Under California law, each city and county must have a Comprehensive Plan (also known as a General Plan) to guide its future growth and development.  A Comprehensive Plan is a long-range document that includes goals, policies and programs for how a community will manage its land use, housing, circulation, natural resources, economics and public services.

The City of Palo Alto currently is undertaking a Comprehensive Plan Amendment that will cover the period through 2020.  The purpose of the Amendment is to extend the horizon year of the existing Comprehensive Plan adopted in 1998 from 2010 to 2020, revise base conditions and growth projections, modify policies and programs, update the land use map and revise the Housing Element.  An environmental impact report (EIR) will be prepared to analyze the Comprehensive Plan Amendment.

Once complete, the amended Comprehensive Plan will serve as the guide for Palo Alto’s future development.  The City Council and Planning Commission will use the Comprehensive Plan to evaluate land use changes and make funding and budget decisions, and City staff will use it to regulate building and development and to inform its recommendations on projects.