Monrovia preparing environmental justice element for city’s General Plan

The City of Monrovia has launched efforts to update two General Plan elements, housing and safety, and prepare a new element, environmental justice.  

“Monrovia is committed to equity, community outreach and public engagement,” the city said in a press release.

Throughout the General Plan update process, there will be engagement opportunities that may include stakeholder/focus group check-ins, online surveys and community workshops all tailored to meet current COVID-19 guidelines.  

To be involved and provide comments and feedback on the environmental justice element, the community is encouraged to participate in the following:

Environmental Justice Workshop (online)

Thursday, April 29, 2021
6 p.m. 
Register (English): https://bit.ly/MonroviaEJWorkshopEng
Register (Spanish): https://bit.ly/MonroviaEJWorkshopEsp
Two workshop participants will be randomly selected for a Monrovia Swag Bag.

Environmental Justice Online Survey

April 15, 2021 – May 6, 2021
Link (English): https://bit.ly/MonroviaEJSurvey
Link (Spanish): https://bit.ly/MonroviaEJSurveyEsp
Two survey participants will be randomly selected Thursdays for a Monrovia Swag Bag.

A general plan is a long-range visionary document establishing a framework for how a city will grow and change over the next two decades. It establishes goals, policies, and actions guiding growth, conservation and enhancement. In California, general plans serve as a “constitution” or blueprint for all future development. General plans are required to have chapters or “elements” that discuss land use, circulation/mobility, open space, conservation, noise, environmental justice, air quality, safety, and housing.

Each element must meet specific requirements; the housing update must be completed by state mandated deadlines. Other General Plan portions may need to be updated to ensure consistency in accordance with the new and updated elements.

• The housing element helps Monrovia plan for all segments of its population’s current and future housing needs and expresses the community’s housing goals.
• The safety element aims to reduce the potential for short- and long-term risk of death, injury, property damage and economic and social dislocation resulting from natural and man-made hazards.
• The environmental justice element develops policy frameworks to address pollution burdens, food access, physical activity/park access, health and equity initiatives, and improve long-term community participation in disadvantaged (or “environmental justice”) communities.

The General Plan update is anticipated to undergo a Mitigated Negative Declaration environmental review process, which will be prepared in compliance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements.

To stay informed on the General Plan Update, visit www.cityofmonrovia.org/generalplan.

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