General Plan Update Delayed

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday to take another look at the General Plan Update at its meeting on March 16. The board has listened to public comments on the update to the planning and land use document since October. The original general plan has been in effect since 1978.

Advisory planning groups and other stakeholders have been weighing in on the update in meetings and discussions with county staff for several years. The update process for the zoning guidelines began 12 years ago.

In the update, most development is planned for western unincorporated areas of the county, closer to existing infrastructure. Hundreds of residents have voiced strong opposition to details within the plan that affect their properties or towns. 

Most opponents have asked for more review of population density guidelines. However, county planners have said that changes could require changes in the environmental impact report. They said density levels were determined by fire risk, impacts to groundwater and legal concerns.

Department of Planning and Land Use Director Eric Gibson said that such a review could result in a delay of anywhere from three months to four years in finalizing the general plan.

Board Chairman Bill Horn said the continuing review of the update is becoming the longest-running TV show, and that it is starting to feel "like Days of Our Lives.''

Land-use staffers considered 231 requests by the public to alter the proposed plan, and presented an analysis of 27 of them to the supervisors. Horn said the supervisors would need time to look at the new information, and would likely have follow-up questions.

Supervisor Dianne Jacob agreed.

"No doubt we'll have a lot more questions and discussions in the future,'' she said.

See also: (Oct. 31, 2010)

City News Service contributed to this report.