General Plan Update FAQ

General plans are divided into “elements” (i.e., chapters) based on specific topics. Per State law, the following elements must be addressed in a general plan: land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, safety, noise, and environmental justice. Local governments can organize and format their general plans however they desire, as long as the required elements are addressed. Cities can also choose to include additional elements at their discretion, such as economic development. Each element of the general plan also includes specific short-, medium- and long-term steps to implement its goals and policies.

It should be noted that the Housing Element has been updated more recently. The Housing Element, a crucial component of the General Plan, addresses the fundamental human need for shelter, highlighting housing needs and opportunities for all Clovis residents. The City’s sixth cycle Housing Element (2023-2031) was certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in December 2024. No updates to the current Housing Element are expected to occur as a result of the City’s General Plan Update.

Clovis strives to strike a harmonious balance between its rapid growth and the preservation of its small-town atmosphere. As Clovis continues to grow, the need for a thoughtful and comprehensive general plan that preserves its superior quality of life becomes increasingly evident.

The City of Clovis last updated its General Plan in 2014. Although the current General Plan has effectively served the City, challenges have emerged, especially in areas such as utilities and the expansion of infrastructure into new development zones. The 2014 General Plan has undergone multiple revisions to its land use diagram and requires a comprehensive update to accommodate evolving laws and housing trends. The General Plan will solidify policies aimed at maintaining excellent public services, ensuring public safety, and safeguarding outstanding parks and trails, all while preserving the distinctive qualities that render Clovis an attractive place for both living and working.

The General Plan Update and work program includes community outreach and preparation of a variety of documents and reports that will inform the General Plan. These include:

Vision Statement – The Vision Statement will summarize the public engagement and outreach efforts during the visioning phase, input received, and outreach outcomes. The Vision Statement will describe themes expressed by the community, the community’s goals and vision for the future, and specific issue areas that must be carefully addressed in the General Plan, and/or Environmental Impact Report.

General Plan Document – The General Plan document will address all State-required general plan topics (land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, safety, noise, and environmental justice) and other topics of local importance, such as economic development.

Environmental Impact Report – An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be prepared to address all potential environmental impacts associated with implementation of the General Plan. EIRs prepared for general plans generally analyze future development at a programmatic level (i.e., higher, less detailed) and enable the City to streamline the environmental review process for subsequent projects that implement the general plan. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) consideration of specific subsequent projects must still occur, but the process is generally shorter and/or more focused because it can leverage General Plan EIR analyses and identification of mitigation measures. This CEQA process is generally referred to as “tiering.” In certain situations, additional analysis may be unnecessary based on information previously disclosed in the General Plan EIR and a showing that the subsequent project would not result in new or more severe previously identified significant environmental effects.

The project is anticipated to take approximately three years, starting in early 2025 and ending in late 2027. In general, the project would be broken into three distinct phases.

• Visioning and Existing Conditions
• Land Use Alternatives and General Plan
• General Plan EIR

Each project phase would last approximately one year, with notable overlap between key tasks. During the first year, the City will evaluate existing conditions, solicit and identify community priorities, and draft the visioning document. During the second year, the team will create land use alternatives that reflect the community’s values and opportunities and trade-offs the City faces. The team will then draft the goals and policies to support the community’s vision and the selected Land Use Alternative. During the third year, the team will evaluate the General Plan and prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to analyze and address potential impacts associated with the plan.

This planning process provides an opportunity for community members to discuss and weigh-in on the City’s future. The City encourages you to take advantage of the many opportunities to participate, including, but not limited to, visiting a pop-up event, attending an open house or Steering Committee meeting, and completing online surveys.

In order to collect community input in an open, engaging, and actionable way, the City will be hosting a series of community events where you will have the opportunity to participate in and be informed of the planning process. As specific meeting dates are determined, announcements will be posted to the website; be sure to sign up to subscribe to project updates. Future events and meetings include:

Pop-Up Events/Open House Meetings – A series of pop-up events and open house meetings will be held throughout the planning process to gather input on key topic areas, including the community’s long-term vision, goals and priorities, and land use and transportation preferences. The dates and details of the pop-up events and open house meetings will be posted on this website, under the Get Involved tab.

Advisory Committee Meetings – A General Plan Advisory Committee will meet periodically throughout the project to provide insight on specific issues, including setting a vision/community priorities, land use and economic development objectives, mobility planning, land use alternative ideas, infrastructure and sustainability, and comments on the draft General Plan Plan.

Stakeholder Interviews – Interviews of groups and organizations that represent various local and regional issues that affect the City will be conducted to ensure that a broad range of perspectives are included early in the planning process. Feedback collected during this stage will be subject to additional input from the broader community.

Community Surveys and Polls – The City will conduct online surveys to provide additional opportunities for members of the public to provide input on key issues and give feedback to the City as draft documents are completed.

Public Review Draft Policy Documents – The Draft General Plan and Environmental Impact Report will be made available to the public for review and feedback before the plan is finalized.

Planning Commission and City Council Meetings – The City will conduct study sessions before the Planning Commission and City Council, prior to their consideration of the General Plan at public hearings.

The City of Clovis is committed to involving the community in the planning process. The General Plan Update process will provide residents, businesses, and interested parties the chance to help guide the future of the community. A successful General Plan will reflect the community’s vision and priorities, and the City believes that your voice is vital to producing a plan that will reflect your vision for the City’s future.

Public input from every engagement opportunity is carefully reviewed and documented to ensure that City staff, the City’s project consultants, and decision-makers have a full understanding of public sentiment when drafting goals and policies. Public feedback on project materials, including goals and policies, is welcomed throughout the process.

City staff, elected and appointed officials, business owners, developers, and citizens can reference the General Plan for guidance on what the community values and to understand its priorities.

The General Plan Update process will provide opportunities for community members to inspire the City’s future. There will be many opportunities to participate, including surveys, open house meetings, and public hearings. All community engagement opportunities will be posted on this webpage.

Visit the Get Involved page to view the dates of upcoming meetings and community events. If you wish to be added to the City’s mailing list to receive project updates and invitations to community events, please sign up to subscribe to project updates. You can also follow the City’s social media sites as an additional resource.