General Plan Annual Progress Report for City of Pacifica 2025 Calendar Year
Contents
Introduction.............................................................................................................2 Date of Acceptance by City Council ..........................................................................2 Date of Most Recent General Plan Update.................................................................2 Implementation of Various Elements ........................................................................2 Economic Sustainability Element (ES)................................................................................2 Community Design Element (CD).......................................................................................3 Land Use Element (LU) ......................................................................................................4 Circulation Element (CI) ....................................................................................................5 Open Space and Community Facilities Element (OC) .........................................................6 Conservation Element (CO) ...............................................................................................7 Safety Element (SA) ...........................................................................................................8 Noise Element (NE) .........................................................................................................10 Housing Element (HE).............................................................................................10 General Plan Compliance with LCI’s General Plan Guidelines..................................11 Local Legislative Body’s Land Use Priorities ............................................................11 Goals, Policies, Objectives, Standards, or Other Plan Proposals ..............................12 Other Lists.............................................................................................................12 Planning activities initiated ...........................................................................................12 General Plan amendments ............................................................................................12 Major development applications processed .................................................................13 Attachment A: City Council Resolution No. Xx-2026.................................................14 Attachment B: Housing Element Annual Progress Report For Calendar Year 2025 .....15 General Plan Annual Progress Report
City of Pacifica
Calendar Year 2025
2 Introduction
State law requires the City to submit annual reports by April 1st of each year on the status and progress of implementation of its General Plan during the prior calendar year to the City Council, Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (Government Code § 65400). The following discussion complies with the state law requirements.
Staff have conducted a review of the City’s General Plan and prepared the report below outlining notable items related to implementation of elements of the City’s 2040 General Plan, which was adopted by the City Council in July 2022.
Date of Acceptance by City Council
The City Council of the City of Pacifica accepted the 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report at a regular meeting of the City Council on March 9, 2026. The City Council’s consideration of the Annual Progress Report included an opportunity for public comment. City Council Resolution No. xx-2026 is attached for reference.
Date of Most Recent General Plan Update
The City Council adopted the comprehensive 2040 General Plan update (except the Housing Element) to replace the City’s 1980 General Plan on July 11, 2022. The Housing Element was adopted separately on January 22, 2024, with further revisions adopted on March 24, 2025.
Implementation of Various Elements
Economic Sustainability Element (ES)
• ES-I-2: City-Owned Catalyst Projects. Use City-owned properties as catalysts for new development in the Palmetto area and elsewhere in the City.
The City initiated and completed the Surplus Land Act process for 2212 Beach Boulevard1 ,
a key city-owned site identified in the General Plan, Sharp Park Specific Plan, and Economic Development Study, and drafted a Request for Qualifications for interested developers. • ES-I-14: Broaden Business Marketing Efforts. Expand the City’s marketing efforts by developing a comprehensive marketing plan with tools and implementation strategies, focusing on targeted industries and businesses.
The San Francisco Peninsula (SFP) was selected by the Business Improvement District (BID) to manage the Visit Pacifica webpage. Noble Studios was also selected by the BID to 1 City Council Resolution No. 32-2025, dated April 28, 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report
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Calendar Year 2025
3 improve the Visit Pacifica website’s search engine optimization. Once their engagement ends, SFP will take over full Visit Pacifica website management. • ES-I-17: Signage and Wayfinding. Implement a unified, unique signage and wayfinding program for the City’s distinct commercial and attractions.
The 2025 Sharp Park Wayfinding Signage Pilot Project was launched to improve visibility and navigation following input from the Economic Development Committee and local merchants. City Economic Development and Public Works staff collaborated to secure funding and evaluate land select locations for four new wayfinding signs at key intersections within Sharp Park. Signs will be installed in 2026. • ES-I-19: Host New Events. Promote regionally recognized events as a means of increasing awareness of Pacifica as a destination and fostering a positive image of the City as a place to visit, reside, and conduct business.
City staff supported planning and hosting of multiple annual events in 2025 including but not limited to Fog Fest, the dog surfing competition, LGBTQ+ pride parade, and Blues & Brews musical performance.
Community Design Element (CD)
• CD-G-4: Enhanced Mixed-Use Areas. Create distinctive mixed-use areas by ensuring good building form and building-sidewalk interface and providing pedestrian-oriented streets and public spaces.
The City adopted changes to the Zoning Ordinance as part of the Housing Element “Rezoning Program2
” on August 25, 20253 that include objective design and development standards for the new high-density residential and high-density mixed use residential zones that addressed building form, building-sidewalk interface, and pedestrian-oriented development along street frontages. The work done by the Planning Commission and City Council on these standards will inform future work on citywide objective design and development standards.
• CD-I-1: Primary Activity Centers: Create primary activity centers at West Sharp Park, Rockaway Beach, and Linda Mar, and neighborhood centers in Pacific Manor and Park Pacifica (at and around the Park Mall site); and CD-I-4: Support Infill and Redevelopment.
Support compatible residential infill on designated vacant lots as shown in Figure 4-3, and redevelopment of under-utilized commercial properties, and continue to use the City's Design Guidelines in evaluation of proposals that don't meet all development standards in residential districts.
2 HE-I-1 “General Plan and Zoning Amendments to Achieve RHNA” 3 Ordinance 902-C.S., dated August 25, 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report
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Calendar Year 2025
4 The City Council approved the third largest project in the past ten years at 570 Crespi Drive4 – a 19-unit, horizontal mixed use residential development that will provide approximately 3,000 square feet of street-facing commercial use and three below-market rate ownership units, among other features and benefits. The project contributes to a more diverse center of activity along Crespi Drive.
• CD-I-7: Commercial and Mixed-Use Building Form. Seek to ensure that new commercial and mixed-use development creates an attractive and human-scaled built environment.
Update the Zoning Ordinance and Design Guidelines to address mixed use access, building form, and building-sidewalk relationship.
See CD-G-4: Enhanced Mixed-Use Areas. Objective design and development standards adopted for new designations and zoning districts.
Land Use Element (LU)
• LU-I-1: Zoning Consistency. Update the Zoning Ordinance and zoning map and apply zoning to all land within the City, consistent with General Plan and LCLUP policies and land use designations; and LU-I-5: Density Ranges. Ensure that development is permitted within the allowable density range for the applicable land use designations.
The City adopted a “Rezoning Program,” as required by the adopted Housing Element Implementing Action HE-I-1 “General Plan and Zoning Amendments to Achieve RHNA,” on August 11, 2025,
5 and August 25, 2025.6 The amendment created 12 high-density residential and high-density mixed-use residential General Plan designations and zoning districts and applied them to 30 of the sites identified in the Housing Element, creating consistency across planning documents. The City also introduced an amendment to the C2 zoning districts to be consistent with the General Plan Mixed-Use land use designations to allow horizontal mixed use (in addition to vertical mixed use) and align the minimum and maximum density allowances. 7 Community Development also initiated work with a consultant on zoning modernization which includes analyzing the consistency between the General Plan and Zoning districts and ordinances.
• LU-I-1.1: FAR Minimums. As part of the Zoning Ordinance, establish appropriate minimum FARs in commercial and mixed-use zoning districts. Land Divisions in the Coastal Zone.
See CD-G-4: Enhanced Mixed-Use Areas. Minimum commercial areas established for new mixed-use designations and zoning districts.
In accordance with Senate Bill (SB) 9, the City processed ministerial approvals with Planning Commission approval of Coastal Development Permits for urban lot splits in the 4 City Council Resolution No. 104-2025, dated December 2, 2025 5 City Council Resolution No. 73-2025, dated August 11, 2025 6 Ordinance 902-C.S., dated August 25, 2025
7 Introduced December 2, 2025; adoption scheduled January 2026 General Plan Annual Progress Report
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5 Coastal Zone. The proposed lot splits were required to be consistent with the objective standards of the 1980 Local Coastal Land Plan.
• LU-I-3: Coastal Development Permit Findings. For all developments that require a coastal development permit, continue to require written findings that it is consistent with all LCLUP policies and Implementation Plan provisions of the City’s certified Local Coastal Program.
The City’s comprehensive update to the Local Coastal Land Use Plan was certified by the California Coastal Commission on May 8, 2025. The Planning Commission and City staff made written findings for development subject to the new LCLUP based on the current policies.
• LU-I-16: Density Bonus. Continue to facilitate housing affordable to moderate-, low- and extremely-low-income households by providing a density bonus of up to 50 percent over the maximum allowed by zoning, consistent with State Government Code Sections 65915- 65918; and LU-I-16.1: Inclusionary Zoning Update. Consider an update to the City’s below-market rate (BMR) inclusionary zoning ordinance as an action program in a future Housing Element update to study an increase in the inclusionary requirement to 20 percent consistent with the requirements of state law, to evaluate longer terms of affordability, and other opportunities to expand the applicability of inclusionary zoning requirements to more projects.
The City Manager held a joint study session in October 2025 with City Council and the Planning Commission for direction on updates to the Density Bonus and Inclusionary Housing Ordinances and staff drafted comprehensive updates to both that will move forward in Spring of 2026. The City also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for a multijurisdictional Residential Feasibility Study, which began in July 2025. • LU-I-38: Lower Crespi Drive. Establish zoning provisions to facilitate compact, mixed-use redevelopment of older commercial and residential properties along lower Crespi Drive, consistent with the Mixed Use Center and Mixed Use Neighborhood designations as shown in the Land Use Diagram.
See CD-I-1: Primary Activity Centers and CD-I-4: Support Infill and Redevelopment.
Circulation Element (CI)
• CI-I-27: Sharp Park Specific Plan Streetscape. Complete and implement streetscape improvements in the Sharp Park Specific Plan to widen sidewalks, provide bike lanes, landscaping, and make other improvements that will upgrade the appearance of the area and make it more attractive to pedestrians.
The Sharp Park ADA Pedestrian Improvement Project closed sidewalk gaps, improved sidewalks to current ADA standards, installed new ADA-compliant driveways and corner General Plan Annual Progress Report
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Calendar Year 2025
6 curb ramps in the six blocks around downtown area; the project bid closed in November 2024 and the notice of completion was approved October 27, 2025. • CI-I-31: Neighborhood Bikeways. Develop a system of bikeways connecting all neighborhoods to the City’s north-south pathway consistent with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.
The Esplanade and Palmetto Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements Project installed new and improved existing Class 2 and Class 3 bike lanes along Palmetto Avenue, West Avalon Drive, and Esplanade Avenue. The project also enhanced pedestrian safety by installing quick-build painted bulb out safety zones at pedestrian crossings, curb ramps, high visibility crosswalks, and rectangular rapid flashing beacons at several intersections. The notice of completion was approved October 27, 2025.
• CI-I-52: Age-Friendly Community. Support mobility programs and improvements that enable mobility for all people, including seniors and people with disabilities.
The City continued to operate several programs to address mobility for all people, including seniors and people with disabilities:
• A senior shuttle program to bring seniors to the Community Center lunch program during weekdays.
• A Connect a Ride program for seniors to access low-cost taxi rides (supported by the generosity of the late Sirkka Niukkanen).
• A Shopping Assistance for Seniors Homebound (SASH) program that pairs a SASH volunteer with a senior who cannot shop due to limited mobility or lack of transportation.
• A Meals on Wheels program to deliver meals to homebound seniors.
Open Space and Community Facilities Element (OC)
• OC-I-4 Emphasize Park Maintenance and Improvements. Enhance existing parks to improve the quality and usability of Pacifica’s park land, and make improvements such that park facilities are equitably distributed throughout Pacifica.
In 2025, the City completed final bid documents and playground plans for the Priority Parks projects. The work was bid in late fall, and on December 8th 2025 the City Council selected a contractor to begin construction. The four parks scheduled for modernization in 2026 are Imperial Park, Marvella Park, Skyridge Park, and Brighton Mini Park. • OC-I-15: Pedro Point Headlands. Complete the planned transfer of City-owned land on Pedro Point Headlands to an appropriate public or private land steward, and pursue land and/or trail easement acquisition if necessary to connect Headlands trails with the Coastal Trail in Pacifica.OC-I-63: Senior and Community Services.
General Plan Annual Progress Report
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7 The City Manager and staff from Community Development and Public Works participated in a multi-agency working group with representatives from the National Park Service, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the California Coastal Conservancy to continue advancement of this policy.
• OC-I-63: Senior and Community Services. Continue to use available funding sources to maintain and enhance the City’s Senior Services program, including meal services, transportation, and counseling. In addition, continue to support non-profit service providers in offering other needed community services.
See CI-I-52: Age-Friendly Community.
Conservation Element (CO)
• CO-I-21: Development Strategies to Preserve Open Space. Continue to promote densityopen space trade-offs, such as clustering development, transferring development rights from sensitive to less sensitive land, and dedication or protection of open space through covenants or consecutive easements.
As part of the 570 Crespi Drive mixed-use residential development described above in CDI-1: Primary Activity Centers and CD-I-4: Support Infill and Redevelopment, the City redesignated the undevelopable portions of the site from Mixed Use Center to Conservation.8 • CO-I-54: Climate Action Plan for Greenhouse Gas Reductions. Maintain and update the Climate Action Plan that focuses on feasible actions the City can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from government, businesses, and residents in Pacifica.
In July 2025, the City adopted the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP), 9 establishing
Pacifica’s updated framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing community resilience. The CARP builds upon prior climate planning efforts and provides a coordinated set of implementation actions addressing municipal operations, transportation and land use, building energy, waste reduction, water conservation, and community-based initiatives.
Following adoption of the CARP, the City Council established the Climate Action and Resiliency Committee (CARC)10 to support ongoing implementation, monitoring, and public engagement. The CARC is charged with advising the City Council on prioritization of actions, reviewing progress toward emission reduction targets, and providing a public forum for continued community involvement.
In late 2025, staff formalized internal coordination of climate action efforts to align with the adopted CARP, consolidating existing initiatives and resource planning under a unified implementation framework. CARP actions were incorporated into departmental work 8 City Council Resolution No. 103-2025, dated December 2, 2025 9 City Council Resolution No. 64-2025, dated July 14, 2025 10 City Council Resolution No. 85-2025, dated September 8, 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report
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8 planning processes and aligned with the City’s budget development and performance tracking systems, establishing an ongoing structure for cross-departmental implementation beginning in 2026.
• CO-I-59: Beach Boulevard Property. Continue to pursue redevelopment of the City-owned Beach Boulevard property, and include arrangements for ongoing Council Chambers facilities.
See ES-I-2: City-Owned Catalyst Projects.
• COI-63: Wastewater and Water System Efficiency. Maximize the efficiency of Cityoperated wastewater treatment, water treatment, pumping, and distribution equipment.
The Lower Linda Mar Rehabilitation and Repair Project replaced over 30,000 feet of sewer mains, reducing the risk of sanitary sewer spills and Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) into the wastewater system. I&I contributes to the risk of spills, and additional energy and resource use in collecting, pumping and treating sanitary sewage.
The Ultraviolet Disinfection System Replacement Project replaced existing disinfection equipment a more modern and efficient system. The new system is projected to use up to 80 percent less energy to disinfect wastewater.
• CO-I-72: Removal of Barriers to Public Participation. Implement efforts to remove barriers that may prevent underrepresented communities from public participation opportunities.
The Climate Adaptation and Action Plan Taskforce and City staff utilized “Climate Lotería,
11” a bilingual engagement tool based on a popular Mexican bingo game, to enhance outreach to Spanish-speaking community members during the 2025 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan drafting process. The tool was also used in 2025 to support ongoing community awareness and engagement efforts following CARP adoption.
Through the Partnership for the Bay’s Future (PBF) grant, Community Development staff, the PBF fellow, and community partners HEART of San Mateo County and Pacifica Resource Center formed a Site Team to work on Housing Element implementation programs with a focus on community engagement.
Safety Element (SA)
• SA-I-94: Development Review. Review development proposals to ensure that they incorporate appropriate fire-mitigation measures, including adequate provisions for evacuation and access by emergency responders, and vegetation clearances that do not impact ESHAs or wetlands; and SA-I-95: Plan Review in Fire-Prone Areas. Continue to 11 Climate Lotería graphics and content were developed by MIG Consulting, Inc.
General Plan Annual Progress Report
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9 request the North County Fire Authority participation in plan review of new buildings in potentially fire-prone areas;
The City adopted the Office of the State Fire Marshall fire hazard severity zone Local Areas of Responsibility (LRA) Maps.12 Applicable codes were enforced through the Building Official and North County Fire Authority reviews of both development applications and building permits. The City also adopted the 2025 California Building Standards Code13 which contains updated fire safety codes.
• SA-I-99: Multi-Jurisdictional Approach. Participate in State or regional efforts to develop a clear legislative and regulatory framework to manage the wildland-urban interface, including implementation of the MJ-LHMP.
In 2024, nine jurisdictions in San Mateo County formed the Safety Element Collaborative to coordinate updates to their Safety Elements as part of the Peninsula Resilience Project. The project team completed a countywide vulnerability assessment and hazard mapping effort, including development of a geodatabase of hazard data, a GIS database of community assets, identification of sensitive populations and critical facilities, evacuation constraints analysis, and preparation of an online map viewer. The Draft Vulnerability Assessment Report 14 and the interactive map, reflecting this work, were published in spring 2025. 15 The Pacifica Police Department, in partnership with the North Coast County Fire Authority, conducted several community outreach events in 2025 to promote emergency preparedness and self-sufficiency. These efforts included hosting two eight-week Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) academies, participating in Tsunami Preparedness Week in March 2025, and supporting Earthquake Preparedness activities in October 2025, along with several pop-up events at the Farmers Market and Fog Fest. • SA-I-107: Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. Continue to maintain and update a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan as an implementation action for the Safety Element.
City staff representing Police, Fire, Community Development, and Public Works participated in the multi-jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) kick off meeting and Cal Office of Emergency Services training. The LHMP update begins in 2026 and will require ongoing participation. In addition, staff collaborated with the San Mateo County Emergency Managers Office to promote the upcoming Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP). As part of this effort, a community survey was distributed to gather input on hazards affecting local neighborhoods. The survey was promoted across multiple platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, and the City’s weekly Connect with Pacifica update.
12 Ordinance No. 900-2025, dated June 9, 2025
13 Ordinance No. 904-C.S., dated November 10, 2025
14 Peninsula Resilience Project—Pacifica
15 Safety Element Map Viewer
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10 Noise Element (NE)
There was no reportable action on implementation of the Noise Element.
Housing Element (HE)
The City of Pacifica's 2023-2031 Housing Element was formally adopted by the City Council on March 24, 2025, with certification by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) effective as of September 19, 2025.
Staff have prepared the Calendar Year 2025 APR in the format prescribed by HCD (Attachment B) and submitted it electronically to HCD on Month Day, 2026, after City Council accepted the report on March 9, 2026.
This is the third APR associated with the 2023-2031 Housing Element. The City’s RHNA 6 allocation for the planning period 2023-2031 is 1,892 housing units. This is an increase of 1,479 units or a 358 percent increase, compared to the RHNA 5 allocation. The 2025 APR prepared by staff demonstrates the number of housing units for which the City granted planning entitlements (i.e., discretionary approvals), building permits, and certificates of occupancy during the 2025 calendar year.
The APR is a routine item required by state law to report on housing-related activities in the prior calendar year and is not a policy document guiding housing-related actions to be undertaken by the City. The APR must be considered by the Council at a public meeting where members of the public have an opportunity to provide comments. Members of the public may comment on the APR during public comment as part of consideration of the item. Acceptance of the APR is a routine matter, and the report is informational only.
The APR also highlights other accomplishments and milestones achieved throughout the 2025 reporting period. Staff reports the following observations as compared to the 2024 APR reviewed by Council in terms of housing unit production:
• In 2025, housing unit production, measured by building permits, remained stable at 20 units, (20 units were also approved in 2024). Similarly, 31 Certificates of Occupancy (C/Os) were issued, slightly below 43 for the previous year.
• In 2025, 7 of the 31 C/Os issued were for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), representing 23 percent of C/Os. In 2025, 24 C/Os were issued as a part of the 801 Fassler Drive multiplex (not ADUs). ADUs comprised 93 percent of the C/Os that were issued in 2024: 40 of the 43 C/Os issued.
• The City received applications for 23 ADUs in 2025 (27 in 2024). Of these, all were approved ministerially. The City issued 18 building permits and 7 C/Os for ADUs in 2025. • The City continues to process applications under the state law known as Senate Bill 9, or SB 9. SB 9 allows for ministerial approval (i.e., no discretionary review) of two residential unit projects and/or urban lot splits of existing lots for projects that meet the qualifying criteria in the law. Six SB 9 applications have been submitted, four of which were approved in 2025 (two are pending).
• Twenty-two housing units were entitled in 2025 through the processing of residential development applications (compared to 2 in 2024). The City of Pacifica does not have a General Plan Annual Progress Report
City of Pacifica
Calendar Year 2025
11 discretionary entitlement process for ADUs which are processed ministerially. In 2025, 6 ADUs were approved ministerially.
• In 2025, the City received complete applications for 40 housing units, a substantial decrease from 397 in 2024 but consistent with 64 in 2023. In 2024, the city received applications for an unusually large number of units due to two applications: Pacifica Gateway on Coast Highway, south of Reina del Mar Avenue (APNs 018-140-690, & 018-140- 700) for 225 units, and Sea Cove at 4625 Coast Highway for 117 units. No APR-qualifying entitlements or permits were issued for these two projects in 2025.
The APR also highlights other accomplishments and milestones achieved throughout the 2025 reporting period.
2025 Housing Element Program Implementation:
• Housing Element was certified by HCD
• Completed zoning and associated General Plan amendments (and environmental review) for RHNA sites to implement HE Program HE-I-1
• Initiated Zoning Modernization and Objective Design Standards Outreach and Analysis program (HE-I-2) and Public Sites Planning initiative (HE-I-3) • Advanced ADU development (HE-I-4) via shared services (San Mateo County ADU Resource Center, Online Plans Gallery, ADU OneStop)
• Initiated inclusionary housing and density bonus ordinance updates • Supported and extended the Temporary Safe Parking Program • Planning for Sewer Replacement and Rehabilitation (R&R) projects in the Vallemar and Rockaway Beach
• Completed the Sharp Park ADA Pedestrian Improvement Project and Esplanade and Palmetto Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements Project
• Participated in the HEART of San Mateo County shared housing capacity program General Plan Compliance with LCI’s General Plan Guidelines As noted above, the City adopted the 2040 General Plan (except the Housing Element), a comprehensive update to replace the City’s 1980 General Plan on July 11, 2022. The Housing Element was adopted separately on January 22, 2024, with further revisions adopted on March 24, 2025.
The General Plan complies with LCI’s General Plan Guidelines. Although the City of Pacifica is not required to have an Environmental Justice element, environmental justice policies and considerations are included throughout the plan.
Local Legislative Body’s Land Use Priorities
There were no new priorities for land use decision-making that were established by the local legislative body.
General Plan Annual Progress Report
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Calendar Year 2025
12 Goals, Policies, Objectives, Standards, or Other Plan Proposals Goals, policies, objectives, standards, or other plan proposals that need to be added or were deleted, amended or otherwise adjusted.
Pacifica adopted, and in May 2025 the California Coastal Commission certified a comprehensive update the City’s Local Coastal Land Use Plan (LCLUP) in May 2025. The new LCLUP replaces the original 1980 plan. With the adoption of the City’s Housing Element and subsequent Rezoning Program, the LCLUP must be amended to include two new high-density mixed use residential use land use designations that were added to the General Plan (MU-30 and MU-60) within the Coastal Zone, and update LCLUP policies related to construction during nesting season and preconstruction bat surveys for consistency with changes. The City also initiated updated coastal hazard mapping in 2025, which will be required to incorporate into the LCLUP, and submitted three Local Coastal Plan Amendments for Coastal Commission certification in 2025 for changes to the Outdoor Commercial Activities and Short-Term Rentals ordinances, and the Sharp Park Specific Plan.
Following the adoption of the Housing Element and the LCLUP, the City began evaluating the Zoning Ordinance for consistency with the 2040 General Plan through HE-I-2 Zoning Modernization and Streamlining in 2025.
In 2025, the City participated in a multijurisdictional working group focused on Senate Bill 1425 “Advancing Climate Resilience through Open Space Updates” and Assembly Bill 1889 “Enhancing Wildlife Movement and Connectivity Planning. The City will be evaluating the Open Space and Conservation Elements, both adopted in 2022, for compliance in 2026 – 2028.
Other Lists
One or more lists of the following, including reference to the specific general plan element or policy, status (i.e., approved/denied, initiated/ongoing/completed, etc.), and a brief comment on how each advanced the implementation of the General Plan during the past year:
Planning activities initiated
These may include but are not limited to, master plans, specific plans, master environmental assessments, annexation studies, and other studies or plans.
The City did not initiate any major planning activities in 2025, however, Housing Element and the comprehensive update to the LCLUP were adopted by City Council and certified by HCD and the Coastal Commission, respectively.
General Plan amendments
These may include agency-driven as well as applicant-driven amendments.
Two General Plan amendments were adopted in 2025.
(1) The City adopted a Rezoning Program, as required by the adopted Housing Element Implementing Action HE-I-1 “General Plan and Zoning Amendments to Achieve RHNA,” on August General Plan Annual Progress Report
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13 11, 2025. 16 The amendment created 12 high-density residential and high-density mixed-use residential General Plan land use designations and redesignated 30 sites identified in the Housing Element. The amendment also made changes to two Conservation Element policies – Construction During Nesting Season (CO-I-33) and Pre-Construction Bat Surveys (CO-I-34) to comply with current Department and Fish and Wildlife requirements.
This advanced the implementation of the Housing Element of the General Plan by substantially fulfilling the program requirements of HE-I-1 and created additional capacity for housing development to achieve RHNA. The amendment also provides greater species protections. (2) The second amendment was related to a housing development project and included redesignating undevelopable portions of the site from Mixed Use Center to Conservation,17 consistent with the established exclusion of lot area containing sensitive areas such as wetlands from density calculations.
This advanced the implementation of the General Plan by properly designating a wetland area as conservation.
Major development applications processed
The City approved the planning entitlements (Development Agreement, Rezoning, General Plan Amendment, and Development Permits) for third largest project in the past 11 years. The project is a mixed-use housing development with 19 residential units, including three below market rate units, and 3,000 square feet of commercial space.
16 City Council Resolution No. 73-2025, dated August 11, 2025 17 City Council Resolution No. 103-2025, dated December 2, 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report
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14 Attachment A: City Council Resolution No. Xx-2026
General Plan Annual Progress Report
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Calendar Year 2025
15 Attachment B: Housing Element Annual Progress Report For Calendar Year 2025