|
Community Development
About
Us
The San Luis Obispo Community Development Department plays
a key role in shaping the future of urban development in San Luis
Obispo. The Planning and Building divisions develop guiding policies in
the City's General Plan, and regulate new construction through zoning,
building permits, subdivision regulations, code enforcement and
community design guidelines. Under the direction of the Community
Development Director, who is appointed by and is responsible to the City
Manager, the Community Development Department serves San Luis Obispo
residents directly at the public counter, and indirectly by guiding the
City's urban form from concept to construction. The divisions within the
department include
Long Range Planning,
Development Review and Building and
Safety.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to serve all persons in a positive and courteous manner
and help ensure that San Luis Obispo continues to be a healthy, safe,
attractive, and enjoyable place to live, work, or visit. We help plan
the City’s form and character, support community values, preserve the
environment, promote the wise use of resources, and protect public
health and safety.
Service Philosophy
The City of San Luis Obispo Community Development Department staff
provides high quality service when you need it. We will:
- Listen to
understand your needs
- Give clear,
accurate and prompt answers to your questions
- Explain how you
can achieve your goals under the City’s rules
- Help resolve
problems in an open, objective manner
- Maintain high
ethical standards
- Work to improve
our service
Community planning involves the complex
interaction of individuals, neighborhood groups, business organizations,
environmental groups, other advocacy groups, land developers, and
contractors with appointed and elected City officials and the staff. The
five City Council members are elected officials. The City Council
appoints people to serve on the Planning Commission, Architectural
Review Commission, Cultural Heritage Committee, Handicapped Board of
Appeals, and the Construction Board of Appeals. These groups help
oversee various parts of the planning and construction regulation
program and provide an important means for citizen participation in city
government. The Community Development Department staff are employees
that work with the City Council and appointed citizen groups to
administer the planning and building programs.
What's New
Land Use and Circulation Elements Update
The
Community Development Department lead the effort to prepare a successful
grant application for $880,000 to update the City’s Land Use and
Circulation Elements. The Land Use and Circulation Elements comprise the
City’s “blueprint” for the future of the City: the Land Use Element sets
the pattern for the orderly development of land, and the Circulation
Element sets the policies and programs that guide the circulation
systems (roads, bike paths, walk-ways) to support the land uses.
Together they plan for the physical development of the City based upon the
expected population growth and commercial and industrial development,
while ensuring the protection of the City’s special assets and natural
resources. A comprehensive community outreach will be included as part
of this effort. The update will focus on healthy communities and
promotion of energy efficiency and conservation. More details will be
available in the spring of 2011. For questions, please contact Kim
Murry, Community Development Department, at 781-7274 or
kmurry@slocity.org.
Climate Action Plan
In response to the California Global
Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), the City has been developing a Climate
Action Plan (CAP) that establishes strategies for reducing
community-wide greenhouse gas emissions. The public draft of the
CAP is now ready for review! Please download the following pdf:
SLO CAP
We are in the midst of the public
engagement process including a Farmer’s
Market Booth, public workshops, and stakeholder meetings. Please join us
at the following workshops:
SLO CLIMATE ACTION WORKSHOP #3
Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 6:30-8:30 P.M.
Ludwick Community Center
864 Santa Rosa Street
San Luis Obispo, CA
and
SLO CLIMATE ACTION WORKSHOP #4
Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 2-4 P.M.
Senior Citizens Center
1445 Santa Rosa Street
San Luis Obispo, CA
Visit
www.SLOCOOL.org to give feedback on the CAP and learn about our path
towards being a more sustainable community! For questions and comments,
please contact James David, Community Development Department, at
781-7576 or jdavid@slocity.org.
Orcutt Area Annexation Protest Hearing Results
Historic Resource
Inventory
The Cultural Heritage
Committee is in the process of surveying the City for potential Historic
Resources. This may also include adjustments to the boundaries of the
City's Historic Districts. Links to the web page are
here.
New Public Counter Hours for
the Community Development Department and Public Works Department Offices
– 919 Palm Street. Effective October 4, 2010, the Community Development
Department's and Public Works Department's public counter are open
Monday through Friday, 8 am to noon, and 1 pm to 3 pm.
The change in public counter hours is an effort to
maintain a high level of customer service at the public counter while
experiencing staffing reductions. During the times the counter is
closed, the Building Inspection Hotline will still be available to
accept inspection requests. Phones will remain open where they connect
directly to a staff member. Individuals can still schedule meetings with
city staff during the times the offices are closed. Public Works and
Building Inspectors will still be available for inspections during the
time the offices are closed.
How to Reach Us |
