Chapter 2--Urban Expansion

Since 1959, the City has had an adopted general plan with major updates occurring in 1968, 1981, and 1997. The most current update was strongly influenced by a series of long-range planning studies which began in 1990 with the 40-year growth study or Merced 2030: How Should We Grow? The process continued with the North Merced Conceptual Land Use Plan and the Commercial and Industrial Land Study (1994-2010).

The overall approach of the Merced Vision 2015 General Plan is to develop a strategy to accommodate future population growth in the most efficient manner possible. The General Plan guides urban development to the north towards the least productive agricultural soils in the area and away from other environmentally-sensitive areas to the east, west, and south.

Growth in the City of Merced is influenced by the planning policies of Merced County. The extent of future City growth is defined by the urban growth boundary [or Specific Urban Development Plan (SUDP)] adopted by the City and County.

The Merced Vision 2015 General Plan proposes an expansion of the City’s SUDP by 4,300 acres to accommodate the City’s projected growth over the next 20 years. A larger "Sphere of Influence" is also proposed which includes the area around the future University of California campus and the County rural residential centers along the City’s eastern boundary.

Urban Expansion Goals in the Merced Vision 2015 General Plan are aimed toward maintaining a compact urban form, preserving significant agricultural areas, and promoting annexation to achieve efficient public service delivery.

A joint City-County planning process is also anticipated for the area around the UC campus, and a "greenbelt" is proposed for the area between Merced and Atwater.

Other highlights of the Urban Expansion Chapter include:

A description of the constraints that influenced the City’s growth boundaries (also known as the Specific Urban Development Plan or SUDP) and Sphere of Influence;

A discussion of annexations and growth along the City’s fringe; and,

Population projections for the Merced area from 1995 to 2035.

(Note: The two photos in the above section are courtesy of Roger Wyan of the Merced Sun Star.)

Chapter 2--Urban Expansion

GOALS

A Compact Urban Form

Preservation of Agriculturally Significant Areas

Efficient Urban Expansion

POLICIES

UE-1.1 Designate areas for new urban development that recognize the physical characteristics and environmental constraints of the planning area.

UE-1.2 Promote a compact urban form.

UE-1.3 Control the timing, density, and location of new land uses within the City’s urban expansion boundaries.

UE-1.4 Establish a joint City-County planning program on the UC San Joaquin (Merced) site and Smith Trust lands.

UE-1.5 Work with Merced County and the City of Atwater to establish a Greenbelt area between the Cities of Atwater and Merced.

UE-1.6 Preserve the "Northern City" urban expansion area for anticipated growth needs beyond the year 2015.

UE-1.7 Promote annexation of developed areas within the City’s Specific Urban Development Plan (SUDP) during the Planning Period.