ATTACHMENT E
Draft General Plan Vision Statement and Guiding Principles
City of San Marcos General Plan Update
Draft General Plan Vision Statement and Guiding Principles General Plan Vision Statement
Vision
San Marcos is an inviting destination for visitors, residents, and companies to discover new opportunities—personally
and professionally. It is a place people are proud to call home and build community. Community is not just a place, but a feeling. San Marcos celebrates its unique qualities, welcomes new ideas, and has something to offer everyone.
Diversity, equity, cooperation, and inclusion are essential to San Marcos and residents feel safe, supported, and know they belong.
The City’s General Plan Vision is guided by the following principles:
• Creating distinctive communities and experiences
• Promoting healthy and active living
• Serving as an education hub
• Leading the way in business innovation
• Embracing sustainable growth
NOTES/COMMENTS:
City of San Marcos General Plan Update
Draft General Plan Vision Statement and Guiding Principles Guiding Principles
Distinctive Communities and Experiences
San Marcos is recognized by its distinctive communities and experiences that set it apart from neighboring cities. Daily life is enriched by one-of-a-kind spaces for friends and family to gather and create lasting memories. With a balance of livable neighborhoods and thriving activity centers with shopping, dining, and entertainment options, the City
maintains its hometown charm even as it continues to grow.
New development fits harmoniously into the existing
neighborhood fabric and thoughtful, high-quality design reflects the character of San Marcos. Established
neighborhoods retain the attributes that make them special as the City preserves and protects these valued community assets. San Marcos residents share a unified sense of
identity and are proud to build strong and lasting
relationships.
NOTES/COMMENTS:
City of San Marcos General Plan Update
Draft General Plan Vision Statement and Guiding Principles Healthy and Active Living
San Marcos is a healthy, walkable community that fosters valuable relationships through exceptional recreational opportunities. The City boasts abundant beautiful and
inviting biologically diverse open spaces—with over 300 acres of parkland, including large and small community
parks, multi-use trails suitable for hiking, cycling, running, and equestrian use, and passive areas to relax and
recharge—that meet the needs of people of different ages and abilities. These areas are some of the City’s most
defining features and serve as a primary reason people
choose to call San Marcos home. San Marcos is a premier location for community gatherings, outdoor sports, or a family picnic. Opportunities for adventure, play, and fitness are thoughtfully integrated throughout the community.
NOTES/COMMENTS:
City of San Marcos General Plan Update
Draft General Plan Vision Statement and Guiding Principles Education Hub
San Marcos is the educational center of North San Diego County. It is home to numerous lifelong learning institutions, including California State University San Marcos and Palomar College, as well as highly ranked vocational schools.
Education is a key component of the community’s identity.
Students are supported at all stages of life, from preschool, to college, and beyond. San Marcos Unified School District provides high-quality education to the City’s youngest
generation and serves as a pipeline to future opportunities.
A large number of high-skilled jobs provide a gateway for collaboration between residents, businesses, and the
academic community.
NOTES/COMMENTS:
City of San Marcos General Plan Update
Draft General Plan Vision Statement and Guiding Principles Business Innovation
The City is part of the 78 Corridor known as “Innovate78”, a strategic regional partnership between San Marcos,
Carlsbad, Escondido, Oceanside, and Vista meant to further innovation and boost economic prosperity in North County.
San Marcos is able to create ample local job opportunities by both attracting and retaining high-quality employers, as well as serving as a launchpad for new companies.
Entrepreneurship and business growth are bolstered
through partnerships with a variety of institutions. The City celebrates increased interest in locally made experiential industrial products. San Marcos maintains a healthy, diverse economy by promoting growth across multiple industries
such as the burgeoning life sciences / biotech sector and manufacturing sector.
NOTES/COMMENTS:
City of San Marcos General Plan Update
Draft General Plan Vision Statement and Guiding Principles Sustainable Growth
The City fosters fiscally and environmentally sustainable growth by balancing new development with infrastructure needs. Development is directed to areas of San Marcos that can best accommodate growth, such as along corridors,
around activity centers, and near multimodal transit
facilities. There are a variety of safe and connected
transportation options for people to conveniently get where they need to go. Adequate public services and utilities are available to maintain the high quality of life San Marcos community members expect. The community values
resource conservation and embraces new creative strategies to promote a more sustainable lifestyle.
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