General Plan Update
The City of Lakewood has begun the process of updating the General Plan.
What is a General Plan?
The General Plan serves as a blueprint for how a city envisions and plans for its future by establishing a framework for its future physical, social and economic development.
Under California law, each city and county in the state must adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the community. The City of Lakewood began a full review and revision of its plan in 2025.
The General Plan guides the city’s policies and strategies related to land use, housing, transportation, open space and other critical areas.
The City of Lakewood last updated its General Plan on Nov. 12, 1996, and the Housing Element was last updated and certified on Sept. 16, 2022, in compliance with State Housing Element Law.
Although related, this General Plan Update is distinct from the Housing Element, which is required by state law to be updated every eight years.
Regular updates to the General Plan are important to respond to changing demographics, new state mandates and emerging challenges such as climate change and technological innovation. The General Plan is considered long term because it spans almost 30 years into the future.
What is in a General Plan?
Lakewood’s General Plan Update includes key elements, or chapters, including Land Use, Circulation, Conservation, Open Space, Noise and Safety. The update will also include the development of new elements on Environmental Justice and potentially Wildlife Connectivity.
One of the primary goals of the General Plan Update is to prepare Lakewood for the future by addressing important trends, including shifts in population, changes in age distribution and household size, the rise of e-commerce, expansion of logistics and the adoption of new transportation technologies.
The update also ensures compliance with new state laws related to multi-modal mobility, environmental justice, climate resilience and emergency evacuation planning.
The State’s General Plan Guidelines provide a framework to assist local governments in preparing and updating their plans. Technical advisory documents also offer supplemental guidance on specific topics based on local needs.
Land Use Element
This component guides where and how the community grows, shaping Lakewood’s character for years to come.
It will review housing types, employment centers and commercial corridors to ensure a balanced mix of uses that supports the city’s economic vitality and meets state housing requirements.
Circulation/Transportation, Access and Connectivity Element
This aspect of the General Plan Update focuses on creating a safe, efficient and multi-modal transportation network that connects people to destinations.
It will analyze current traffic patterns, collision data, roadway segments, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and public transit access to reduce vehicle miles traveled and improve safety for all users.
For residents, this will mean improved connections to residential, commercial and recreational areas.
Conservation and Open Space Element
This aspect of the General Plan Update merges conservation and open space to create a unified strategy for protecting Lakewood’s natural environment and recreational spaces.
The update will focus on the conservation of natural resources and the management of public parks, trails and open areas.
This work will directly benefit residents by preserving the city’s natural beauty, enhancing recreational opportunities and ensuring sustainable management of environmental resources for future generations.
Public Hazards Element
The General Plan Update will create a modern Public Hazards Element that combines natural hazards, other hazards and noise into a single, comprehensive framework.
This unified approach addresses risks such as earthquakes, flooding, climate adaptation and emergency evacuation while also addressing noise issues.
Noise analysis and policy development will be informed by transportation modeling, technical noise modeling and community input.
Environmental Justice Element
This newer, state-required element focuses on ensuring fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in environmental decisions.
It will identify disadvantaged communities and develop policies to reduce pollution exposure and improve access to public amenities, healthy food and safe environments.
For residents, this means a focused effort to address disproportionate health risks and improve quality of life in every Lakewood neighborhood.
Wildlife Connectivity Element
A new addition to the General Plan format, the Wildlife Connectivity Element is required by recently passed state laws such as AB 1889. This section will either be integrated into the Conservation and Open Space Element or established as a standalone element.
This focus ensures Lakewood’s development plans preserve important pathways for wildlife movement, supporting local biodiversity and ecosystem health.
This approach helps balance growth with environmental stewardship, benefiting both natural habitats and Lakewood communities.
Lakewood General Plan Update process
The step-by-step process to update the General Plan is as follows:
- Project initiation
- Community engagement planning
- Existing conditions analysis
- Visioning and alternatives
- Draft General Plan Update
- Environmental review
- Plan finalization
How to get involved
As the General Plan Update gets underway, the community will be invited to participate and help shape priorities and policies through upcoming workshops, stakeholder meetings, surveys and more.
Community members are encouraged to check this page regularly for project updates and opportunities to contribute to the community’s vision, needs and preferences.
Share your thoughts
We welcome feedback from the community throughout the planning process.
You can help by taking this brief online survey to tell us more about you and what you think about Lakewood.
Take the General Plan survey (opens in new tab)
If you need help using the online survey form, joining the mailing list or submitting comments, contact Community Development at CD@lakewoodca.gov or call 562-866-9771, ext. 2340.
Stay informed
To join the General Plan Update mailing list or provide comments, use the form below.
When was Lakewood’s current General Plan approved?
Lakewood’s current General Plan was adopted on Nov. 12, 1996 and includes a Policy Document, a Technical Background Report and a Master Environmental Impact Report.
A Master Environmental Assessment was prepared in 2007 to address changed conditions since the time the Master Environmental Impact Report was adopted.
Lakewood’s Housing Element was adopted by the City Council on Aug. 9, 2022. The California Department of Housing and Community Development certified the Housing Element on Sept. 16, 2022 and found it to be in compliance with State Housing Element Law.
General Plan documents
Accessibility note: The General Plan documents listed below are currently being updated to improve accessibility and will be replaced as accessible versions become available.
If you need help accessing these documents or would like to request information in an accessible format, contact CD@lakewoodca.gov or call 562-866-9771, ext. 2340.
Current General Plan documents
2050 General Plan - Available documents
Documents will be added as available.
2050 General Plan - Program EIR
Documents will be added as available.