San Anselmo engages public for general plan update

The town's early efforts include a new website, a survey and the establishment of an advisory committee.

San Anselmo officials are kicking off a two-year process to update the general plan with a new website, community survey and advisory committee.

The town launched the website and survey on July 8. The advisory committee, which will provide recommendations to the Town Council on the makeup and focus of the document, was established in June.

“San Anselmo residents care deeply about our town and volunteer in greater numbers per capita than any other town in Marin,” said Mayor Eileen Burke. “Taking the general plan survey and attending the community meetings is a fantastic way to let the town know how to prioritize everything from parks to housing to disaster preparedness and plan for a future San Anselmo that is even better than it is today.”

The updated general plan will guide the growth and development of San Anselmo over a 20-year period. The document will address issues such as land use, housing, open space, conservation, parks and recreation, transportation and environmental hazards.

The town plans to hold community workshops on the general plan in October, December, February and April. Officials expect the plan’s adoption, including certification of an environmental impact report, to take place in 2026.

Lindsey Klein, a town planner, said the website serves as a “visual bulletin board” for the community to engage with the process.

“The general plan update process is a crucial step in shaping the future of our community,” she said. “It’s a comprehensive effort to review and revise the town’s long-term vision for land use, transportation, environmental sustainability, and more.”

The website features a sign-up for notifications about community workshops and meetings. It will feature recordings of online workshops, policy information and links to resources.

The survey includes 17 total questions related to San Anselmo quality of life, challenges, ideas for improvement and demographics. The survey is at sananselmogp2045.org/surveys/.

“We’ll use all of that feedback to craft a vision statement for the general plan,” Klein said. “The vision statement will outline the long-term aspirations of the San Anselmo community, set the tone for the planning process, and provide a guiding framework for future development and policy decisions.”

The Town Council conducted interviews for the general plan advisory committee on May 28 and June 11.

At the June 11 council meeting, it was announced that Richard Berkson, Sara Robinson, Spencer Michels and April Hewes would be appointed to the committee, with Danielle Staude appointed as the alternate and Alexander Hamblet as the youth commissioner.

The committee’s first meeting is scheduled for Aug. 8.

The Town Council has approved a contract of about $1 million with O’Rourke and Associates, a consulting firm, to guide the general plan update.

San Anselmo’s general plan was adopted in 1975. Typically, general plans are updated for 15 to 20 years.

The town’s general plan was revised in 1988 under the topics of land use, traffic circulation and open space, a staff report said. The housing element has been revised various times since the 1980s, most recently in 2022 and 2023.

Councilmember Brian Colbert said the process is an opportunity to match sustainable growth with community aspirations.

“Community input is vital, and there will be many opportunities to share thought and help shape the future of San Anselmo,” he said.