The City of Merced is in the process of updating its General Plan. This process is expected to take approximately 2 1/2 years or until the end of 2008. The City Council has hired a planning consultant, Quad-Knopf of Roseville, to assist the City with this process, which will involve a great deal of public involvement.

Joint City Council/Planning Commission Study Session Scheduled (Feb 2008)

A Joint Planning Commission/City Council Study Session was held on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of the Merced Civic Center at 678 W 18th St.  The purpose of the study session was to discuss input received from the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Board in December 2007 regarding the City's proposed Sphere of Influence (which will require LAFCO approval); provide information about infrastructure and circulation needs, and to receive direction from the Planning Commission and City Council regarding the Draft Sphere of Influence and Land Use Diagram so work can proceed on preparation of the Draft General Plan document and Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The agenda packet for the study session is posted for download below. (Please note that some of the attachments are very large files and may take a while to download--Sorry for the inconvenience.)  At the conclusion of the study session, the Planning Commission recommended and the City Council directed staff to proceed with the preparation of the Draft General Plan documents in accordance with the Draft Land Use Diagram (February 2008) and the Draft Sphere of Influence illustrated on the Diagram. 

Draft Land Use Diagram Available and Community Forums Held (Sept 2007)

Community Forum and Planning Commission/City Council Study Session Held (April/May 2007)

A community forum was held on Thursday, April 12, 2007. The community forum was an opportunity for citizens and other interested parties to give input into the General Plan Update prior to draft land use plans being developed. Options were presented regarding the proposed Sphere of Influence (SOI), which will be the City's 20-year growth boundary since the larger study area adopted by the Council will accommodate 40-50 years worth of growth. A copy of the flyer for the community forum can be downloaded below along with the agenda, presentation materials, a map for citizens to submit their own options for the SOI, and maps of the three options for the SOI presented at the meeting. Also available below are responses to questions asked at the forum, prepared by the consultants and City staff.

A joint Planning Commission/City Council Study Session was held on Monday, May 21, 2007. The options regarding the proposed Sphere of Influence that were presented at the Community Forum (see above) were discussed as well as a short briefing from County Planning Staff regarding the County's General Plan Update. No concensus for any particular option was reached, so staff and consultants will proceed with the preparation of a draft land use map and SOI, which should be ready for public review in late summer/early fall 2007. A copy of the presentation, staff report, and minutes for the Study Session are available for download below (please scroll down to bottom of page) as well as on the Planning Commission and City Council pages.

Draft Growth Boundary Adopted (July 2006)

On May 1, 2006 and again on May 8, 2006, the Planning Commission and City Council conducted study sessions on the General Plan Update in which they discussed recommendations from the consultants and staff on a draft Specific Urban Development Plan (SUDP or growth) boundary to be used in the remainder of the General Plan Update process. The options ranged in size from 32,566 to 43,591 acres, which would be over double the size of the City's current growth boundary that contains over 20,000 acres. The reports and the Powerpoint Presentation presented to the Commission and Council at those meetings can be downloaded below along with color maps of three different options for the Draft SUDP boundary.

On June 21, 2006, the Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider the adoption of a Draft SUDP boundary from the three options discussed at the May 2006 study sessions. The Planning Commission, by unanimous vote, recommended adoption of Option #3 (involving over 40,000 acres) with 2,000 additional acres to the east of Subarea 4. On July 17, 2006, the City Council held its public hearing on the same matter and by unanimous vote, adopted the Planning Commission recommendation. A map of the adopted Draft SUDP Boundary can be downloaded below. It should be noted that the Draft Boundary does NOT represent the City's new growth boundary, just areas under consideration for inclusion in the City's growth boundary, which will be formally adopted at the end of the General Plan process in Spring 2008.

More Information

As more information on the General Plan Update process becomes available, it will be added to this webpage, so please check here for updates on any upcoming meetings or draft documents. If you would like more information about the Update, please call the Planning Division at (209) 385-6858. If you would like to be added to the mailing list for General Plan meetings, please submit your name and physical mailing address (not an email address) to planningweb@cityofmerced.org

For information on the City's current General Plan, please click this link.