East Area Specific Plan: Next Development Plan in Future Growth Area
Published on August 23, 2024
The East Area Specific Plan (EASP) is being prepared, and the City is looking to residents, business owners, and other stakeholders to participate in the design process. A specific plan helps guide future development, which is why community engagement is critical. Development will not occur immediately following plan approval, but the Plan will set the parameters, guides, and requirements that need to be followed as development takes place.
The EASP is the next plan area in the City's Future Growth Area (FGA) along Boronda Rd. The City is seeking input on the types and styles of residential homes that are most appealing to residents, types of commercial development, parks, and environmental and other design features. There will be multiple opportunities for the community to participate through a survey that can be accessed below and community meetings.
What's the Future Growth Area?
As a part of the 2002 General Plan Update, the City identified a FGA located north of Boronda Road and south of Rogge Road. Per the 2002 General Plan, any new development in the North of Boronda FGA is required to be based on New Urbanism principles and promote walkability, alternative modes of transportation, affordability, and sustainability, among other things. In 2008, the City annexed the North of Boronda FGA, requiring a specific plan to be prepared before development. The FGA was divided into three Specific Plan Areas: West, Central, and East. Subsequently, a fourth Specific Plan, Gateway Center Specific Plan, carved 20 acres out of the WASP to facilitate the development of a large commercial center was adopted in 2011. The West Area Specific Plan (WASP) was adopted by the City Council in 2019, followed by the Central Area Specific Plan (CASP) in 2020. The City launched a comprehensive General Plan update, Visión Salinas 2040, in 2021. Through this process, there is an opportunity for the City to take lead on creating the EASP and to complete the required CEQA compliance through the General Plan Update process.
Development of the first subdivision in the FGA will be coming soon. On August 6, 2024, the City Council unanimously approved a tentative map to subdivide within the CASP.
What about traffic along Boronda?
The Boronda Congestion Relief Project was approved by the City Council in 2017. The overall project includes the widening of East Boronda Rd. into a four-lane roadway (two lanes at each direction), and the construction of 4 multi-lane roundabouts at the intersections of McKinnon St., El Dorado Dr., Natividad Rd., and Independence Blvd. Phase 1 of the project - Boronda at Dartmouth through Boronda between McKinnon and El Dorado - will begin later this year, with Phases 2 and 3 projected in the next 2 - 3 years contingent on funding availability and obtaining the necessary environmental permits.
Stay informed!
Sign up for "City News" email and/or text message notifications for the latest updates on this project and other announcements from the City.