Pittsburg adopts blueprint for future growth, allowing for more housing and industrial uses

The Pittsburg City Council this week approved a long-anticipated general plan that maps out the city’s future for the next 20 years.

Dubbed “Envision Pittsburg,” the 2040 general plan offers a blueprint for the city’s physical development, as well as its economic future, and sets forth goals and policies for everything from land use to traffic and paths for bicyclists and pedestrian to resource conservation.

“This is a document the city of Pittsburg can and should be proud of,” Pittsburg Mayor Juan Antonio Banales said in a statement. “This reflects the goals we, as a community, have held with the highest value: steady, thoughtful development; focusing on our infrastructure; and ensuring Pittsburg is the greatest place it can be for future generations.”

California cities and towns are required to maintain general plans and undergo comprehensive updates every 20 years. In Pittsburg, work on the updated plan began in 2018, and included more than five years of public outreach, workshops with the Pittsburg City Council and Planning Commission and environmental review.

John Funderburg, assistant director of community and economic development, noted the plan will replace the current one adopted in 2001 and will accommodate future growth in the city. Actual growth will depend on many factors outside of the city’s control, such as future real estate and labor market conditions, property owner decisions, site specific constraints and more, he said.

“No specific development projects are proposed or entitled as part of the 2024 General Plan update,” he told the city council on Monday. “As projects continue to come forward, they will be required to complete their own separate environmental review.”

Beth Thompson, of the De Novo Planning Group, said the draft general plan reflects the community’s values.

“These include concerns regarding sustainability and equity, ensuring that Pittsburg has a sustainable future, that your actions are equitable, and that as you make land use decisions that you’re really considering the needs of all residents,” she said.

Thompson added that the document also looks at mobility and circulation patterns, access to regional transportation, environmental impacts and the need for employment and other opportunities.

The new plan also considered changes to state law that weren’t previously addressed, she said. Some of the changes included promoting accessibility and mobility for all transportation system users, addressing noise, safety, housing, and environmental justice issues to be sure disadvantaged communities are considered in decisions, she said.

The land use map, meanwhile, determines what types of development, conservation activities and land uses, and how much of it can occur on each parcel.

“The map was developed with input from the community, planning commission and the city council and was intended to enhance the city’s existing residential neighborhoods and increase access to a variety of housing types,” Thompson said.

During public comments, though, some community members questioned the blueprint.

Nancy Parent, the city’s treasurer, objected to the “industrial use” designation at the former Pittsburg Golf Course, which was originally earmarked for a public purpose.

“Once it is built on, it is very hard to get back,” said Parent, who pointed out that there are industrial areas all over the city where such businesses can locate. “If you say that you want to sustain open space, you do not take private property given to the city for an open-space purpose and zone it just to make money for the city.”

Wolfgang Croskey echoed Parent’s concerns but as CEO of the local chamber of commerce, also said he’d like to see more areas for businesses.

Eric Haynes, business representative with Sheetmetal Workers Local 104, however, supported the plan.

“The city staff has done a great job of incorporating all the stakeholders, including labor, and I want to thank you for keeping everyone involved that should be involved,” he said.

Vice Mayor Jelani Killings asked how the plan will address the transitional areas from industrial to residential.

Thompson said the policies look at the impact of new development, including noise, health and safety, and address setbacks, sound walls and other changes that might be necessary.

She added that the proposed general plan makes room for about 15,500 new homes and about 26,000 million square feet for non-residential uses.

Jordan Davis, director of community and economic development, cautioned that the numbers represent what would happen if building is at the highest density, not what will occur.

“We don’t anticipate that those will be built,” he said. “In fact, when we did our previous general plan, we did not come anywhere near what was projected.”

For example, Funderburg said that the 2001 general plan was projected for 93,340 residents, but by 2020, the population was 76,416.

The City Council adopted the 2040 general plan in a 4-0 vote, with Councilwoman Angelica Lopez absent.