AGENDA ITEM: 2
DATE: 1/26/2026
S
TAFF REPORT
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ENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 25-005
DATE: January 26, 2026
T
O: Lancaster Planning Commission
F
ROM: Jocelyn Swain, Senior Planner
Shannon Edwin, AICP, Planner
Community Development Department
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PPLICANT: City of Lancaster
L
OCATION: Citywide
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EQUEST: Approval of General Plan Amendment No. 25-005 to update the Open Space Element (formerly Plan for Active Living) and the Conservation Element (formerly Plan for the Natural Environment) of the City of Lancaster’s General Plan.
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ECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution No. 26-01 recommending to the City Council approval of General Plan Amendment No. 25-005 and finding th at no further environmental review is n ecessary and the project is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
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CKGROUND
A city’s general plan is the long-range planning document that guides future growth and development for the region, comprised of at least eight mandatory elements. Periodically, in response to state legislation or evolving regional conditions, elements of the general plan must be updated. The most recent updates to the City of Lancaster’s General Plan were adopted in 2022, when updates to the Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element became necessary in response to state law.
The City of Lancaster, along with all cities and counties in California, are required to update their Open Space and Conservation Elements, two mandatory elements of a General Plan, to be in compliance with Senate Bill (SB) 1425 and Assembly Bill (AB) 1889.
SB 1425 requires jurisdictions to update the Open Space Element of their General Plan by January 1, 2026.
This bill requires that the Open Space Element include plans and actions for:
Planning Commission Staff Report
General Plan Amendment 25-005
January 26, 2026
• Equitable access to open space considering social, economic, and racial equity. • Climate resilience and other benefits coordinated with the Safety Element. • Rewilding opportunities to preserve and enhance natural ecosystems.
AB 1889 requires jurisdictions to update their Conservation Element by January 1, 2028, to consider:
• The impacts of development on wildlife movement and habitat connectivity. • Identification and analysis of connectivity areas, permeability, and natural landscapes. • Incorporation of guidelines, standards, and the best available practices.
As a result, the City has updated the Open Space Element (formerly referred to as the Plan for Active Living) and the Conservation Element (formerly referred to as the Plan for the Natural Environment) to be in compliance with state law. The original elements were approved when the City’s General Plan was adopted in 2009.
The draft elements were made available for public review and comment from December 15, 2025, to January 14, 2026. At the request of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the public comment period was extended by one week to January 21, 2026.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Open Space Element
The Open Space Element is one of eight state-mandated elements of the General Plan. The purpose of the update is to comply with SB 1425. Technical amendments to the Open Space Element are intended to achieve compliance with the bill’s requirements. To achieve this, the revised element includes new and/or revised policies and actions that are summarized below:
• Explore opportunities for more park and open spaces in areas that are generally lacking. • Encourage use of park and open space facilities by all age groups via marketing efforts of recreation programming and incorporation of amenities in parks, such as play and exercise equipment.
• Protect users’ health and safety, especially in relation to extreme heat and poor air quality, including more shade opportunities, seating, water fountains, water recreation, and utilize lighting to allow for evening use of park space.
• Education, programming, and community cleanup opportunities to discourage illegal dumping or littering in parks and open space areas.
• Encourage the use of parks with local vendors and for community events.
Planning Commission Staff Report
General Plan Amendment 25-005
January 26, 2026
All policies, plans, and actions in the existing Plan for Active Living have largely been preserved in the Open Space Element, with some minor amendments to reflect current conditions and practices and/or compliance with the state law.
Conservation Element
The Conservation Element is one of eight state-mandated elements of the General Plan. The purpose of the update is to comply with AB 1889. Technical amendments to the Conservation Element are intended to achieve compliance with the bill’s requirements. To achieve this, the revised element includes new and/or revised policies and actions that are summarized below:
• Coordinate with the CDFW to pursue Joshua Tree Delegation Agreements, which would authorize the City to process Joshua Tree take permits in certain instances. • Complete a count of all Joshua trees within the City limits. • Incorporate design options that account for wildlife connectivity in biologically sensitive areas, such as lighting, permeable fencing, wildlife crossings, and promoting infill development to preserve natural open space.
• Develop a Habitat Conservation Plan and/or Natural Communities Conservation Plan. • Evaluate existing roadway networks and their impacts on wildlife movement. • Programming to provide education about local and rare wildlife and encourage best practices.
All policies, plans, and actions in the existing Plan for the Natural Environment have largely been preserved in the revised Conservation Element, with some minor amendments to reflect current conditions and practices and/or compliance with the state law.
Appendices
As part of these updates, two new appendices have been added: Appendix A – Park Equity and Climate Resilience and Appendix B – Wildlife Connectivity. These appendices provide the analysis in support of the revisions in each element as well as satisfy some of the requirements of the state legislation.
Appendix A provides a detailed analysis of park and open space access city -wide and specifically for disadvantaged communities. It also includes an analysis of extreme heat events with opportunities to minimize impacts, drought, flooding, and wildfires.
Appendix B provides a comprehensive analysis of city-wide wildlife connectivity. It provides an overview of existing biological resources and identifies areas of high value that have the opportunity to support wildlife movement.
GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT FINDINGS
Planning Commission Staff Report
General Plan Amendment 25-005
January 26, 2026
In order to grant a General Plan Amendment, Section 17.24.140 of the Lancaster Municipal Code states that the Planning Commission must make the following finding:
a. Information presented at public hearing shows that such amendment is necessary to implement the general plan and/or that the public convenience, the general welfare or good zoning practice justifies such action.
The proposed updates to the Open Space and Conservation Elements are intended to achieve compliance with SB 1425 and AB 1889 to ensure the City’s General Plan is consistent with best practice, state requirements, and enhances public welfare. The intent of these bills and subsequent updates are to promote equitable access to parks, preserve open space and natural resources, and encourage development patterns that support wildlife connectivity. The goals and policies included in the updated elements enhance or add to existing City goals supported in the General Plan and reflect the City’s current practices.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed project was reviewed for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and staff determined that the project is exempt from further environmental review under CEQA Section 15061(b)(3), Common Sense Exemption.
Additionally, under Public Resources Code section 21166 and CEQA Guidelines section 15162(a), once an Environmental Impact Report has been certified, no further environmental review is necessary unless there is a change to the project or its circumstances, or new information becomes available that would lead to new or more significant environmental impacts. The proposed actions were reviewed for compliance with CEQA), and staff determined that they were previously evaluated in the Final Environmental Impact Report for the City of Lancaster General Plan 2030 (SCH# 200711003), which was certified by the City Council on July 14, 2009.
LEGAL NOTICE
A notice of Public Hearing was posted in three places and noticed in the Antelope Valley Press on January 6, 2026.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution No. 26-01 recommending to the City Council approval of General Plan Amendment No. 25-005 and finding the project exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Attachments:
A. Resolution No. 26-001
B. Draft Open Space Element
C. Draft Conservation Element