General Plan

Elements

All California cities are required to prepare and adopt a general plan to use as a guide in making land use decisions. It is essentially a blueprint for future development and focuses on big-picture and long-term goals. The Signal Hill General Plan includes the following six elements.

2021-2029 Housing Element

The Housing Element provides an assessment of the current and projected housing needs for all economic segments of the population. State law recognizes that local governments play a vital role in the supply and affordability of housing. The Housing Element is unique in that it is the only one reviewed by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to determine its compliance with state law. The HCD pays particular attention to the required inventory of adequate sites. This inventory demonstrates how cities will accommodate their fair share of projected population growth on a parcel-specific level. The fair share is determined at a regional level by the Southern California Association of Governments and is called the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA).

The 6th Cycle Housing Element was adopted at the September 27, 2022, City Council meeting and the HCD certified that the Element is in full compliance with the State Housing element law on October 13, 2022.  You can read the full Certified Housing Element (PDF) document for more information.

You can also read the full Final Housing Element Developmental Impact Report (PDF) document.

Appendix A (PDF)

Appendix B (PDF)

Appendix C (PDF)

Appendix D (PDF)

Appendix E (PDF)

Appendix F (PDF)

Appendix G (PDF)

Appendix H (PDF)

Appendix I (PDF)

Land Use

The Land Use Element (PDF) identifies the distribution and intensity of uses within the city. It sets out goals and policies and includes a land use map showing the location and intensity of types of uses, such as business, industry, housing, education, public buildings, and open space.

Circulation

The Circulation Element (PDF) establishes guidelines and policy direction for the development and maintenance of a comprehensive transportation system for the city.

Environmental Resources

The Environmental Resources Element (PDF) combines the open space and conservation elements into one document to address the long-term and comprehensive preservation and conservation of open space. It also details the conservation, development, and use of natural resources such as water, forests, soils, rivers, and mineral deposits. In 1989, the City also adopted its Parks and Recreation Master Plan (PDF) and included it as an appendix to the Environmental Resources Element. The Master Plan documents the City’s open space and recreation goals. It also discusses where parks may be site, how to fund park acquisitions and how parks are maintained.

Safety

The Safety Element (PDF) focuses on identifying natural or human-made hazards in the City and specifies policies and programs to mitigate hazards to the public. The local Hazard Mitigation Plan satisfies state and federal requirements and provides eligibility to receive federal funding for pre-disaster mitigation and post-disaster relief. The City’s Hazard Mitigation Plan is integrated into the Safety Element as an appendix.

Noise

The Noise Element (PDF) identifies and assesses noise problems within the community and establishes guidelines to achieve noise-compatible land uses.