Long Range Planning

About Us

The City prepares and maintains long-range plans. These plans forecast future conditions and needs, identify community concerns, and provide strategies to meet adopted goals. They also establish policies and standards for day-to-day decision making. Long-range plans guide the City's physical development and how the City plays its roles within the region, state, and nation. The Long Range Planning Division helps prepare, maintain, and implement these long-range plans. It also oversees the City's Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and provides oversight to the City's Cultural Heritage Committee.

Plans and Projects in Process

General Plan

The City's General Plan, is a comprehensive statement of the City's goals and how those goals will be achieved over the long term. Policies and programs in the General Plan provide guidance to the public, staff, and decision makers on development-related issues. California state law requires each city and county to adopt a general plan that addresses at least seven topics, typically referred to as "elements". The City's elements include Land Use, Housing, Circulation, Noise, Conservation & Open Space, Safety, Parks & Recreation, and Water & Wastewater Management.  The City will be updating the Land Use and Circulation Elements beginning in 2012. 

General Plan Map

The 2010 Housing Element Update is completed!

Each year, the City publishes an Annual Report on the status of its General Plan and provides an overview of actions taken to implement the Plan during the previous year. The City also publishes a General Plan Program Status List. 

Sphere of Influence
The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) reviews the City boundaries and areas around the City on a regular basis as a means to anticipate the probable physical boundary and service area of the City over the long term - generally about 20 years.  This is called a "sphere of influence" review and the most current review was conducted in 2006.  See the Sphere of Influence Study here.

Historic and Archeological Preservation

Historic Preservation Ordinance and  Guidelines

Historic Properties list and Mills Act Program

Archaeological Resource Preservation Guidelines

Architectural Compatibility and Historic Preservation Workshop

Pending Mills Act Legislation This proposed legislation, AB 654, would require the City to inspect the property prior to the Mills Act agreement and every 5 years.

Cultural Heritage Committee

The Cultural Heritage Committee is responsible for researching, identifying, and protecting historic buildings, archaeological sites and cultural features, including making recommendations on financial incentives such as the Mills Act program. The Committee meets on the fourth Monday of each month, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room, San Luis Obispo City Hall, 990 Palm Street. For more information on these and other CHC projects and programs, contact Phil Dunsmore, Senior Planner, at (805) 781-7522 or pdunsmor@slocity.org.