The City's first General Plan Workshop will take place this week on Wednesday at 6:30 pm at City Hall.
The state of California requires every city and county in California to adopt a General Plan, which is the local government’s long-term blueprint “for the physical development of the city and any land outside its boundaries that bears relation to its planning.” The General Plan represents the community’s view of its future and expresses the long-term growth and development goals. It addresses issues that impact the entire city, such as how land is used, where buildings are built, the locations of roads and parks, safety, noise, and more. The General Plan contains the goals and policies upon which the City Council and Planning Commission should base their land use decisions. All city plans, zoning, and private development must be consistent with the diagrams and policies in the General Plan.
Three years after the City incorporated in 1991, Lake Forest adopted its first General Plan to help guide the City’s physical development. Since then, the City has undergone a number of significant changes including the annexations of Portola Hills and Foothill Ranch, the closure of the El Toro Marine Corps Base, and the launch of the Opportunities Study Area. The 1994 General Plan guided the decisions that led to the transformation of Lake Forest into a thriving, well-balanced and sustainable community. The General Plan promoted economic revitalization of aging commercial areas such as Heritage Square and The Orchard, street and landscape beautification efforts, modernization of traffic circulation systems, and expanded recreation opportunities.
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Just as the City’s 1994 General Plan guided the City’s growth and development, the City’s 2040 General Plan will serve as a roadmap for the City’s future growth over the next 20 years. The goals, policies, and actions of the General Plan will serve as the City’s roadmap for future decision-making and provide the community, staff, and elected and appointed officials with clear direction on where the City wants to go and what needs to happen in order to get there.
General Plans are divided into elements based on specific topics. There are seven mandatory elements: land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, safety, and noise. In addition to addressing the seven mandatory elements, Lake Forest has also decided to address the topics of: Economic Development, Community Health and Wellness, and Fiscal Sustainability.
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The Lake Forest General Plan Update will take place over a two year period starting in January 2018. To learn more, Click Here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Jim Gardner is on the City Council for Lake Forest where he serves as Mayor. You can check him out on LinkedIn and/or Facebook and you can share your thoughts about the City at Lake Forest Town Square on Facebook. His Twitter handle is @DrJimGardner. His comments are not meant to reflect official City Policy.
Dr. Gardner has office hours every Tuesday from 4 pm to 6 pm at the City Hall. In addition, he holds a town hall meeting every quarter. The next meeting will be May 17 at 7 pm at the Lake 1 Clubhouse (Ridge Route).
