Every city in California has a General Plan, a blueprint for growth and development that lays out specific strategies for land use, mobility, housing, open space, conservation, noise and safety. The General Plan reflects the community’s values and directs all of the city’s day-to-day decisions, plans and priorities. As times change, about every ten years the General Plan is revised to become more meaningful and relevant based on the current state of the city, with an eye toward the future. Every General Plan is unique. To gauge local needs, Pasadena is proud to have a long history of involving thousands of Pasadenans in shaping its General Plan. The Pasadena you see today is a result of that history. In 1994, for example, more than 3,000 people took part in the General Plan update, many urging the city to steer development away from single-family neighborhoods and closer to downtown and near transportation lines.
Existing General Plan
2004 General Plan
2004 Land Use Element Document
Current General Plan Land Use Diagram Map
2004 Mobility Element Document
Open Space and Conservation Element Update Webpage
A multi-day intensive workshop, also known as a charrette, was held at Pasadena City College in November 2010. At the charrette, the community, the General Plan Update Advisory Committee (GPUAC), city commissioners and city staff worked collaboratively in developing and designing draft themes, or alternatives, for the updated General Plan.Learn More >>
This report provides data regarding the quantifiable changes in the City since the 1994 and 2004 General Plan Land Use and Mobility Elements were adopted. It also provides status on the policy directives given in those documents.Learn More >>
The General Plan Speaker Series offered five evenings of conversation about the many interconnected issues ahead. View all five on video! You will need Windows Media Player to view the videos.
Download programs and biographies for the General Plan Speaker Series:
2011-11-12 Pasadena In Focus (Shaping Pasadena's Growth - Page 1)
2011-05-06 Pasadena In Focus (The Stage is Set for the General Plan - Page 1)
2011-03-04 Pasadena In Focus (How and Where should Pasadena Grow - Page 1)
2010-11-12 Pasadena In Focus (Pasadena's Land use and Mobility Elements - Page 2)
2010-09-10 Pasadena In Focus (Pasadena - Big City or Small Town - Page 1)
2010-07-08 Pasadena In Focus (Help Plan for the Future - Page 1)
2010-05-06 Pasadena In Focus (Report Leads Way to Pasaena's Future - Page 1)
2010-03-04 Pasadena In Focus (General Plan Report is Ready for Review - Page 2)
2010-01-02 Pasadena In Focus (What's Up Next for Pasadena's General Plan - Page 2)
2009-11-12 Pasadena In Focus (Share, Lean and Celebrate - Page 1)
2009-09-10 Pasadena In Focus (Today's Ideas and are Tomorrow's Pasadena - Page 1)
2009-07-08 Pasadena In Focus (Help Plan for the Future - Page 1)
2009-05-06 Pasadena In Focus (New Committee for General Plan Update - Page 1)
2009-04 Pasadena In Focus (Pasadena's General Plan - Get Engaged - Page 1)
2009-03 Pasadena In Focus (Pasadena's General Plan - For Generations to Come - Page 1)
2009-02 Pasadena In Focus (Pasadena's General Plan - Focus on Mobility - Page 1)
2009-01 Pasadena In Focus (General Plan Update - Are Seven Principles Enough? - Page 1)
2008-11 Pasadena In Focus (Pasadena's General Plan - We Want to Hear From You - Page 2)
California General Plan Guidelines: 2003
Governor’s Office of Planning and Research
Planning, Zoning and Development Laws, 2009
(See pages 43 and on for information on General Plan)
Smart Growth America
CICLE (Cyclists Inciting Change thru Live Exchange)
Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension
Find us on Facebook Keep up to date on General Plan activities
Stay informed! Sign up now for weekly information and updates