The final vision statement establishes the principles to guide City policies and decisions about future growth, housing, economy, safety, and other key topics based on input from Soledad residents. On May 1, 2024, the City Council discussed and finalized the General Plan Vision and Guiding Principles (Visión y principios que nos guían en Español). 

The Draft Vision and Guiding Principles (Visión y principios que nos guían en Español) is the first pass at capturing the community’s vision for Soledad in 2045.

This Briefing Book (Libro Informativo en Español) highlights the unique features of Soledad, as well as the challenges the community faces over the next several decades. It offers a snapshot of current conditions – how land is used, how people move around, how the economy works, and how municipal services support the community – and summarizes anticipated growth, major development projects, economic trends, agricultural resource opportunities, environmental justice issues, and more. 

The information in the Briefing Book is intended to establish a shared understanding of these important characteristics to highlight what the community can build from and what the General Plan Update will need to address.

The existing conditions reports below offer a snapshot of current conditions in Soledad. 

• Circulation Existing Conditions Report. This report describes the regulatory framework and existing conditions  related to circulation and existing traffic conditions in Soledad.
• Economic and Demographic Existing Conditions Report. This report covers demographic, economic and real estate market conditions and trends in Soledad.
• Infrastructure and Utilities Existing Conditions Report. This report describes the regulatory framework and existing conditions related to infrastructure and utilities in Soledad.
• Land Use Existing Conditions Report. This report reviews the baseline land use context for the General Plan Update, providing a snapshot of the land use patterns that contribute to Soledad’s identity, including its Downtown along Front Street, surrounding farmland, and planned future development.

We are pleased to announce that the 2023-2031 Housing Element was officially adopted by the City Council on August 7, 2024 and certified by HCD on August 23, 2024.  Your input, ideas, and active participation throughout this process have been instrumental in shaping a housing plan that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of our community.

Adopted Housing Element / HCD Certification Draft, Revised August 2024

On June 17, 2024, the City of Soledad received a letter of conditional compliance from HCD for its 2023-2031 Housing Element. At a public hearing on July 10, 2024, the City’s Planning Commission recommended that the City Council adopt the 2023-2031 Housing Element and its associated CEQA Addendum, which the City Council did, at a public hearing on August 7, 2024. Per direction from Mayor Velasquez at that meeting, the City made subsequent, minor revisions to the draft. The draft was submitted to HCD on August 16, 2024, for its final certification review. See links below to review. 

Click here to review the draft Housing Element with tracked changes.

Click here to review the draft Housing Element clean copy.

Click here to review the CEQA Addendum.

HCD Second Submittal Draft, April 2024

On March 7, 2024, the City of Soledad received a letter with findings from HCD on its 2023-2031 Housing Element. In response to this feedback, the City has revised the draft. See links below to review.

Click here to review the draft Housing Element with tracked changes.

Click here to review the draft Housing Element clean copy.

Revised HCD Submittal Draft, February 2024

On February 1, 2024, the City of Soledad received preliminary feedback from HCD on its 2023-2031 Housing Element. In response to this feedback, the City has revised the draft. See links below to review. 

Click here to review the draft Housing Element with tracked changes.

Click here to review the draft Housing Element clean copy.

First HCD Submittal Draft, December 2023

The City of Soledad submitted a draft of its 2023-2031 Housing Element to HCD for its 90-day initial review on December 8, 2023. Click here to review.

Public Review Draft, August 2023

In 2005, the City of Soledad adopted its current General Plan. Soledad’s General Plan is the legal document that serves as the city’s “blueprint” or “constitution” for land use and development. State law requires every city and county in California to adopt and maintain a General Plan that is comprehensive and long-term. The updated General Plan will reflect the issues, ideas, and aspirations of today and plan ahead for the next twenty years. Although the updated General Plan will supersede the 2005 General Plan, the updated General Plan may carry forward policy language that is still serving the community well. Policies and actions that have been accomplished, are no longer relevant, or have been redefined through the update process will be deleted or revised.