The city of El Centro is preparing an update to the Zoning Code (Chapter 29 of El Centro Code of Ordinances) and the Zoning Map to implement the goals and policies of the General Plan 2040 update, adopted in June 2021, and the Housing Element update adopted in February 2022. This webpage will be continually updated as the project progress.

Enviornmental Assessment Committee

The Enviornmental Assessment Committee (EAC) consisting of the Community Development Director, City Manager, Director of Public Works/City Engineer, Police Chief, Fire Chief, and Building Official, or their designee conduct an initial study on all projects that are not exempt from CEQA and assess the enviornmental impacts associated with a project.

Administrative Committee

The Administrative Committee (AC) consists of the Community Development Director, City Manager, Director of Public Works/City Engineer, Police Chief, Fire Chief, and Building Official, or their designee. The AC assists the Community Development Director, Planning Commission, and City Council to better expedite certain administrative reviews as established by the Council. It is also established to function as a board of zoning adjustment in maters regarding administrative variances.

The Administrative Committee and the Environmental Assessment Committee meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 9:00 a.m. in the Economic Development Large Conference Room, 1249 W. Main Street. Agendas are mailed to applicants the Friday before the meeting date and are posted at City Hall and on the City’s website.

To view the monthly project report for the Community Development Department – Planning & Zoning Division please choose from the list below. Monthly reports are posted for the previous completed month and will be posted the 10th of every month for your viewing.

If you have any questions regarding any of the projects, please do not hesitate to contact the respective City Planner at your convenience.

Current Monthly Project Report:

MAY 2021

General Plan

Every city and county in California is required to adopt a comprehensive plan of their physical development. The General Plan is a set of long-term goals and policies that decision makers will use to guide growth and development and address the community’s goals. The plan is divided into various elements that include the Land Use Element, Circulation Element, Housing Element, Conservation Element, Open Space Element, Noise Element, Safety Element, and any additional topics of local significance. Each of these elements detail policies and programs to achieve the established goals. The City of El Centro’s current General Plan was adopted in 2004. The Housing Element is required to be updated every eight years and was last updated in 2021. Please click on the bold titles below to open the link for each General Plan element:

Cover and Introduction – Contains an overview of the General Plan and community vision.

Land Use Element – Designates the proposed general distribution, general location and extent of uses of land within the city focusing on preserving established land uses and accommodating the future growth and physical development of the community.

Circulation Element – Provides an overall guidance to satisfy the local circulation needs of our residents, visitors and businesses. It coordinates with the Land Use Element and future land use patterns to address connectivity that serve vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians to improve the balance between environmental concerns and the City’s objectives for mobility and safety.

Housing-Element Addresses the production, preservation and improvement of housing in the community. The Housing Element analyzes existing and future housing needs and the various constraints to meeting those needs. In addition, it identifies land, financial and administrative resources for housing and sets forth goals and policies by establishing and implementing housing programs to meet the community’s housing needs.

Conservation / Open Space – Establishes a comprehensive and long-range conservation plan for of local resources such as agricultural land, deserts, water, air quality and energy and other open space area. This element of the General Plan also provides guidance related to the protection of habitat/wildlife resources and provides policy direction for parks and open space areas with an overall goal of maintaining quality of life.

Noise – Ensures that considerations of noise are incorporated into the land use planning and decision-making process. Identifies the major noise sources in the city and contains goals and policies to protect citizens from excessive noise exposure. The Noise Element is consistent with applicable state and local noise standards and guidelines to control noise exposure and promote land use compatibility with the noise environment.

Safety – Provides a strategy for City Staff, residents, developers, and business owners to effectively address natural and man-made hazards, including seismic and geological issues, flood hazards, fire hazards and disaster preparedness, response and recovery. The policies and action items provide the community with a primary goal to create a community that is minimally at risk and that responds quickly, effectively, and efficiently to hazards.

Economic Development – Provides an opportunity for El Centro to strategically position the City to resume growth by taking advantage of the larger globalization forces that are shaping the economy of Southern California and the U.S. Mexico border area.

Public Facilities – Ensures that sufficient levels of public services are provided as El Centro develops. It addresses several public services including Parks and Recreation, Education, Police, Cultural, Civic, Fire, Water, and Sewer services.

Glossary

Active Transportation and Safe Routes to School Plan

The Active Transportation and Safe Routes to School Plan (ATP/SR2S) was adopted by the El Centro City Council in February 2019. Please click on the underlined text to open each respective section of the ATP/SR2S.

Vision 2050 Strategic Plan

The Vision 2050 Strategic Plan identifies broad goals and objectives that will achieve the community’s vision. The Plan is a blueprint for community leaders, City Staff, and the community at large with the overarching purpose of creating positive change within the community.

Service Area Plan 2016

The 2016 Service Area Plan (SAP) outlines the City’s existing public services and facilities, estimates the current and anticipated demand for such facilities and services, and describes how necessary facilities and services will or may be developed and extended to meet demands. The SAP is intended to demonstrate the City’s intent and ability to provide adequate services to the sphere of influence boundaries at the time of annexation. An approximately 10-year planning horizon is used to forecast growth, and the estimated demands and provisions to meet demands are based on population projections for 2025.

Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan

The Parks and Recreation Master Plan (Master Plan) serves as a guide to the future development and improvement of parks and recreational facilties in the City of El Centro.

Pursuant to Article 13, Sections 15200 through 15206 of the California Enviornmental Quality Act (CEQA) public agencies are required to provide a public review period in order to receive and evaluate public reactions to enviornmental issues related to proposed public and private projects. The following project(s) and environmental documents listed below are available for public review.

Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration For Town Center Village Phase Iv Infill Apartment Project

The project would result in development of an approximately 11.6-acre portion of the larger 19.3-acre subject property; the remainder of the site (approximately 7.7 acres) is not proposed for development as part of the project and would remain in its current state. The project proposes development of a 180-unit apartment complex at a density of 15.6 dwelling units per acre. A mixture of unit types would be provided within 15 individual buildings. A total of 60 one-bedroom units  and 120 two-bedroom units are proposed.  Proposed amenities include common open space areas, a private dog park, and a private clubhouse with an outdoor pool/hot tub and barbecue/fire pit with outdoor seating. The project would require a General Plan Amendment to change the existing General Plan land use designation on the portion of the site proposed for development from General Commercial to High Density Residential. The project would also rezone the same portion of the property from CG-General Commercial to R3-Multiple Family Residential. The existing General Commercial land use designation and CG-Commercial zoning would continue to apply to the remainder of the property (approximately 7.7 acres), which is proposed to be subdivided to allow for future commercial development (not proposed for development at this time). 

Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration For The Monte Vista Regional Soccer And Wellness Park Project

The proposed project would develop 63 acres consisting of 13 full-size soccer fields, two youth soccer fields, a wellness loop, restrooms, a field house, a ticket booth, a dining area, a recreational area, and a future sustainable organic farm/orchard as displayed in Figure 4, Project Site Plan. The existing ICOE West is located on the northeast portion of the parcel and would provide 96 (11 Americans with Disabilities Act [ADA]) shared parking stalls for use by the soccer complex project. South of the ICOE, the Future Imperial Valley Center for Exceptional Children (IVCEC) would provide 277 (20 ADA) shared parking stalls. Additionally, the project proposes 331 parking stalls (11 ADA) south of the drop-off area and north of the field house.

MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION

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NOTICE OF PREPARATION

Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR)
General Plan Update

 The City is undertaking updates to the Land Use Element and Mobility Element of its General Plan and the creation of a new Environmental Justice Element. The General Plan was last updated in 2004. The updates are being funded by a grant from the Sustainable Communities Program administered by the California Department of Transportation. The intent of the updates is to improve sustainability, promote public health, and anticipate future advancements in transportation technology.   NOP Scoping Meeting: The City will hold a scoping meeting in conjunction with this NOP to present the project and the PEIR process and to provide an opportunity for agency representatives and the public to assist the lead agency in determining the scope and content of the environmental analysis for the PEIR. 

Thursday, July 30, 2020, at 11:00 a.m.
El Centro City Council Chambers
1275 W. Main Street
El Centro, California 92243
Zoom URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87920473020

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Mitigated Negative Declaration 19-01 for the South Dogwood Annexation Project

The project consists of the annexation of approximately 67.78 gross acres of unincorporated lands to theCity, a General Plan Amendment (GPA) and Pre-zone.  The project site consists of fourteen (14) parcels generally located along the west side of Dogwood Avenue, from Dannenberg Drive to 660 feet north of McCabe Road.  No specific development is proposed at this time; however, any future development will require certain infrastructure improvements and design features to meet regulatory requirements. 

Mitigated Negative Declaration

• Appendix A – Air Quality Analysis
• Appendix B – GHG Analysis
• Appendix C – Noise Analysis
• Appendix D – Traffic Impact Analysis

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Draft Initial Study/Negative Declaration 19-02 for Tentative Parcel Map 19-04

The project consists of the subdivision of 0.75 acres of land that is currently zoned R1- Single-Family Use. The project would divide three existing lots to create an additional fourth lot and eventually have a single-family home on each lot. The project is located at the northwest corner of N. 12th Street and El Dorado Avenue in El Centro, CA and is further identified by Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 044-251-029, 044-251-030, and 044-251-031.

Initial Study and Negative Declaration 19-02

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Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration 17-02

Dogwood Road at Villa Avenue 330 AC Site
Annexation EC 17-02, GPA 17-02, COZ 17-02

The project consists of 330 acres of land located at the southeast corner of Dogwood Road and Villa Avenue in an unincorporated area of Imperial County adjacent to the City of El Centro.  The project would annex the site into the City of El Centro, pre-zone the site from County A2U (General Agriculture-Urban Area) to City General Manufacturing, and amend the General Plan to designate the site from Planned Industrial/Low Density Residential uses to General Manufacturing uses.  No specific development is proposed at this time, but future development at the site is anticipated to include infrastructure improvements and design features in order to meet regulatory requirements and provide sufficient infrastructure to serve the future development.

• Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration
• Appendix A – Air Quality
• Appendix B – Biological Resources Report
• Appendix C – Cultural Resources Report
• Appendix D – Geotechnical Report
• Appendix E – GHG Report
• Appendix F – Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
• Appendix G – Water Supply Assessment
• Appendix H – Noise Analysis
• Appendix I – Transportation Impact Analysis

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Imperial Avenue Extension Project

The project consists of the extension of Imperial Avenue from I-8 to McCabe Road. The proposed 1.36­ mile roadway extension would function as a 4-lane divided arterial (with left turn lane) from I-8 to Wake Avenue, a 2-lane arterial (with left turn lane) from Wake Avenue to Valleyview Avenue and a 2-lane arterial (without left turn lane) from Valleyview Avenue to McCabe Road. The project would introduce a median varying in width from 12 to 14 feet between I-8 and Danenberg Drive, and then consistently 12 feet in width from Danenberg Drive to McCabe Road. The project would construct a 5.5-foot sidewalk along the entire length of the eastern project boundary and would introduce native backing on both sides of the proposed roadway.

Mitigated Negative Declaration

• Appendix A – Visual Impact Assessment Memorandum
• Appendix B – Community Impact Assessment
• Appendix C – Air Quality Analysis
• Appendix D – Historic Property Survey Report
• Appendix E – Geotechnical Investigation for Pavement
• Appendix E – Geotechnical Investigation Addendum
• Appendix F – Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Report
• Appendix G – Preliminary Drainage Analysis Report
• Appendix H – Noise Study Report
• Appendix I – Transportation Analysis

ICOE Annexation

 The project consists of the annexation of approximately 80 acres of land and a Pre-Zone from County A2 (General Agriculture) to LU (Limited Use). A concurrent general plan amendment to change the land use designation from County Agriculture to Public Use is also proposed. The project consists of the construction of a 21,685-square foot administration building for the use of the Imperial County Office of Education. The project is located at the southwest corner of McCabe Road and Sperber Road and is further identified by Assessor’s Parcel Number 054-510-001.

Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration

• Appendix A – Air Quality Impact Analysis
• Appendix B – Biological Study
• Appendix C – Greenhouse Gas Analysis
• Appendix D – Traffic Study

Maps can be downloaded and printed for free from this site. However, if you would like to have a specific size printed, please contact the Department of Community Development at 760-337-4545 for further information.

Interactive Zoning Map (GIS)