Step 1:
Document Existing Conditions

The first step in updating a General Plan is to understand existing conditions and the current issues relative to the community’s growth and development. This involves an analysis of the current conditions, including the City’s land use, economy, housing, circulation, etc. This information is compiled into a Technical Background Report that will be used as the basis for the formulation of the updated General Plan as well as preparation of the Environmental Impact Report.

Step 2:
Conduct a Visioning Process and Community Survey

During this task, the consultants and City staff will meet with community stakeholders and the general public in a Community Visioning Workshop to establish a Vision Statement that will be used to guide preparation of the updated General Plan. The Vision Statement will be confirmed by the General Plan Advisory Committee (established by the City to provide guidance for the General Plan Update process), Planning Commission, and City Council.

A General Plan demographically representative telephone survey will also be developed in order to receive input from the community on various land use, circulation, public services, and other community issues. Feedback from the survey will help to guide the General Plan update process.

Step 3:
Develop a Land Use Plan

Based on the information from the Technical Background Report, Community Survey, and the Community Visioning Process, an updated Land Use Plan will be prepared. Developing a Land Use Plan includes four key steps: (a) identifying growth and land use development options; (b) testing of these according to their impacts and acceptability; (c) selection of a preferred growth and development scenario; and (d) formulation of policies and programs that comprehensively address community development, infrastructure, services, social, environmental, and public health, and community safety issues and values.

A community workshop will be conducted during the development of the preferred plan to enable La Habra’s residents to consider the factors that will induce growth and development, confirm the areas of the City to be conserved and those in which change will be encouraged, and provide input for land use options for these areas.

Once a preferred Land Use Plan is selected, goals, objectives, policies, and programs will be formulated for each chapter of the General Plan to reflect the issues, vision, and planning principles agreed upon by the community. They will also reflect public input provided in a third Community Workshop and the General Plan Advisory Committee, the Planning Commission and City Council will also be asked to review and confirm these preliminary policies. These General Plan events will be posted in the Upcoming Events section when dates for these activities are determined.

Step 4:
Prepare an Updated General Plan

Based on the input received from the previous task, a draft updated General Plan and Climate Action Plan will be prepared. A third community workshop will be held to provide an opportunity for the community to review and comment on policy directions for all elements of the General Plan.

Based on input received, appropriate policy revisions will be prepared and consolidated into the Draft General Plan and Climate Action Plan will be posted on this website along with all other General Plan Reports and Documents prepared throughout this process.

Step 5:
Prepare an Environmental Impact Report

Before considering the updated General Plan, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be prepared to evaluate the potential impacts of growth allowed under the updated General Plan on all affected resources. These resources include, but are not limited to, air, water quality, parks, and open space. For those resources that will be negatively impacted, the EIR will recommend ways to reduce or eliminate the impacts. Once the EIR is completed, the updated General Plan will be presented to City Council for adoption.

Step 6:
Conduct Public Hearings to Adopt the
Updated General Plan and Certify the EIR

Upon completion of the draft General Plan and EIR, the Planning Commission and City Council will conduct public hearings during which the updated Draft General Plan and Climate Action Plan will be presented for adoption and the Draft EIR will be considered for certification.