Planning Division

Responsibilities

• Planning has the following responsibilities:
• Assisting the public by providing information related to planning functions within the City, including permitted land uses, development standards and development processes
• Assisting the City Council with planning for the City’s future development (long-range planning actions)
• Providing staff support to the Planning Commission
• Reviewing development applications and related proposals for conformance with the City’s adopted policies and ordinances (current-planning actions)
• Preparing environmental documentation (evaluations of potential impacts and identification of mitigation measures for new development projects) in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
• Maintaining and implementing the City’s long-range planning documents, including the General Plan - The General Plan guides City development actions through adoption of goals and policies. It includes “elements” or chapters that focus on key development issues, including:
  • Circulation
  • Housing
  • Land Use
  • Noise 
  • Open Space and Conservation
  • Public Safety
• Maintaining and implementing the City’s Zoning Ordinance - The Zoning Ordinance is an implementation tool of the General Plan. It prescribes the type, location, range and intensity of land uses, and establishes development standards and land use processes throughout the City

Long Range Planning 

Long range planning develops and implements the City’s General Plan and other long-range planning documents that reflect the community’s vision and help guide the future of Wasco.