RESOLUTION NO. 26-______
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MENIFEE, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO.
LR25-0148, AN UPDATE TO THE OPEN SPACE AND
CONSERVATION ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code Section 65358, the City has considered less than four proposed amendments to the City’s General Plan in the year 2026; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill (SB) 1425 requires cities and counties to review and update the Open Space Element of their General Plans to address equitable access to open space, climate resilience and other co-benefits of open space, and rewilding opportunities; and
WHEREAS, on August 15, 2025, the City of Menifee initiated General Plan Amendment (GPA) No. LR25-0148 to update the Open Space and Conservation Element of the General Plan; and
WHEREAS, GPA No. LR25-0148 will add language to the City’s Open Space and Conservation Element of the General Plan (Exhibit “A”) as well as the background documents (Exhibit “B”), to further ensure compliance with new regulations brought forth by SB 1425; and
WHEREAS, GPA No. LR25-0148 was presented to the Parks, Recreation & Trails Commission on February 5, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) Director found GPA No. LR25-0148 to be consistent with the 2014 March Air Reserve Base/Inland Port Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan and the 2010/2011 Perris Valley Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan; and
WHEREAS, on April 8, 2026 the City of Menifee Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing and considered all public testimony as well as all materials in the staff report and accompanying documents for GPA No. LR25-0148, which hearing was publicly noticed on March 27, 2026 by a publication in a newspaper of general circulation, an agenda posting, and to persons requesting public notice; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission considered the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et. seq.) with regard to the possible impacts that proposed GPA No. LR25-0148 may have upon the environment and determined GPA No. LR25-0148 is exempt from CEQA and recommend the City Council approve GPA No. LR25-0148; and WHEREAS, on June 3, 2026 the City of Menifee City Council held a duly noticed public hearing on GPA No. LR25-0148, considered all public testimony as well as all material in the staff report and accompanying documents for GPA No. LR25-0148.
Open Space and Conservation Element Amendment
June 3, 2026
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Menifee, California resolves as follows:
Section 1: The City of Menifee’s City Council hereby makes the following findings for GPA No. LR25-0148 in accordance with Title 9, Article 2, Section 9.50.070 “Findings of Approval” of the City of Menifee Comprehensive Development Code:
Finding 1 - The amendment is consistent with the intent of the vision, goals and policies of the General Plan as a whole.
The proposed GPA is consistent with the intent of the goals and policies already in the General Plan. The proposed amendment adds language that further highlights equitable access to open space, provides further pathways for climate resilience, and adds language for rewilding opportunities. This is to ensure that the Open Space and Conservation Element will be in compliance with SB 1425.
The Open Space and Conservation Element amendment accomplishes this by clarifying language in existing sections as well as adding objectives to further clarify the intent and vision of the City’s General Plan already established in the Open Space and Conservation Element. The amendments are minor and will not result in a shift to the General Plan. The proposed amendments are consistent with the established goals and policies of the General Plan.
Finding 2 - The amendment prescribes reasonable controls and standards for affected land uses to ensure compatibility and integrity of those uses with other established uses.
The proposed amendment to the General Plan prescribes reasonable controls and standards to ensure compatibility with other established uses as the proposed changes to the Open Space and Conservation Element adds language to ensure:
1. Access to open space for all residents in a manner that considers social, economic, and racial equity, correlated with the environmental justice element or environmental justice policies in the General Plan, as applicable.
2. Climate resilience and other co-benefits of open space, correlated with the Safety Element.
3. Rewilding opportunities, correlated with the Land Use Element.
This is in compliance with SB 1425 and as previously mentioned the City’s existing General Plan. Further, the amendments do not involve any physical construction or improvements to the environment.
Finding 3 - The proposed amendment provides for the protection of the general health, safety and/or welfare of the community.
The amendments will not result in conditions detrimental to the public health, safety, or general welfare as currently proposed as the proposed changes to the Open Space and Conservation Element adds language to address fair and Open Space and Conservation Element Amendment
June 3, 2026
equitable access to open space, climate resilience, and rewilding opportunities in compliance with SB 1425, and the proposed changes are minor amendments to ensure further compliance. This will not change existing established patterns of development. Further, the amendments do not involve any physical construction of any project. The proposed amendments are to ensure equitable access to open space and provide further clarity of pathways for climate resilience and rewilding which is for the general health, safety, and welfare of the community.
Therefore, the modification would not create conditions materially detrimental to the public health, safety and general welfare or injurious to or incompatible with other properties or land uses. It in contrast will help further them.
Section 2: Compliance with CEQA. Processing and approval of the General Plan Amendment are in compliance with the requirements of CEQA.
Staff has reviewed the proposed GPA in accordance with the CEQA Guidelines and has determined that the GPA is exempt from the requirements of CEQA because it would not “result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment” (CEQA Guidelines section 15060(c)(2)); and under the “common sense exemption” (CEQA Section 15601(b)(3)) as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed GPA will have a significant impact on the environment. This is because the project will not involve any physical improvements or changes to the environment.
Section 3: Notice of Adoption. The City Clerk of the City of Menifee shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution.
Section 4: Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective upon its adoption.
Section 5: Severability. If any provision of this Resolution or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications and, to this end, the provisions of this Resolution are declared to be severable.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Menifee, California determines, finds and approves the following:
1. That the City Council determines the Findings set out above are true and correct.
2. That the City Council determines the environmental review has been completed for the Project in accordance with State and local laws, and CEQA guidelines.
3. That the City Council finds that the facts presented within the public record and within the Resolution provide a basis to approve GPA No.
LR25-0148.
4. The documents and materials that constitute the record of proceedings on which this Resolution has been based are located at the Community Development Department – Planning Division, 29844 Haun Road, Menifee, CA 92586. This information is provided in compliance with Public Resources Code section 21081.6.
Open Space and Conservation Element Amendment
June 3, 2026
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED on this the 3rd day of June 2026 _________________________
Ricky Estrada, Mayor
Attest:
___________________________
Stephanie Roseen, City Clerk
Approved as to form:
______________________________
Jeffrey T. Melching, City Attorney