General Plan Land Use Amendments

Feedback

A general plan is a state mandated policy statement and guide for the City’s future. It’s sometimes described as the City’s blueprint, or a constitution for conservation and development. It provides a framework for decisions about:

How to grow
Provide public services and facilities
Protect and enhance the community

A project that does not conform to the General Plan land use designation is not allowed. To be allowed, a General Plan Land Use Amendment is required.

Amendment applications should have compelling reasons. Each amendment requires a full review of the entire plan. Piecemeal reviews are not common.

The City periodically updates its General Plan. State law allows up to four changes to each element per year. Often multiple changes are considered together as one amendment.

Changes in a General Plan land use designation also usually require a change to the City's Zoning. In most cases, this review is processed concurrently with a General Plan change.

Learn about the City's 2025 General Plan

How to apply

You can apply for a land use amendment to the General Plan by email or in-person.

1. Information gathering

Look up your zoning and General Plan land use requirements to learn about what’s allowed on the property. The proposed project or land use change should be compatible with surrounding areas.

We recommend you meet with nearby neighbors and people who may be affected by the change. Discuss the proposed change and learn if they have concerns.

Contact local utilities and other agencies to see if other requirements will be necessary.

2. Complete the application

Download and complete the Planning application form with Statement of Understanding [PDF].

For land use changes without a proposed project, provide a site plan no larger than 24" x 36" (when appropriate, 15 copies folded to approximately 9" x 11") and include property dimensions and size.
For land use changes with proposed development, include items required for Design Review applications.

3. Submit application and required documents by email or in-person

By Email
Submit the completed application and required documents to DutyPlanner@walnut-creek.org. Send all documents in one email and include the project address in the subject line. If any of the documents exceed 25MB, upload them to the cloud (via Dropbox or Google Drive, for example) and provide a link.

In-person
Make an appointment to meet with City staff at City Hall City. Applicants may bring the application and required documents on a USB drive, printed, or email to DutyPlanner@walnut-creek.org in advance.

4. Pay fees

Within five business days, you’ll be sent instructions on how to pay your application fee or deposit by check or credit card. Learn more about fees.

5. Planner assignment

A planner will be assigned to your project and will be your primary contact through the process.

6. Initial review

During the initial review, your assigned planner will determine:

If the application is complete
If outside agencies or other divisions will also need to review the application.
If environmental review will be needed

7. Notice of application status

Within 30 days after you submit your application, you will get a Notice of Application Status. This tells you whether your application is complete or if more information is needed. Comments received from other divisions and outside reviewing agencies will be included in the notice.

8. City staff review

Your assigned planner and other divisions will continue their review of your application. These other divisions may include:

Engineering
Building
Transportation
City arborist and parks
Code enforcement

They will be checking to make sure your application meets land use and municipal code requirements. During this review, there may be multiple rounds of comments from staff that you will need to respond to by making changes to your plans and resubmitting your application.

9. Outside agency review

If outside agencies need to review the application, your assigned planner will send it to them for their review. This review is often conducted at the same time as the City staff review. Each agency has two weeks to respond to the application. They will send their responses directly to the applicant. Failure to respond within the requested two-week period is not an implied approval.

10. Preliminary public review by the City Council

In some cases, City staff may schedule a public hearing for preliminary feedback from the City Council. At this public hearing, the City Council may deny the proposed amendment or allow the proposal to continue through the process.

11. Environmental review (conditional use permits; most administrative and minor use permits are exempt)

During the initial 30-day review of your project, City staff will assess whether an Environmental Impact Report or other studies will be required. The review results in a determination of:

Exemption
Negative declaration or Mitigated negative declaration
An Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

Learn more about Environmental Review.

12. Public review by the Design Review Commission

If the project includes a proposed development, it will go to the Design Review Commission for review. At the public hearing, City staff will present a report and make their recommendation. You will be able to present, followed by anyone else who wants to comment on the proposed project.

After everyone from the public speaks, the Design Review Commission will evaluate everything they have read and heard. Their comments and recommendation will be provided to the Planning Commission.

13. Public hearing(s) with the Planning Commission

The project will go to the Planning Commission for approval. At the public hearing, City staff will present a report and make their recommendation. You will be able to present, followed by anyone else who wants to comment on the proposed project.

After everyone from the public speaks, the Planning Commission will evaluate everything they have read and heard. Then they will take one of the following actions:

Approve
Postpone to a later date
Continue and schedule another public hearing
Refer the matter back for more evaluation
Deny

Learn more about approvals, decisions, and appeals.

14. Public hearing(s) with the City Council for final approval

If your proposed amendment is approved by the Planning Commission, it will go to the City Council for final approval. At the public hearing, City staff will present a report and make their recommendation. You will be able to present, followed by anyone else who wants to comment on the proposed project.

After everyone from the public speaks, the City Council will evaluate everything they have read and heard. Then they will take one of the following actions:

Approve
Postpone to a later date
Continue and schedule another public hearing
Refer the matter back for more evaluation
Deny