Modesto begins next phase of planning for growth, different types of housing and jobs
First, planners sketched out the baseline conditions and a vision for Modesto.
Now, the city is beginning another stage of updating the General Plan, a blueprint for city planning through 2050.
The new phase for the General Plan 2050 update will explore land use alternatives for Modesto’s growth so that the city can meet housing, employment and other community needs in the next 25 years.
In an announcement Monday, the city said it’s developing land use proposals to make sure growth is well-planned and balanced economically to create jobs, boost revenue and provide more amenities for the public. City planners are considering a variety of housing options for current residents and newcomers to Modesto.
This new phase is always the one that can spark contention about growth boundaries and the impacts of development.
“Identifying potential growth areas outside the city boundaries will complement infill and downtown revitalization projects the city already has underway,” the city said in announcing workshops this month to get public feedback.
The city’s announcement suggests part of the vision through 2050 is for Modesto become more competitive in terms of economic growth.
Modesto hasn’t grown significantly since the 1990s, the city said, “leading to the loss of economic opportunities to nearby cities.” Because of the lack of properly zoned vacant land, new areas need to be designated for development to support growth, the city noted.
The planning is focused on three land use alternatives for growth. City spokeswoman Sonya Severo said maps and information about the three alternatives will be shared at the workshops set for Dec. 16-18.
Depending on specifics of the land use proposals, the planning could reignite debates about sprawl, farmland preservation and protection of groundwater resources.
Voters for Farmland notified city officials in late August that it will promote a ballot initiative to make Kiernan Avenue the northern limit for city growth. Denny Jackman, president of the group, promised the ballot measure for 2028 in response to growth options that he said were shown to him by city staff.
Jackman said those options would allow development north of Kiernan on productive farmland and an important area for recharging groundwater.
In the past, proposals designating land in the Wood Colony area for commercial and industrial development, west of Modesto, have sparked opposition. The project to extend the Highway 132 bypass to Gates Road is bound to raise questions about possible development somewhere along the route.
City planning officials declined to comment on any land use proposals along the 132 bypass route. “The proposed areas for development will be discussed at the community workshops,” Severo said by email.
The city said it’s holding the workshops to share land use alternatives, “discuss ways to increase the city’s regional competitiveness and gather input from the community.”
The workshops are scheduled for:
- Dec. 16, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at Stanislaus County Harvest Hall, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto.
- Dec. 17, starting at 5:30 p.m., in the Modesto Centre Plaza San Joaquin Room, 1000 L St.
- Dec. 18, at 5:30 p.m., at the Stanislaus County Veterans Service Office, 3500 Coffee Road.
The General Plan update began three years ago with a virtual meeting during the COVID pandemic and could be completed in spring 2027. It envisions Modesto in 2050 as a place with a strong sense of community and connection, cultural diversity, quality jobs, strong neighborhoods and abundant open space and recreational options.
After the land use alternatives are evaluated, the next step in the process is choosing the preferred alternatives, writing a new set of policies for the growth plan and completing a draft General Plan.
State law requires an environmental study on the potential impacts of the proposed General Plan. The city Planning Commission and City Council will make the ultimate decisions on adopting the Modesto General Plan 2050.
