GENERAL PLAN UPDATE

Welcome to the Lake Elsinore General Plan Update 2023-2025. This site provides resources and information about the Lake Elsinore General Plan Update and what it means for our City. Your participation and input is essential to developing a community-driven plan that reflects our values and how we envision Lake Elsinore. All project news, events, and community input will be available on this page.

What is a General Plan?

Each city and county in California must prepare a comprehensive, long-term General Plan to guide its future. The General Plan is a city's constitution for future development. The general and specific policies of the General Plan serve as the basis for the City's land use decisions and provides both the interested public and the decision-makers with a practical and implementable policy vision for the future.

Why update the General Plan?

Since adopting its General Plan on December 13, 2011, the City has been greatly impacted by growth and legislative related changes. The City has more than doubled in population, growing from 29,999 on January 1, 2011, to approximately 73,000 on January 1, 2023. The State of California has also implemented far-reaching mandates intended to address environmental change and economic development pressures. Since 2011 the City has been impacted by the following:

• Significant changes to the built environment which has led to increasing levels of conflict between land uses
• Evolution of community values and expectations
• Significant evolution in local and regional economic conditions
• Adoption of the Dream Extreme 2040 vision document (2020)
• Major legislative mandates impacting issues such as environmental change, affordable housing, planning/zoning, VMT, etc.

In light of these changes, a more comprehensive General Plan update is warranted, with a focus on re-examining land use policies that may not reflect current economic conditions and desired change in the community.

What is included on the General Plan?

The General Plan includes text describing the City's Goals and Policies associated with each General Plan Element and illustrations mapping the generalized locations of future land uses. Goals are general statements outlining the City's values or intent for particular topics and are open-ended visionary expressions. Policies are statements that help guide the City's actions. State Law mandates that nine elements be addressed in the General Plan: land use, circulation, housing, open space, conservation, noise, safety, environmental justice, and air quality. Identified optional elements include a healthy community element.

Ways to Participate

The General Plan is for everyone in the City of Lake Elsinore. The citizens of Lake Elsinore have a vital role through their participation in the General Plan Update process. A Public Outreach Plan has been prepared that outlines the engagement strategies and tactics guiding the Lake Elsinore General Plan Update. The complete Public Outreach Plan can be accessed here:

The community outreach efforts are designed to accomplish the following goals:

• Educate and inform community members about how the Lake Elsinore General Plan Update shapes the City’s future.
• Provide opportunities for inclusive participation to ensure that all community voices are heard and are encouraged to offer substantive input.
• Foster community and stakeholder buy-in to support the General Plan Update adoption and implementation.

Upcoming Events

In the provided table, view the General Plan Update process and community participation opportunities.

Additional Information / Submittal of Comments and Suggestions

For more information regarding the General Plan Update, or to submit comments and suggestions, you may call the City's Planning Division and speak to Damaris Abraham at 951-848-4046, or email dabraham@lake-elsinore.org