 | | | The General Plan guides policies in many areas within the city for the next 20 years, including open space. Photo courtesy city of Lafayette | | | | | | The official kickoff of Lafayette's General Plan update is underway and, at its Aug. 12 meeting, the city council voted unanimously with Council Member Cam Burks absent, confirming the General Plan Advisory Committee selection process, designating a council liaison to the GPAC, and authorizing the city manager to hire a housing element consultant.
And if thrashing out such initial `how-to' housekeeping details did not have residents spellbound, the relevance of the General Plan to the future of the city with its "Green Hills, Great Schools" was underscored in a short video explaining the importance of this long-range document in determining the community's vision for Lafayette over the next 20 years.
With input from various community stakeholders through public meetings, surveys and workshops, feedback gathered through GPAC's work over the next four years will guide how policies grow especially around land use, housing, circulation, conservation, open space, noise, and safety in the city.
Every city and county in California is required by State law to have a General Plan that establishes conservation and development goals, as well as the location and intensity of different land uses. Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances and specific plans must be in conformance with the General Plan.
Council members supported staff's proposal to have the GPAC comprised of 11 members, including four representatives from commissions and committees (from Parks, Trails and Recreation, Transportation and Circulation, Senior Services, and Youth Commissions), four residential district representatives, one `at-large' representative, one nonprofit and one Chamber of Commerce representative.
A lottery system will be used to allow all nonprofits equal chance of being drawn and it will be up to the selected nonprofit to provide its representative. It was agreed that a system of targeted outreach to underrepresented communities during the recruitment period and selecting GPAC members through a weighted district-based lottery to prioritize applications from Black, Indigenous, and people of color would be the best way to increase the likelihood of equitable representation from the community.
Council Member Teresa Gerringer emphasized that in this process "everyone's voice will be heard."
The council supported executing a professional services agreement with Environmental Science Associates to serve as the lead on the required housing element CEQA document and Fehr & Peers as the traffic sub-consultant.
Lastly it was determined that Gerringer would act as the primary council liaison to the GPAC in a non-voting capacity.
City staff will allow six weeks to accommodate extensive outreach and for applicants to respond.
Residents can find out more and view the introductory video at www.planlafayette.org/ |
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA