Ongoing Community Outreach

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  1. Engagement Calendar
  2. Engagement Data
  3. Submitted Comments

General Plan Update and Local Coastal Program Update


Planning Commission Review of the General Plan and Gateway Area Plan. The City of Arcata Planning Commission is continuing to work through various chapters of the draft Gateway Area Plan and General Plan at its regularly scheduled planning commission meetings, which take place the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 6 PM. These meetings can be attended in person or via Zoom at this time. The Planning Commission will also continue to review the Local Coastal Program through 2023.  Agendas for upcoming meetings can be reviewed here.

At its March 1, 2023, meeting, the City Council set a timeframe for a Planning Commission recommendation on the Gateway Form-Based Code, the Gateway Plan, and the General Plan Element Updates. The Council requested a recommendation from the Commission on this body of work by the July 11 Planning Commission meeting. In response, the Commission will consider the topics it wishes to cover, the timeframes available to complete the work, and a decision focused meeting process to meet the timeline. 

This proposed framework will be discussed at the upcoming March 14, 2023, meeting, along with a review of the topics to consider.

Committee Review of the General Plan and Gateway Area Plan.
The City of Arcata's nine City Committees continue to work through various chapters of the draft General Plan Updates at their regularly scheduled meetings. These meetings can be attended via Zoom at this time. Agendas for upcoming meetings can be reviewed here.

Environmental Review. The City is currently working to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to support updates to the General Plan, the Gateway Area Plan, and associated zoning changes needed in order to implement the General Plan. Director David Loya presented information regarding the City's assumptions for the environmental analysis, which can be can be viewed on the City’s SIRP YouTube channel, here. 

Below is a calendar of engagement opportunities undertaken since the August 23rd joint study session of the Planning Commission and City Council. Additional past Planning Commission and Committee Meetings where Gateway Plan topics have been reviewed, as well as agendas for upcoming meetings, can be watched on the City's website, here. 

Future hearing dates listed in the table below are subject to change. 

Meeting DateHearing BodyGateway Plan Chapter(s)General Plan Chapter

Relevant Meeting Materials
August 23, 2022Planning Commission and City CouncilAll
Poll Results-PC/CC

Poll Results-public
September 13, 2022Planning Commission 

Community Benefits

September 20, 2022Wetlands and Creeks CommitteeOpen Space and Conservation
Adopted Policy Reccommendations
September 27, 2022Planning Commission 

Community Benefits

October 11, 2022Planning Commission 

Concerns/Solutions
Concerns with proposed height polling-public
October 25, 2022Planning Commission 

Concerns/Solutions
Solutions polling-public
Concerns-Solutions DRAFT
November 08, 2022Planning CommissionConcerns/Solutions

November 15, 2022Planning CommissionCommunity Benefits
Benefits Ranking #1
December 13, 2022Planning Commission
Parks and Recreation Element 
January 10, 2023Planning CommissionGateway Plan Fire Services

January 17, 2023Transportation Safety Committee
Circulation Element
January 19, 2023Public WorkshopBuilding Design, Open Space

January 24, 2023Planning CommissionCommunity Benefits
Benefits Ranking #2
February 11, 2023Planning Commission Study SessionBuilding Design, Open Space

February 14, 2023Planning Commission
Growth Management Element
February 21, 2023Transportation Safety Committee
Circulation Element
February 23, 2023Public WorkshopOpen Space, Parking, Streetscape

February 28, 2023Planning Commission
Land Use Element
March 14, 2023Planning CommissionGateway CirculationLand Use Element and Vision Statement, Circulation Element
March 21, 2023Transportation Safety Committee
Circulation Element
March 28, 2023Planning Commission
Sea Level Rise Panel
April 11, 2023Planning CommissionInfrastructure Financing, Building Code questions, Construction Impacts, Affordable HousingCirculation and Infrastructure Elements
April 22, 2023Planning Commission Study Session
Form-based code topics: Community Benefits, building massing by sub-zone

April 25, 2023Planning CommissionBuilding height and shading/view impacts, fiscal impacts
Infrastructure and Public Safety Elements

May 9, 2023Planning Commission

Historic Preservation Element
May 23, 2023Planning Commission

Health Element, Design Element
June 13, 2023Planning Commission
1st Form-based code review session

June 27, 2023Planning Commission
2nd Form-based code review session

July 5, 2023City CouncilGateway Plan reviewGeneral Plan review


What comes next?

Timeline 2023