HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2026-01-27_09j General Plan Update-January 2026Item 9.j.
MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: Brian Pedrotti, Director of Community Development
BY: Andrew Perez, Planning Manager
SUBJECT: General Plan Update Progress Report – January 2026
DATE: January 27, 2026
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and file a progress report on the Comprehensive General Plan Update.
IMPACT ON FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES:
The financial and personnel impacts associated with this progress report are included in
the budget for the Comprehensive General Plan Update.
BACKGROUND:
The last progress report was provided for the City Council on November 25, 20251. The
report announced the release of the Preliminary Public Draft General Plan2 (Draft Plan)
and the public outreach events planned to solicit public comment on the document. It also
provided an update on the project's timeline.
ANALYSIS OF ISSUES:
Since the release of the Draft Plan on November 19, 2025, a study session with the
Planning Commission and a public workshop were held to obtain community feedback.
The study session, which occurred on December 2, 2025, allowed staff an opportunity to
describe the process of updating the General Plan, community outreach efforts, and an
overview of the Draft Plan. The Planning Commission was generally supportive of the
Draft Plan and made recommendations for Council’s consideration at its planned study
session scheduled for February 24, 2026.
On December 3, 2025, an open-house-style workshop was held at the Council Chamber
to provide an additional opportunity for the public to comment on the Draft Plan. In addition
1 https://pub-arroyogrande.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=16441
2https://planarroyogrande.com/images/AGGPU_Prelim%20PRD_Full_reduced_2025%2011%2020%20M
G.pdf
Page 101 of 175
Item 9.j.
City Council
General Plan Update Progress Report – January 2026
January 27, 2026
Page 2
to the study session and workshop, an online survey was made available on the project’s
website on December 4, 2025. The survey will be open until January 31, 2026. All
comments from the study session, workshop, and survey will be compiled and presented
to the City Council study session.
Next Steps
Comments and direction from the City Council expressed during the study session will be
incorporated as revisions to the plan. The revised document will become the Public
Review Draft General Plan and is scheduled to be released for public comment in March.
In addition to community members, outside agencies, such as neighboring cities, San
Luis Obispo County, Caltrans, and the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments, will be
invited to review the plan and provide comment. Staff and the consultant would then focus
on completion of the environmental impact report through the end of 2026. A schedule
showing project milestones through the adoption is provided as Attachment 1.
Climate Action Plan (CAP)
Two foundational documents for the CAP are currently under review by City staff. The
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory Report (Inventory Report) was prepared to
assess emissions within city limits and serves as the foundation for forecasting and
setting reduction targets in the updated CAP. The GHG Emissions Forecast and Targets
Report (Forecast Report) forecasts future GHG emissions for 2030, 2035, 2040, and 2045
based on the Inventory Report. The Forecast Report provides a projection of how GHG
emissions are expected to change within the city based on changes in population,
housing, and employment, as well as under existing State and federal legi slation aimed
at reducing GHG emissions through 2045. This report also presents provisional GHG
targets and a gap analysis that identifies the level of GHG emissions reduction required
through local action to meet the GHG emissions reduction targets. Outreach to help
identify which GHG reduction measures will be supported by the community is planned
for early 2026.
ALTERNATIVES:
The following alternatives are provided for the Council’s consideration:
1. Receive and file this progress report on the Comprehensive General Plan Update;
or
2. Provide other direction to staff.
ADVANTAGES:
Regular updates to the City Council will inform decision -makers and the community on
the status of the project.
DISADVANTAGES:
None identified.
Page 102 of 175
Item 9.j.
City Council
General Plan Update Progress Report – January 2026
January 27, 2026
Page 3
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
No environmental review is required to receive and file this progress report on the General
Plan Update because it has no potential to result in either a direct, or reasonably
foreseeable indirect, physical change in the environment. (State CEQA Guidelines , Cal.
Code Regs., tit. 14, §§ 15060, subd. (c)(2)-(3), 15378.)
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND COMMENTS:
The Agenda was posted at City Hall and on the City’s website in accordance with
Government Code Section 54954.2.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Project Schedule
Page 103 of 175
2025 2026 2027
Phase 1: Project Initiation
PHASE COMPLETEPHASE COMPLETE
PHASE COMPLETE
PHASE COMPLETE
PHASE COMPLETE
PHASE COMPLETE
PHASE COMPLETE
PHASE COMPLETE
PHASE COMPLETE
Phase 9: Comprehensive
Development Code
Update
Phase 10: Economic
Development Tasks
Phase 11: Climate Action Plan
Update
Phase 2: Public Outreach
Strategy
Phase 3: Gather and Analyze
Data
Phase 5: Alternative Choices
Phase 4: Visioning and
Guiding Principles
Phase 7: Program
Environmental
Impact Report
Phase 8: Public Review and
Adoption
CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE GENERAL PLAN | Project Schedule
Phase 6: General Plan
PHASE COMPLETE PHASE COMPLETEPHASE COMPLETE
PHASE COMPLETE PHASE COMPLETEPHASE COMPLETE
PHASE COMPLETE PHASE COMPLETEPHASE COMPLETE
De
c
No
v
Oc
t
Se
p
t
Au
g
Ju
l
Au
g
Ju
l
Ap
r
Ja
n
Fe
b
De
c
No
v
Oc
t
Se
p
t
Ma
r
Ma
y
Ju
n
Au
g
Ju
l
Ap
r
Ja
n
Fe
b Oc
t
Se
p
t
Ma
r
Ma
y
Ju
n
De
c
No
v
45-dayPublic Review
Kick-off Meeting
VMT Analysis
Administrative Draft Program EIR
Draft Program EIR Final Program EIR
Response toComments
Planning Commission
Hearing
City CouncilHearing
City Council
Adoption
Final General Plan
Administrative Draft Development Code
Preliminary Draft Development Code
City Council
Adoption
Final
Development
Code
Kick-off Meeting
Diagnostic Document
Review
Stakeholder Interviews
Outline and
Template
CEQA Compliance
E. Grand Ave.
Overlay District
Workshops
Prelim Public Review Draft
General Plan
Public Review Draft General PlanAB 747
Analysis
Land Use Analysis
Study
Session
Study
Session
Kick-off Meeting
Final
CAPGreenhouse
Gas Inventory
Forcast and
Target Setting
GHG Measure
Development CAPDash Tool
Implementation
and Monitoring Strategy Project CAPUpdate
ATTACHMENT 1
Page 104 of 175