Current Planning Division

About the Division

The Current Planning Division promotes a vibrant and sustainable Salinas by ensuring that development conforms to our General Plan and Zoning Code or any other applicable regulations and standards. Specifically, Current Planning is tasked with efficiently processing various applications including: General Plan and Zoning Code Amendments, Zone Variances, Planned Unit Development Permits, Tentative and Parcel Maps, Conditional Use Permits, Site Plan Reviews, Temporary Use of Land Permits, Home Occupation Permits, and Sign Permits. Staff also coordinate environmental evaluations (CEQA) for all development projects.

Accomplishments

In 2015 the Division:

Processed approximately 450 permits and planning entitlements
Facilitated several key developments including the Northridge Mall and new JCPenney, Taylor Headquarters Building, Hampton Inn, Mission Tortilla, and Creekbridge Apartments
Completed a 2015 update to the planning fees to achieve greater cost recovery
Assisted approximately 2,400 customers at the public counter.

What We're Working On

Enhancement of Permit Center Operations to further Economic Prosperity through:

Improved case management of key economic development projects to streamline review process.
Reduction in time to process applications.
Enhanced coordination between Permit Services, Code Enforcement, and Current Planning Staff in order to manage cases seamlessly through the process.
Identification of challenges or issues with the existing General Plan and Zoning Code to eliminate barriers to healthy economic development.

Beautifying Salinas! The Three-tiers of Landscaping

May 16, 2022

Beautifying Salinas! The three-tiers of landscaping

Did you know that the City of Salinas Zoning Code has a three-tier landscaping requirement for landscaped areas? The three tiers are:

grasses or groundcovers,
shrubs, and
trees.

The three tiers of landscaping requirement helps to

provide a variety of species and varying textures of landscaping (such as flowering bushes, native grasses, and evergreen trees) that improve the public experience, increase beautification of

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Temporary Use of Land Permit (TULP)

May 16, 2022

Want to have a temporary event on a commercial property? Here’s how:

A Temporary Use of Land Permit (TULP) is required for temporary activities, events, or signs, which occur on occasion but are not intended to become permanent. These types of temporary uses include, but are not limited to the following:

Circuses and Carnivals,
Farmer’s Markets,
Outdoor Retail Sales, and
Trade Fairs

Some keynotes to know about TULP’s:

Zoning codes limit the use of TULPs based on sites

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2021 Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance Annual Report

January 24, 2022

Current Planning has released its 2021 Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance Annual Report for the California Department of Water Resources. Local agencies are required to report on implementation annually by January 31st of each year. There were 8 projects with a total of 118,365 square feet that were subject to the Ordinance during the 2021 annual reporting period. The purpose of the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance is to not only increase water efficiency but to improve environmental conditions in the built environment.

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