HELP SHAPE THE
About the General Plan Update
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The City of Dana Point General Plan Update is currently underway. The original General Plan was adopted over three decades ago, in 1991, and now is the time to take a deep dive into rewriting the plan for the 21st century. The visioning phase was conducted during 2023 and encompassed a variety of in-person and virtual community engagement efforts to help create the vision for the future of our beloved coastal town.
WHAT IS A GENERAL PLAN update?
The Dana Point General Plan is the blueprint for the City’s future development. It is a collection of goals, policies, and actions that reflect the community’s vision and values. The General Plan is required by State law to cover how and where our spaces evolve over time; how we build, maintain, and afford our homes; how we get around town – by car, bike, walk, and transit; and how to preserve nature and open space, control noise impacts, and prepare for hazards and emergencies. Through its General Plan, Dana Point also prioritizes ensuring high quality design, enhancing our local business economy, and expanding public services as the city thrives.
There are seven (7) mandated elements of a General Plan that the State of California requires: Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise, and Safety. Dana Point’s existing General Plan includes three additional Elements: Urban Design, Public Facilities/Growth Management, and Economic Development. In 2022, the City Council updated the Housing Element and Public Safety Element.
CONSERVATION/
OPEN SPACE
1991
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
1991
NOISE
1991
PUBLIC FACILITIES/ GROWTH MANAGEMENT
1991
CIRCULATION
1995
URBAN DESIGN
1995
LAND USE
1999
HOUSING
2022
PUBLIC SAFETY
2022
State-Required Elements
Optional Elements
Recently Updated
Certified Land Use Plan of the City's Local Coastal Program
Timeline
Dana Point’s General Plan Update process is outlined below, including three phases: visioning phase, followed by plan development, and lastly the implementation of the plan.
phase 1: Visioning
This first phase of the General Plan Update was intended to capture the community’s collective thoughts and vision to help create a framework to guide how Dana Point develops over time. The resulting visioning framework will guide the policies, procedures, and priorities of the next version of Dana Point’s General Plan. Throughout the visioning phase, multiple opportunities were provided for the community to be involved.
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The visioning phase was kicked off with the launch of our first video titled “What is a General Plan?”, a fun and informative way for everyone to learn about the process, along with an interactive mapping tool and online questionnaire, where community members shared their ideas and priorities. Other events included a community workshop and a community open house, as well as pop-up events around town that provided opportunities for community members to help shape the future of Dana Point.
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The visioning phase provides a foundation for Dana Point to continue to mature as a vibrant coastal community that honors its unique history, culture, and sense of place. For results of the visioning phase, visit the Documents tab of this website.