HUNTINGTON BEACH : Council Gets Draft of Proposed General Plan

A citizens advisory committee that spent three years drafting a comprehensive General Plan update has given city officials an overview in advance of public hearings, to begin in June.

The document was written by a 27-member General Plan Advisory Committee, which is made up of residents and representatives of various interest groups. The committee met 36 times and held two public workshops on the General Plan, which has not been revised since 1976.

“This is a task of such magnitude I’m amazed we had the nerve to do it,” Councilman Ralph Bauer said at Monday’s meeting.

The plan includes economic development, land use and traffic patterns, along with specific “mini-plans” for bicycle routes and scenic corridors. The final document is to be released late this week or early next week, Tescher said.

Officials now must deal with the controversial aspects of the plan, which guides every aspect of municipal government. One recommendation in particular, officials said, is certain to draw attention during the hearings: a cap on growth in the city.

A ceiling would be set according to the capacities of the city’s infrastructure, such as roads and sewers, and police and fire services, Tescher said. The ceiling could be raised only if those services were expanded, he said.

The plan would limit growth to 18,500 new housing units and 2,200 new hotel rooms, with square-foot limits on new office and commercial space. Tescher said the numbers are based on realistic market demand for the next 20 years.

The various elements of the plan have been grouped by topic for eight public hearings running from June to December, when the City Council is expected to adopt a final version.