A general plan is a city’s blueprint, or constitution, to guide change. It documents the city’s long-range vision and establishes clear goals, objectives, and actions to help the community navigate the next 20 to 30 years of its evolution. Community engagement is a top priority of the City Council and is an important part of the General Plan Update.

State law requires the General Plan include a minimum of eight state-mandated elements:

• Land Use

• Circulation

• Housing

• Safety

• Environmental Justice

• Conservation

• Open Space

• Noise

Beyond these elements, the Culver City General Plan Update will also touch on topics that are unique to the city today: Economic Development; Public Realm and Urban Design; Mobility; Cultural and Arts; Health, Wellness, and Equity; Sustainability and Climate Change; Infrastructure and Public Facilities; and Smart Cities.

The City must update its General Plan periodically to respond to the changing needs and conditions of the city and region and to reflect new local, regional, state, and national laws. The General Plan Update is required by California state law.

Culver City’s existing General Plan contains nine topics, or “elements,” updated between 1968 and 2014. This will be the first time all elements are updated at the same time, aligning the entire Culver City General Plan with today’s and tomorrow’s community conditions and needs. An updated plan can produce many benefits for Culver City including, but not limited to:

• Preserving and enhancing quality of life;

• Guiding economic growth for long-term fiscal sustainability;

• Providing direction for housing decisions;

• Establishing clear and objective standards for (re)development;

• Clarifying the decision-making processes of the City; and

• Promoting positive changes for our environment, health, and sustainability.

Yes. Like other decisions in a community, the General Plan is subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A full program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be completed with this General Plan Update. For more information about the Environmental Review process for the General Plan Update, visit the “Environmental Review” page.

Public agencies must comply with CEQA, a statute that requires state and local agencies to identify potential environmental impacts, and to avoid or mitigate those impacts, if feasible. A City certifies an EIR as part of a General Plan Update process in order to ensure compliance with CEQA.

An EIR identifies and analyzes the environmental impacts that can result from the implementation of the General Plan. It serves to inform governmental agencies and the public of the potential environmental impacts to existing or proposed changes to the built environment. The EIR also proposes mitigation measures to avoid or offset any negative environmental impacts.

All of Culver City is invited to collaborate in the process! The plan is relevant to all who live, work, play, and invest here. In addition to residents, local businesses and workers, community groups and nonprofits, developers, institutions, regional agencies, and partners, many more will be invited to take part in the process. Everyone has a valued place and voice! Visit the "Participate" page to learn more about future events and the “General Plan Engagement” page to learn about previous past events.

• Get on the project email list. Sign up through the project website or at a community event to receive the latest project and community event updates throughout the project.

• Check out the project website. Stay tuned to this project website where project deliverables, summaries and photos from past events, and updates on upcoming events and project deliverables will be posted. Interactive surveys and activities will also be administered through the project website.

• Visit and engage with the City’s social media channels. Updates will be regularly be posted through the City’s Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor, and Instagram social media platforms.

• Attend public meetings and workshops. Meet with your friends, neighbors, and colleagues and share your ideas at the many events planned throughout the next two years.

• Talk to your neighbors, friends, and colleagues. Spreading the word about the GPU efforts and engaging in conversations helps to bring forth new ideas, refine existing proposals, and bring more people into the GPU process.

Input, ideas, and other information gathered through engagement activities has been recorded and compiled to ensure the GPAC, City staff, the public, and decision-makers have a full understanding of community and stakeholder opinions when drafting, reviewing, and adopting the General Plan and each of its elements.