Report Prepared by: Jonnie Lan, AICP, Acting Planning Manager, Development Services Department
Title
SUBJECT: Merced Comprehensive General Plan Update and Downtown Station Area Plan
REPORT IN BRIEF
The City of Merced is undertaking a Comprehensive General Plan Update and the creation of a Downtown Station Area Plan. A comprehensive General Plan update is a periodic revision and update of the City’s long-term planning document, which serves as a blueprint for future development and conservation.
Body
DISCUSSION
The last General Plan was adopted in 2012. Over the past several years, individual chapters have been revised as needed. However, due to changes in State law among other things, it has been determined that it is time for the General Plan to be comprehensively updated. A General Plan addresses a broad range of issues related to land use, housing, transportation, infrastructure, and community well-being. Updating it at regular intervals ensures the plan remains relevant and effective.
Through the process the community will define the Planning Area, the long-term community vision for the future (spanning about 20 years or more), establish goals, objectives, policies, and establish implementation measures to achieve that vision.
Mandatory elements or chapters include Air Quality, Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise, Environmental Justice and Safety. The City of Merced will also consider other chapters like Economic Development and Public Facilities.
This process will involve extensive public participation. This engagement began this summer. The City has held stakeholder meetings (Transportation, Developer and Real Estate and Downtown Merchant focus groups), an interactive meeting for Citizen Based Organizations and a couple of Citizens Advisory Focus Group (CAFG) meetings. As mentioned last meeting, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission is represented on the CAFG by Ex-Officio Member Curtis Thomas. The next meeting of the CAFG (CAFG #3) will take place November 10, 2025, from 6:00-8:00 in the City Council Chambers. It is an open, public meeting so we would encourage anyone from the public to join and participate.
The last several months staff has been working on Existing Conditions and Trends documents for both the General Plan Update effort and the Downtown Station Area Plan. Existing Conditions and Trends documents reflect as close to the existing “real time” status of those issues that the General Plan Chapters normally address (i.e. Air Quality, Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise, Environmental Justice, Safety, Economic Development and Public Facilities). This creates a baseline upon which the General Plan can be built. The document is still in draft form. It has been attached for the BPAC to review.
The City held the first public workshop/open house on Thursday October 23rd, 2025. There City Staff and the consultant team heard the community’s response to what they feel currently reflects the existing conditions and trends of the City.
You may give any comments about the General Plan Update or the Downtown Station Area Plan at the meeting, however, if you could send the comments to staff at lanj@cityofmerced.gov <mailto:lanj@cityofmerced.gov>, as well, that would be appreciated. You can also submit comments online and find information about the General Plan Update and Downtown Station Area Plan at the project website www.imaginemerced.com <http://www.imaginemerced.com>.