Comments sought for General Plan update
EL CENTRO — Public comment is currently being sought the city’s 2040 General Plan update.
The city held a Zoom meeting Thursday to solicit comments and suggestions from residents.
In particular, the city sought feedback on five “Areas of Opportunity” that have been identified within city limits.
These five opportunity areas are larger, specific areas where targeted change is anticipated or desired in the General Plan.
Those areas are the Adams Avenue corridor, the city’s downtown area, the existing industrial area north of Interstate 8 (along the eastern border of the city), the southern side of I-8 along the eastern border of the city (retail space near Imperial Valley Mall) and south of I-8 along the future extension of Imperial Avenue (southwestern part of the city).
Of the roughly two dozen viewers, only one person provided comment during Thursday’s meeting.
That was resident Miguel Hernandez, of Comite Civico del Valle.
His comment was in reference to the third Area of Opportunity (the existing industrial area).
Hernandez observed that there’s an issue with heavy traffic, which is mostly industrial traffic, running along the north side of Washington Elementary School.
The north side of the school is up against East Main Street, which is Evan Hewes Highway to the east of it.
Hernandez explained the UPS Customer
Center in the area also contributes to the high industrial traffic there.
“That school has been affected by that high traffic there,” he said.
“It’s one of the immediate thoughts that come to my mind, as far as environmental impacts.”
Hernandez suggested that industrial traffic could be rerouted from that area, as some Washington students may have sensitive receptors.
Kristin Blackson, a
project manager with the General Plan update, thanked Hernandez for his comment and encouraged others to share comments about the five opportunity areas.
“It’s important that we come out to the community itself who has specifics and examples of
these types of areas that we need to look at specifically,” Blackson said.
Comments can still be submitted up until Aug. 16 to Associate Planner Angel Hernandez at angel_hernandez@cityofelcentro.org, or by mail at 1275 Main St., El Centro, CA 92243.