Arcata General Plan
The City Council adopted General Plan 2045 on July 17, 2024. The General Plan 2045 includes all newly adopted Elements and the 2019 Housing Element. The individual Elements are available here.
Chapter 1: Community Vision Statement
Chapter 2: Community Development
2.4 Public Facilities & Infrastructure Element
Chapter 3: Housing and Human Services
3.2 Parks and Recreation Element
Chapter 4: Environmental Quality and Management
4.2 Resource Conservation & Management Element
Chapter 5: Design and Historical Preservation
5.2 Historic Preservation Element
Chapter 6: Health and Safety
Authority & Purpose of the General Plan
California State law requires cities and counties to prepare and adopt a "General Plan". The General Plan shapes how the city of Arcata will look, function, provide services, and manage resources for the next 20 years. The plan is the City's “constitution” for physical development and change within the existing and future city boundaries. The plan is a legal mandate that governs both private and public actions. The general plan is atop the hierarchy of local government laws regulating land use. Other laws and policies, such as specific plans, subdivision regulations, and the zoning ordinance are subordinate to, and must be consistent with, the general plan. Comprehensive in scope, the plan conveys the fundamental values that public decision-makers will use to guide the City's evolution, from its physical development to the ever-changing network of services provided to its citizens.
General Plan Annual Progress Reports
- 2024 Progress Report: On March 19, 2025, the City Council adopted Resolution 245-39, which accepted the 2024 General Plan Annual Progress Report and authorized staff to submit the Report to the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, and to the State Housing and community Development Department. The Report is available to view here.
- 2023 Progress Report: On April 3, 2024, the City Council adopted Resolution 234-40, which accepted the 2023 General Plan Annual Progress Report and authorized staff to submit the Report to the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, and to the State Housing and community Development Department. The Resolution and Report are available to view here.
- 2022 Progress Report: On May 17, 2023, the City Council adopted Resolution 223-53, which accepted the 2022 General Plan Annual Progress Report and authorized staff to submit the Report to the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, and to the State Housing and community Development Department. The Resolution and Report are available to view here.
View past versions of the General Plan here.
View the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) here.