2nd)
• Allocate funding (approximately $150,000) and Approve Contract w/Consultant Housing Element, Land Use Element Update EIR
• Adopt Housing Element ( July 16 CC Meeting)
• Certify EIR/Adopt Housing Element Rezones/Land Use Element Update • (December 2025)
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