PROJECT DESCRIPTION

General Plan
The City of Lodi has not comprehensively updated its General Plan since 1991. Since then, it has grown a total of about 20 percent from a population of 51,847 in 1990 to 62,817 in 2006. While Lodi’s growth rate has been lower than other cities in the county, development pressures can be felt both from within and outside the city limits. Forthcoming projects, such as the new Wal-Mart Super Center, Reynolds Ranch/Blue Shield of California Call Center, and the Southwest Gateway and Westside Developments are only the beginning of Lodi’s new additions. The spill over expansion effects of nearby cities such as Stockton have also put growth pressures on Lodi. We need a new plan to manage our growth into a vibrant 21st century town, with livable neighborhoods, smart economic development, and preservation of our agricultural assets.

Key Isssues
As Lodi faces the future, the City and the residents must decide what kind of place we want Lodi to be, the steps to get there, and the policies to attain those visions. The General Plan Update will be the blueprint for Lodi’s next 20 years. Key issues will be identified in consultation with the community; likely topics will include:

• Managing growth
• Establishing a greenbelt community separator
• Preserving agriculture and viticulture
• Leveraging the wine industry and tourism
• Rehabilitating neighborhoods and key corridors
• Strategic economic development
• Expanding housing options, and
• Maintaining the small town character of Lodi and the quality of life.

These are essential to Lodi’s future and vitality.

General Plan Elements
At this time it is envisioned that the updated Lodi General Plan will contain the following nine elements:

1. Land Use- Designates the general location and intensity of housing, business, industry, open space, education, community buildings, public facilities, and other land uses. It will provide policies to guide developments that are appropriate to the character and setting of Lodi.

2. Growth Management- Address issues related to urban expansion and orderly growth, and criteria for expansion of growth boundaries, balancing new urban development with the provision of public services and infrastructure. Interim and 20-year urban growth boundaries may be defined.

3. Community Design and Livability- Strategy for livability and smart growth, with the goal of integration of land use, transportation, and public amenities. This element will consider the overall city image and identity; city entrances and edges; design policies for key corridors, streets, and buildings; relationships between development patterns; accessibility and connection; enhancement of quality of life of eastside neighborhoods; and cultural resources.

4. Circulation- Encompasses the full range of transportation modes, including conceptual locations for major roadways, transit, and pedestrian and bicycle corridors. We will coordinate with Lodi Transit and San Joaquin Regional Transit District to ensure that the General Plan fully captures the potential for future transit services both within the City and connecting the City to other parts of the region.

5. Parks and Recreation- Details plans and measures for preserving open-space for natural resources, the managed production of resources, outdoor recreation, public health and safety, and the identification of agricultural land.

6. Conservation- Will be closely coordinated with the EIR impact analysis, and any identified mitigations will be folded in as Plan policies. The element will include specific provisions regulating the development and preservation of open space and agricultural lands.

7. Noise- Identifies and appraises noise problems within the community and forms the basis for distributing new noise-sensitive land uses.

8. Safety- Establishes policies and programs to protect the community from risks associated with seismic, geologic, flooding, and wildfire hazards.

9. Housing (not a part of this update)- Includes policies and programs to promote a diverse range of housing, including affordable housing. Lodi's current Housing Element was last updated in 2004.

Environmental Impact Report
Conducted parallel to the General Plan will be an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The EIR assess the impacts of the General plan so that mitigation can be built into it. The result is a self-mitigating Plan.