The City of Shafter General Plan is the primary long-range policy and planning document guiding the city’s physical development, conservation, and improvement. Every city in California is required by state law to adopt a general plan containing goals and policies that express the community’s vision of its future, improve public safety, and enhance access to and the use of available resources.

State-mandated topics include land use, transportation and mobility, housing, conservation, open space, noise, safety, climate adaptation and sustainability, air quality, and environmental health and justice. Optional topics include public services and facilities, economic growth, and growth management. An environmental impact report (EIR) will also be prepared.

Since the City’s last comprehensive update in 2005, many things have changed in Shafter. Rooted in the community’s values and vision for the future, a General Plan Update represents an opportunity to address such changes while charting the course for growth and development over the next 20+ years.

Examples of changes since 2005 include the establishment of the Wonderful Industrial Park, ever-increasing state mandates such as a housing allocation of 3,294 units, the future alignment of high speed rail, the COVID-19 pandemic, demographic shifts, and technological breakthroughs in communication and transportation.

The composition of the community has also shifted, indicating a need to confirm and refine the community’s vision for the future and values regarding community, safety, education, and growth. Throughout the General Plan Update we will examine how much growth should occur and where, consider how existing communities can be improved and enhanced, address inequities in disadvantaged communities, consider economic development opportunities to attract new and expanding businesses, and seek community input and participation to inform the plan.

• The City Council and Planning Commission use the goals and policies of the general plan as a basis upon which to make both long-term and short-term decisions, determine long-term objectives, generate and evaluate budgets, plan capital improvements, and prioritize tasks.
• City staff and all departments will also reference the general plan when considering development applications, capital improvements, service programming, and departmental budgeting.
• Residents, business owners, and the development community can use the general plan to understand individual and collective opportunities to preserve and enhance the community.
• Other agencies, service providers, and community stakeholders can refer to the general plan when evaluating existing and future needs and levels of services.

The update process will include multiple opportunities and methods for the public to participate in each phase. See the list below for the various types of outreach planned, follow us to receive project updates, and check out our website for updates. Please take advantage of these many opportunities to learn, provide input, and help us imagine what Shafter should look like when our kids grow up!

• Pop-up events
• Community open houses
• Surveys
• Social media / eblasts
• City and project website updates
• General Plan Advisory Committee meetings
• Environmental Justice Advisory Committee meetings
• Property owner and stakeholder interviews
• Public hearings
• Public review

Check out our upcoming and past events on our Community Engagement page!