Community Development

Community Development COVID-19 Response and Resources

Business Assistance:

Bilingual Small Business Assistance Hotline - (831) 758-7367 weekdays between 8:00am and 4:00pm, oscarr@ci.salinas.ca.us. Click here for more information.

Business Resource Page (technical assistance, loan assistance, tax information, and more). En español.

Housing Response and Resources:

Increasing Protections for the Homeless

City of Salinas and Salvation Army Team-Up to Provide 225 Daily Meals to Homeless

ECHO Housing - Fair housing resources and counseling

Planning, Building, and Permit Center:

To continue serving the Salinas community and essential projects forward during the Covid-19 pandemic, staff will begin processing applications electronically. The process allows for electronic submittals to all Divisions within the Department. This is inclusive of new or resubmittals of Building Permits, Planning Entitlements, Code Enforcement Cases, Fire Permits and Engineering Permits. For more information on how to submit electronically, call 831-758-7251 or epermit@ci.salinas.ca.us.

Staff is also able to issue and inspect all construction related permits. Construction, including workers who support operation, inspection, and maintenance of construction sites and construction projects, including but not limited to surveyors and workers conducting site inspections. Construction shall comply with Social Distancing Requirements and the Construction Safety Protocol listed in Appendix B of the Monterey County Health Order.

Zoning/Current Planning - Email: CurrPlanwebmail@ci.salinas.ca.us

Code Enforcement - Email: lorenzos@ci.salinas.ca.us or Phone: 831-758-7157

About the Department

The Community Development Department is committed to creating a safe, healthy, and prosperous Salinas through targeted revitalization and sustainable, well-designed land use and development. Department functions include planning, permitting, management of federal funding, housing production, code enforcement, and business development.

There are six divisions in the Department: Plan & Project Implementation, Advanced Planning, Current Planning, Permit Services, Code Enforcement, and Housing & Community Development.

Core Values

We believe in efficient customer service and citizen engagement
We believe that economic vitality is important to community development
We believe in integrity, mutual respect, courtesy and dignity
We believe in innovation and teamwork

Community Development Divisions

Community Development Plans and Projects

Accomplishments

In 2015, the department:

Served 11,289 customers and issued 5,156 permits with a valuation over $74 million
Addressed 969 code complaints
Completed the Housing Element, praised by the State as a model for other cities
Funded 20 public services agencies that provide critical programming to over 1,900 youth, seniors, and homeless
Preserved 40 affordable housing units and assisted in funding 41 new affordable senior housing units
Provided over $1 million in loans for the expansion of four businesses, creating 55 jobs

What We Are Working On

Advancement of our Economic Prosperity through:

Adoption of the Economic Development Element
Development of the Alisal Vibrancy Plan including the Alisal Marketplace
Creation of a plan for Chinatown’s revitalization
Facilitation of the development of the Future Growth Area including nearly 12,000 housing units
- The West Area Specific Plan (WASP) with 4,340 housing units
- The Central Area Specific Plan (CASP) with over 3,900 housing units
  - Click here for the 10/14/2020 CASP Virtual Community Meeting Recording
Implementation of the Downtown Vibrancy Plan
Continued enhancements to streamline the permitting process
Support to foster small businesses growth

Proactive, comprehensive code enforcement that fosters safe, livable neighborhoods.

Creation of a well-planned city with a high quality of life through:

Ensuring a complete count for the 2020 Census, which designates funding for almost all federal programs
The update of the General Plan, the City’s blueprint for our future
Implementation of the Housing Element with a focus on housing production
Continued collaboration with the County and Social Service Providers to address the needs of the Homeless

What's Happening for Community Development

Vendor Ordinance and Zoning Code Amendment

City Staff continues to assist existing and potentially new Food Truck vendors with understanding the changes to the Vendor Ordinance and Zoning Code Amendment that go into effect on Friday, October 22, 2021. The City's Community Development Department and Business Navigator, Development Engineering, and Code Enforcement have held multiple engagement meetings to help vendors understand the changes and new options to continue to operate or to start a Food Truck business.

The three (3) new Food Truck vendor options are:

Option 1

Designated Location (52 locations)

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General Plan Amendment & Rezone Approved for Carr Lake Project

October 22, 2021

On September 14, 2021, the City Council approved a General Plan Amendment and Rezone for the Carr Lake Project , which is proposed by the Big Sur Land Trust . The Project consists of 73-acres located at 618 Sherwood Drive and would create a six (6) acre neighborhood park that offers a variety of amenities and recreational opportunities. The remaining 67-acres of land would be used to improve wetland and riparian fish and wildlife habitat and improve water quality through the enhancement of natural physical and biological...

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Find the Violation

October 14, 2021

That last Find the Violation was a bit too easy to spot. Can you spot this week's Find the Violation ?

Did you guess the outdoor storage of the refrigerator? The answer is SCC § 37-50.170 , which says “outdoor storage and display of merchandise, materials, or equipment, or the conduct of business outdoors, is prohibited” in residential zones.

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Visión Salinas 2040 Resource Fair

October 10, 2021

The Visión Salinas 2040 Community Resource Fair was a total success! Over 30 organizations participated in the event on October 2, 2021, and the event featured performances from Alisal Center for the Fine Arts (ACFA) Folklorico program and the Golden State Elite dance group .

Visión Salinas 2040 is the City of Salinas' General Plan Update and an opportunity for the community to share their vision for the future of Salinas. It is about our community's future, goals and priorities, and above all,...

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