Encinitas Resource Management Element Update

The City of Encinitas is updating its General Plan Resource Management Element to comply with new legislative requirements:

• Senate Bill 1425, enacted in 2022, requires that the open space element be updated to address equitable access to open space, rewilding, and climate resilience by January 1, 2026.
• Assembly Bill 1889, enacted in 2024, requires all conservation elements to be updated upon the next update of one or more general plan elements to address habitat connectivity.

The City’s Resource Management Element contains the open space and conservation elements required by state law, and the City seeks to address both SB 1425 and AB 1889 requirements as part of this focused update effort.

Ascent assembled a well-qualified interdisciplinary team that is collaborating with City staff to ensure the multifaceted requirements of SB 1425 and AB 1889 are effectively analyzed and integrated into a focused set of amendments to the Encinitas Resource Management Element. Our interdisciplinary team includes technical leads and staff from the following Ascent practices:

• The Conservation, Open Space, and Recreation Planning team is playing a lead role in documenting and analyzing existing conditions, issues, and opportunities, as well as preparing draft amendments to the Resource Management Element, in collaboration with the other Ascent teams.
• The Natural Resources team is providing technical support on existing conditions and issue identification, with a specific emphasis on habitat management and connectivity to inform the rewilding approach.
• The Climate Action and Adaptation Planning team is providing expertise on climate resilience issues and ensuring any focused amendments to the Resource Management Element are consistent with the recently updated Safety Element (which includes climate adaptation/resilience policies pursuant to SB 379) and any additional climate policies that may be relevant to open space (e.g., “natural and working lands” in the context of climate change) per the City’s forthcoming Climate Action Plan update.
• The Urban Design + Planning team is supporting the identification of potentially underserved communities and addressing equitable access to open space and will guide the overall Ascent team’s efforts in preparing focused amendments to Resource Management Element goals, policies, and implementation programs.
• The Environmental Practice Group will conduct environmental review and prepare documentation for the proposed update to ensure CEQA compliance.