City Council AGENDA
REPORT
MEETING
DATE:
September 23, 2026
PREPARED
BY:
Stephen Dalton,
Planning Commission
Chair
Andrew Maynard,
Planning Manager
(Secretary of the Planning
Commission)
DEPARTMENT
DIRECTOR:
Scott Drapkin
DEPARTMENT: Development Services CITY
MANAGER:
Jennifer Campbell
SUBJECT:
Presentation of the Planning Commission’s Annual Report and Work Plan, pursuant to Encinitas Municipal Code Section 2.30.040 C (Boards, Commissions, and Committees – Rules and Regulations).
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1. Receive the Planning Commission’s 2025 Annual Report
2. Approve the 2026-2027 Planning Commission Work Plan
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:
The action being considered by the City Council is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a “project” under Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. The action is also exempt from CEQA under Section 15378(b)(5) of the CEQA Guidelines because it involves an organizational or administrative activity of government that will not result in the direct or indirect physical change in the environment.”
This item does not relate to the Climate Action Plan.
GENERAL PLAN/CITY COUNCIL FOCUS AREAS:
The 2025 Annual Report and 26/27 Work Plan is related to the City Council Focus Area “Strengthening and adhering to the General Plan while implementing responsible development”. 2026-09-23 Item #12A Page 1 of 19
FISCAL CONSIDERATIONS:
The fiscal impact associated with this recommendation is minimal staff time which is included in the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. No additional funding is being requested.
BACKGROUND:
Pursuant to the Planning Commission Bylaws and Encinitas Municipal Code (EMC) Section
2.30.040(C) (Boards, Commissions, and Committees – Rules and Regulations), the Planning Commission is required to prepare an Annual Report and Work Plan for City Council consideration.
On the May 21, 2026 Planning Commission meeting, the Planning Commission initiated a discussion on the 2025 Annual Report and 2026/2027 Draft Work Plan. While the 2024 Annual Report reported on the activities of the 2024 calendar year, to be consistent with the 25/26 Work Plan period, the 2025 Annual Report covers FY 25/26, July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. At the June 4, 2026 Planning Commission Meeting, the Commissioners engaged in further discussion regarding the contents of the Draft 2026/2027 Work Plan, identifying 11 Commission Goals/Projects listed in order of priority, each with an articulated deliverable. The Planning Commission refined the 2026/2027 Draft Work Plan at the June 18, 2026 Planning Commission Meeting.
At the August 6, 2026 Planning Commission Meeting, the Planning Commission approved Resolution PC 2026-20 approving the 2025 Annual Report and 2026/2027 Work Plan.
ANALYSIS:
The Planning Commission’s 2025 Annual Report and 2026-2027 Work Plan was approved by the Planning Commission on August 6, 2026 by adopting Resolution 2026-20 (Attachment 1) which includes the 2025 Annual Report and 2026-2027 Work Plan as Exhibit A.
The Annual Report serves as a retrospective look at the Planning Commission’s activities and accomplishments from 2025 (FY 25/26). This includes data regarding the number of discretionary projects reviewed, meetings held, and legislative matters reviewed. The report also provides the status of the goals identified in the 25/26 Work Plan. Over the past 25/26 Fiscal Year, the Planning Commission has held 19 meetings (including joint study sessions and regular Planning Commission Meetings), reviewed 32 discretionary projects, and provided advisement on five (5) legislative matters.
Regarding the Work Plan, there were nine (9) goals in the “Current Goals” Section and three (3) goals in the “Long-Term Goals” Section. Three (3) of the 12 Goals have been completed within this reporting period, with the remaining items either ongoing or not started. Table 1 shown below illustrates the meetings held, subcommittees formed, legislative matters reviewed, discretionary projects reviewed and appealed to the City Council throughout the 25/26 FY; Table 2 provides the status of the 2025 Work Plan Goals.
Table 1: 2025 Planning Commission Annual Report Summary Planning Commission Meetings Held 2025
2026-09-23 Item #12A Page 2 of 19
Joint Study Sessions with City Council
• AB 2011/SB 6 Ordinance and ODS
1 Joint Study Sessions with Other Commissions/Boards
• Mature Tree Ordinance
1 Regular Planning Commission Meetings 17
Planning Commission Subcommittees 2025
Subcommittees Formed:
• Dark Skies Ordinance
1 Projects Reviewed by the Planning Commission 2025
Legislative Matters
• AB 2011/SB 6 Ordinance and ODS
• Mature Tree Ordinance
• Native Plant Ordinance
• Off-Street Parking Minor Amendment Ordinance
• Manufactured Homes Minor Amendment Ordinance
5 Discretionary Projects 32
• Alcohol-related Land Use Permits 3
• Density Bonus Projects 2
Projects Appealed to City Council
(Resolutions issued)
1 a. Upheld commission decision?
• Sage Canyon
1 b. Reversed? 0
c. Modified? 0
d. Withdrawn? 0
e. Referred back to Planning Commission? 0
Table 2: 2025 Annual Report on Work Plan Goals
Current Goals for 2025-2026 Status
Native Plant Ordinance Completed
Omnibus Code Clean Up Ongoing
Assembly Bill 2011/Senate Bill 6 Completed
Resource Management Element Update Completed
Cardiff Twinhome Lot Variance Requests Ongoing
Preservation of Open Space Completed
Citizen Participation Program Meetings Ongoing
2026-09-23 Item #12A Page 3 of 19
Review dark skies ordinance Ongoing
General Plan Review and Objective Design Standards Recommendations Not started Long-term Goals Status
Land Use Element Update Not Started
Zoning Code Update Not Started
Increase Affordable Housing Not Started
As Time Permits Status
N/A – All Items Removed from this Section N/A
The Planning Commission has the final authority to make decisions on discretionary projects and dedicates an extensive amount of time to their responsibilities in reviewing all aspects of the discretionary projects that are presented to them on a regular basis. This includes study of the City’s foundational documents such as the General Plan/Local Coastal Program, Zoning Code, adopted Specific Plans, and Design Guidelines, in conjunction with review of dense project specific materials. With the understanding of the time spent in service of their regular duties, the 2026 Planning Commission Work Plan (FY 26/27) serves as a plan to outline the additional goals/work efforts that the Planning Commission will be undertaking in addition to their regular quasi-judicial and legislative responsibilities. This includes review of additional legislative matters such as long-range planning policy documents and providing recommendations to the City Council, proposing work efforts in alignment with the City Council’s Work Plan and Goals, as well as work efforts that the Commissioners will be undertaking and providing recommendations to the City Council for consideration to allocate a budget and staff effort towards accomplishing.
The Planning Commission’s 2026/2027 Work Plan includes the work efforts prioritized by the Planning Commission to be initiated and worked on over the course of the next 26/27 fiscal year. For consistency across Commissions and Boards, a new Work Plan format has been created and utilized. This eliminated the “current, as time permits, and long-term categories” that had previously been utilized. The new table format for the 2026 Work Plan includes: the Work Plan Item number, Goal/Project Title, Members Involved, Timeline, Fiscal Impact, Deliverables, City Council Focus Area/General Plan, and Notes. In assessing the development of the Goals that were included in the Draft 2026/2027 Planning Commission Work Plan, the Planning Commission assessed the remaining items in the 2025 Work Plan for alignment with City Council strategic goals, staff and/or commissioner capacity, fiscal impacts, and expectations of timing. In addition, the Planning Commission included additional work efforts that the Planning Commission would like to undertake in addition to their regular responsibilities, and/or consult with staff regarding the existing work efforts underway that would include advisement from the Planning Commission.
Based on discussions across multiple Planning Commission Meetings from May through June, the Planning Commission identified 11 Commission Goals/Projects listed with the top three being the highest priority, and the rest thereafter being in no particular order; each goal/project has an articulated deliverable. Table 3 lists the Commission’s Goals/Projects identified in the 2026/2027 Work Plan with the full details of the Work Plan provided in Attachment 1. 2026-09-23 Item #12A Page 4 of 19
Table 3: 2026-2027 Draft Work Plan Goals
1 Code Review
2 Affordable housing review
3 City Traffic Code Analysis
4 Citizen Participation Program
5 NCTD coordination on stance of bus stop in project vicinity 6 Dark skies ordinance
7 Multi-Habitat Conservation Plan (MHCP)
8 Bike storage standards for new developments
9 Reviewing the height limits (including review of average lot slope criteria) 10 EV Charging Requirements and the goals of the Climate Action Plan 11 Review issues with ingress and egress driveway widths related to development projects.
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Planning Commission Resolution No. PC 2026-20
2026-09-23 Item #12A Page 5 of 19
RESOLUTION NO. PC 2026-20
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA APPROVING THE 2025 PLANNING COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT AND THE 2026-2027 WORK PLAN, AUTHORIZING
TRANSMITTAL TO THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL AND
ASSIGNING REPRESENTATIVE
WHEREAS, Encinitas Municipal Code Section 2.30.040 C. requires the Commission to prepare and present an annual report and work plan to the City Council, which requirement is further guided by the Commission’s bylaws; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission conducted a duly agendized public hearing on August 6, 2026.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Encinitas Planning Commission hereby APPROVES its Annual Report and Work Plan based on the following Environmental Determination and provides for the following further direction:
Section 1. California Environmental Quality Act Determination This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act as it is not a project pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), which exempts organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
Section 2. Commission Direction
A. Exhibit A includes the 2025 Annual Report and 2026-2027 Work Plan.
B. The Commission representative Chair Dalton is designated to present the Annual Report and Work Plan to the City Manager and City Council.
The above environmental determination and direction are supported by the minutes, maps, and exhibits, all of which are herein incorporated by reference.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 6
th day of August 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Dalton, Quinn, Whitteker
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Kimball, Prendergast
_________________________
Stephen E. Dalton, Chair
ATTEST:
_________________________
Meagan Openshaw
Secretary
NOTE: This action is subject to Chapter 1.04 of the Municipal Code, which specifies time limits for legal challenges.
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EXHIBIT A
PLANNING COMMISSION 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
AND 2026-2027 WORK PLAN
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DRAFT 2025 Annual Report and
2026/2027 Work
Plan
Planning Commission
City of Encinitas
Representative Community Position Term
Stephen E. Dalton Cardiff by the Sea Chair 3/24 – 3/27
Robert Prendergast Olivenhain Vice-Chair 3/26 - 3/29
Michael T. Quinn New Encinitas Commissioner 3/26 - 3/29 Bridget D. Kimball Leucadia Commissioner 3/26 - 3/29
William Brent Whitteker Old Encinitas Commissioner 3/24 - 3/27 Secretary
Meagan Openshaw
Assistant Director
Assistant City Attorney
Andrew Jared
Commission Clerk
Deana Gay
Bylaws
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary
• Overview and highlights
Introduction and Background
• Purpose of the Annual Report and Work Plan
• Acknowledgement of finite resources and establishing priorities • About the Planning Commission
Prior Year Report on Accomplishments and Activities
• Implementation report on prior year Work Plan
• Docket statistics
Forward-looking Work Plan
• Summary
• City Council Focus Areas
• Work Program Details
Appendices
• General Plan Implementation Report
• Housing Element Implementation Report
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SUMMARY
Planning Commission Overview
The Encinitas Planning Commission is established in accordance with Section 2.34 of the Encinitas Municipal Code. It consists of five members. The Planning Commission has final authority to make decisions on discretionary projects, with the exception of decisions for minor projects, which are acted upon by the Development Services Department. Final Planning Commission decisions are appealable to the City Council. The Commission is also an integral part of the land use policy and regulatory making process. It assists the City Council in bringing planning-related options and issues into focus, facilitating the City Council’s decision making on land use policy and regulatory matters. The role of the Planning Commission is to provide input on land use and ensure orderly development reflective of Encinitas community values. It is accountable to the City Council.
Planning Commission’s 2025 Accomplishments/Highlights
The Planning Commission is pleased to present this Annual Report and Work Plan to the City Council. In FY 25/26, from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, the Planning Commission accomplished the review and recommendations to City Council for three long-range planning items. The Planning Commission provided recommendations to the City Council on the Mature Tree Ordinance, draft AB 2011/SB 6 Ordinance and Objective Design Standards for the Downtown Encinitas and North 101 Corridor Specific Plans, and recommendations to the City Council for the Native Plant Ordinance.
In a city passionate about its quality of life, the Planning Commission provides a public forum for decision making on discretionary land use projects. In doing so, the Commissioners maintain a respectful and healthy dialogue about matters before it and generally achieve consensus decisions for positive outcomes. The recommended work plan identifies continuous improvement opportunities, which either align with the City Council work plan, or leverage from it to accomplish even more.
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Purpose of the Annual Report and Work Plan
The Annual Report serves as a retrospective look at the Planning Commission’s activities and accomplishments from 2025 (FY 25/26).
This includes data regarding the number of discretionary projects reviewed, meetings held, and legislative matters reviewed. The report also provides the status of the goals identified in the 2025/2026 Work Plan.
The Planning Commission has the final authority to make decisions on discretionary projects and dedicates an extensive amount of Docusign Envelope ID: DE3B641A-38BC-8B49-8083-0323E845C769 2026-09-23 Item #12A Page 10 of 19
time to their responsibilities in reviewing all aspects of the discretionary projects that are presented to them on a regular basis. This includes study of the City’s foundational documents such as the General Plan/Local Coastal Program, Zoning Code, adopted Specific Plans, and Design Guidelines, in conjunction with review of dense project specific materials. With the understanding of the time spent in service of their regular duties, the 2026 Planning Commission Work Plan (FY 26/27) serves as a Plan to outline the additional goals/work efforts that the Planning Commission would like to undertake in addition to their regular responsibilities. This includes review of legislative matters such as long-range planning policy documents and providing recommendations to the City Council, proposing work efforts in alignment with the City Council’s Work Plan and Goals, as well as work efforts that the Commissioners would like to undertake and present to the City Council for consideration to allocate a budget and staff effort towards accomplishing. All of the goals identified in the draft 2026/2027 Planning Commission Work Plan (FY 26/27) are for the City Council’s consideration to ensure continuous improvement to the City’s land use and regulatory framework.
Acknowledgement of Finite Resources and Establishing Priorities The Planning Commission understands that departmental resources are finite, necessitating prioritization of items in the Work Plan.
The Work Plan has been refined to include what the Commission believes to be the City’s most significant land use policy and regulatory priorities, and to align with the City Council’s Objectives. These priorities have historically been categorized into three categories: current goals, goals to complete “as time permits,” and goals to complete in the “long-term.” This categorization was intended to assist in programming the Work Plan in consideration of finite resources. Moving forward, the standardization of Work Plans across Boards and Commissions has resulted in a new table format that includes: the Work Plan Item number, Goal/Project Title, Members Involved, Timeline, Fiscal Impact, Deliverables, City Council Focus Area/General Plan, and Notes. The Work Plan will continue to prioritize goals based on the most significant land use policy and regulatory priorities that align with the City Council’s Work Plan Objectives.
PRIOR YEAR REPORT ON ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Implementation report on prior year Work Plan
Over the past 25/26 Fiscal Year, the Planning Commission has held 19 meetings (including special meetings, joint study sessions, and regular Planning Commission Meetings), reviewed 32 discretionary projects, and provided advisement on five legislative matters.
Regarding the Work Plan, there were nine (9) goals in the “Current Goals” Section and three (3) goals in the “Long-Term Goals” Section.
Three (3) of the 12 Goals have been completed within this reporting period, with the remaining items being assessed for alignment with City Council strategic goals, staff capacity, fiscal impacts, and expectations of timing.
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DOCKET STATISTICS
2025 Planning Commission Annual Report Summary
Planning Commission Meetings Held 2025
Joint Study Sessions with City Council
• AB 2011/SB 6 Ordinance and ODS
1 Joint Study Sessions with Other Commissions/Boards
• Mature Tree Ordinance
1 Regular Planning Commission Meetings 17
Planning Commission Subcommittees 2025
Subcommittees Formed:
• Dark Skies Ordinance
1 Projects Reviewed by the Planning Commission 2025
Policy, Ordinance, & Regulatory Projects/Recommendations • AB 2011/SB 6 Ordinance and ODS
• Mature Tree Ordinance
• Native Plant Ordinance
• Off-Street Parking Minor Amendment Ordinance
• Manufactured Homes Minor Amendment Ordinance
5 Discretionary Projects 32
Alcohol-related Land Use Permits 3
Density Bonus Projects 2
Projects Appealed to City Council
(Resolutions issued)
1 a. Upheld commission decision?
• Sage Canyon
1 b. Reversed? 0
c. Modified? 0
d. Withdrawn? 0
e. Referred back to Planning Commission? 0
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Annual Report on Work Plan Goals
Current Goals for 2025-2026 Status
Native Plant Ordinance Completed
Omnibus Code Clean Up Ongoing
Assembly Bill 2011/Senate Bill 6 Completed
Resource Management Element Update Upcoming (8/20/26)
Cardiff Twinhome Lot Variance Requests Ongoing
Preservation of Open Space Completed
Citizen Participation Program Meetings Ongoing
Review dark skies ordinance Ongoing
General Plan Review and Objective Design Standards
Recommendations
Not started
Long-term Goals Status
Land Use Element Update Not Started
Zoning Code Update Not Started
Increase Affordable Housing Not Started
As Time Permits Status
N/A – All Items Removed from this Section N/A
Planning Commission’s 2026 Work Plan Summary, July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 The Planning Commission has the final authority to make decisions on discretionary projects and dedicates an extensive amount of time to their responsibilities in reviewing all aspects of the discretionary projects that are presented to them on a regular basis. This includes study of the City’s foundational documents such as the General Plan/Local Coastal Program, Zoning Code, adopted Specific Plans, and Design Guidelines, in conjunction with review of dense project specific materials. With the understanding of the time spent in service of their regular duties, the 2026 Planning Commission Work Plan (FY 26/27) serves as a plan to outline the additional goals/work efforts that the Planning Commission will be undertaking in addition to their regular quasi-judicial and legislative responsibilities. This includes review of additional legislative matters such as long-range planning policy documents and providing recommendations to the City Council, proposing work efforts in alignment with the City Council’s Focus Areas, as shown below, which Docusign Envelope ID: DE3B641A-38BC-8B49-8083-0323E845C769 2026-09-23 Item #12A Page 13 of 19
drive the development of the Council’s Work Plan and Goals, as well as work efforts that the Commissioners will be undertaking and providing recommendations to the City Council for consideration to allocate a budget and staff effort towards accomplishing.
City Council Focus Areas:
1. Public health and safety for the protection of life, property, and the physical environment.
2. Effective and reliable city services, infrastructure, and communications.
3. Safe and efficient mobility and circulation for all modes of transportation.
4. Leadership and stewardship of our environment, shoreline, and open space.
5. Ensuring and preserving community character and economic vitality.
6. Strengthening and adhering to the General Plan, while implementing responsible development.
The Planning Commission’s Draft 2026/2027 Work Plan includes the work efforts prioritized by the Planning Commission to be initiated and worked on over the course of the next 26/27 fiscal year. For consistency across Commissions and Boards, a new Work Plan format has been created and utilized. This eliminated the “current, as time permits, and long-term categories” that had previously been utilized. A new table format has been implemented for the 2026 Work Plan that includes: the Work Plan Item number, Goal/Project Title, Members Involved, Timeline, Fiscal Impact, Deliverables, City Council Focus Area/General Plan, and Notes.
In developing the goals for the 2026/2027 Work Plan, the Planning Commission assessed the 2025 Work Plan and removed any identified completed goals as well as included any identified ongoing goals for the 2026 Work Plan. Additionally, the Planning Commission considered the goals identified as not started, new goals and work efforts that should be focused on throughout the next reporting period of FY 26/27 based on observations made by reviewing developments. Of note, the Cardiff Twinhome Lot Variance Request Goal was consolidated with the Omnibus Code Clean Up Goal and is listed in the draft 26/27 draft Work Plan as “Code Review”.
Based on the discussion across three Planning Commission Meetings from May through June, the Planning Commission identified 11 Commission Goals/Projects listed with the top three being the highest priority, and the rest thereafter being in no particular order; each goal/project has an articulated deliverable.
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CITY OF ENCINITAS PLANNING COMMISSION WORK PLAN 2026/27 Commission Approved:
Council Approved:
2026/2027 Planning Commission Work Plan
# Commission Goal/Project Members
Involved Timeline FiscalImpact Deliverables
City Council Focus
Area/General Plan
*Complete this area prior to the
next meeting*
Notes
1 Code Review All June 2027 None Recommendation to the City Council on code clean up provided by staff N/A
Code Clean up; Cardiff Twin home
Lot Variance Request Amendment
to the existing Encinitas Municipal
Code to allow a zero-foot interior
side yard setback for properties in
the R-15 zones in Cardiff.
2 Affordable housing review Pending June 2027 Low
Analysis of existing inclusionary housing
requirements – consolidate information and provide a
recommendation to the City Council
City Council 26/27 Work Plan
Focus Area Goal 6, Goal 2;
VI.2.1 and VI.2.2
3 City Traffic Code Analysis Pending June 2027 None Review and analysis of the City’s Traffic codes and making a recommendation to the City Council
City Council work Plan VI.1.2;
CE Policy 1.2 – Endeavor to
maintain Level of Service C as a
basic design guideline
CE Policy 1.3 – Prohibit
development resulting in Level
of Service E or F at any
intersection
Assess existing Municipal Code
and associated City documents
regarding traffic analysis
requirements for developments &
previous developments to identify
site specific and downstream traffic
impacts from other jurisdictions,
health and safety issues. Review
issues with ingress and egress
driveway widths related to
development projects. – Present
issues that have affected
development review for the PC to
the City Council to ensure there are
tools available – neighboring
communities
4 Citizen Participation Program Pending June 2027 None
Assess existing Municipal Code Section regarding
Citizen Participation Plan include review of the
noticing requirements as well as the timing of the
meeting for the development
LUE Policy 4.2 – The City will
plan to provide processing
procedures for proposed
development projects that will
maximize citizen participation.
Citizen notice of development
projects and the opportunity to
participate through written and
oral testimony and public
hearings will be provided at the
discretionary and
environmental review stages of
development.
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CITY OF ENCINITAS PLANNING COMMISSION WORK PLAN 2026/27 Commission Approved:
Council Approved:
5 NCTD coordination on stance of bus stop in project
vicinity Pending June 2027 None
Ensure that development projects will include the
location of bus stops and park areas adjacent to the
project
CE Policy 1.15 – The City will
actively support an integrated
transportation program that
encourages mass-transit,
bicycle transportation,
pedestrians, equestrians, and
car-pooling (Coastal
Act/30252)
CE Policy 3.5 – Encourage
development of mass transit
and transit access points along
the I-5 corridor or railroad rightof-way
CE Policy 6.4 – Support
increased public transportation
service to shoreline
recreational areas, including
encouraging safe transit stops
at all major beaches
6 Dark skies ordinance Vice Chair June 2027 None Subcommittee report and recommendation City Council Work Plan Focus
Area IV.; RME Policy 4.5 –
Scenic/Visual Corridor Overlay
areas where development
character is regulated,
including building height and
bulk restrictions
RME Policy 13.3 – Encourage
use of bufferzones to protect
areas from pollutants of noise,
exhaust, and light;
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CITY OF ENCINITAS PLANNING COMMISSION WORK PLAN 2026/27 Commission Approved:
Council Approved:
7 Multi-Habitat Conservation Plan (MHCP) Pending June 2027 None Draft a recommendation to City Council RME Goal 10 / Policy 10.5 –
Preserve environmentally
sensitive habitats including
coastal sage scrub and coastal
mixed chaparral; includes
NCCP Act compliance
requirement
RME Policy 10.9 – Encourage
preservation of San Elijo and
Batiquitos Lagoons and
adjacent uplands as viable
wetlands and wildlife habitat
RME Policy 10.10 – Cooperate
with agencies on integrated
management plan for long-term
conservation of wetlands
resources at San Elijo Lagoon,
Batiquitos Lagoon, Escondido
and Encinitas Creeks
8 Bike storage standards for new developments Pending June 2027 None Recommendation to the City Council CE Policy 3.11 – The City will
implement a safe, direct, and
convenient bicycle circulation
system, including provision of
secure bicycle storage facilities
at all beaches and bicycle racks
on all buses serving the Coastal
Zone (Coastal Act/30252)
Increase access to bike racks for
new developments
9 Reviewing the height limits (including review of average lot slope criteria) Pending June 2027 None Recommendation to the City Council N/A Remove ambiguity regarding howheight is calculated on sloped lots. 10 EV Charging Requirements and the goals of the
Climate Action Plan Pending June 2027 None Recommendation to the City Council City Council Work Plan Focus
Area IV; RME Goal 15 / Policy
15.1 – Encourage use of
alternate energy systems in
commercial and residential
development (Coastal
Act/30253)
Determine obligations for
developers to provide EV charging
spaces
11 Review issues with ingress and egress driveway widths related to development projects. Pending June 2027 None Review of existing code and compare fire/life safetythresholds CE Policy 1.9 – Minimize private
driveway access onto both
major and collector roads
CE Policy 2.4 – Primary
consideration given to safety of
existing residential
neighborhoods when
considering circulation patterns
and standards
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2026-2027 Work Programs Detail
City’s General Plan Elements
General Plan Element1,5 Suggested
Timing of
Comprehensive
Update
Comprehensive
Update Underway or
Coming Soon
Focused
Amendments
Underway
Leveraged
Comprehensive
Update Possible
Soon
Future
Update
Housing 2029
Recreation2 TBD
Land Use TBD
Mobility/Circulation Approved 2024
Resource Management3,4 Fall 2026
Public Safety4 Approved 2022
Noise TBD
FOOTNOTES:
1A Local Coastal Program Amendment is required for areas in the Coastal Zone; includes portions of the City’s General Plan and the Municipal Code.
2The Recreation Element is not mandated by the State but is a common optional element. 3Both the State-mandated Conservation and Open Space Elements are part of the City’s Resource Management Element. 4Government Code Section 65302 requires the Resource Management (conservation element) and Public Safety Elements to be updated after the Housing Element update.
5Other common or state-recommended optional general plan elements or themes include Economic Development; Healthy Communities; Social Equity, Environmental Justice and Community Resilience; Climate Change.
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APPENDICES
A. General Plan Implementation Report — see the City of Encinitas Annual General Plan Progress Report, presented to City Council on March 11, 2026
B. Housing Element Implementation Report — included as Appendix B within the above report.
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