The City of Downey is updating its General Plan, a long-term guide to how the city will evolve over the next 20 years. This comprehensive plan will shape decisions on housing, business development, parks, transportation, public safety, city services, environmental sustainability, and overall community well-being. It reflects the community’s vision and values, helping ensure that future changes support a thriving, inclusive, and resilient Downey.

The City's last General Plan was adopted on January 25, 2005, and has a horizon year of 2025. This new update will create the vision through 2045.

Why is a General Plan Important?

• Community Engagement: The planning process involves input from residents, stakeholders, and local organizations, fostering a sense of community ownership and collaboration.
• Development: It provides a framework for decision-making, helping city officials, developers, and residents understand the priorities and standards for growth.
• Sustainability: A well-crafted general plan promotes sustainable practices, balancing economic growth with environmental change to create a resilient community.
• Long-term Vision: It helps the city anticipate future challenges and opportunities, ensuring that growth is managed thoughtfully and strategically.

Downey General Plan Elements

The Downey General Plan sets forth the city’s vision for growth and development in 10 chapters, called “elements,” each focused on a key aspect of community development. For each element—Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Open Space, Conservation, Safety, Noise, Environmental Justice, Design, and Economic Development—the General Plan includes goals and policies that provide guidance for decisions that will have long-term effect, with the overarching goal to preserve the qualities that define Downey while managing change. Some of these elements are required by state law, while others are optional and have been included to address priorities and needs specific to Downey.

Required Elements (Required by State Law):

• Land Use Element: Guides how land is used and developed to support a balanced mix of housing, jobs, and community amenities.
• Circulation Element: Plans for safe and efficient movement of people and goods via streets, transit, walking, and biking.
• Housing Element: Addresses current and future housing needs through policies that support housing production, affordability, and equity. The Housing Element was adopted in 2022 and will not be updated as part of this effort.
• Open Space Element:  Protects and enhances parks, recreational areas, and natural spaces for public enjoyment and ecological health.
• Conservation Element: Promotes the responsible use and protection of natural resources, including water, energy, and air quality.
• Safety Element: Reduces risks from natural and human-made hazards such as earthquakes, flooding, and climate impacts.
• Noise Element: Minimizes the impact of noise on residents, schools, and sensitive uses through planning and design.
• Environmental Justice Element (New). State law requires General Plans to address the fair distribution of community benefits and reduce environmental burdens on all people, regardless of income, race, or ethnicity. Downey’s Environmental Justice Element aims to prevent disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities and promote a more inclusive, healthy, and equitable city.

  Optional Elements (Optional Elements with Local Relevance to Downey):

• Design Element: Encourages high-quality architecture, public spaces, and streetscapes that contribute to a vibrant and welcoming city.

• Economic Development Element: Supports a diverse, resilient economy by attracting investment, expanding job opportunities, and strengthening local businesses.

How to get involved?

The City will engage the community through various outreach activities over the summer and fall 2025 and early 2026. Stay tuned for opportunities to provide input. Everyone is encouraged to participate!

If you want to be notified when there is an update, you can subscribe by email, here.

What have we done so far?

Pop-Up Events - We have made community engagement easy by bringing the General Plan project to family-oriented events in Downey. At local “pop-up” events such, we've talked to residents of all ages and encouraged them to share ideas, concerns, and visions. This approach builds into the General Plan the values and needs of people who live, work, and raise families here.

Recent Pop-Up Events

• Men's Health Wellness Event - June 7, 2025 - A health-focused event where staff was be available to discuss the General Plan and gather feedback from attendees.

• Touch-A-Truck Event - May 17, 2025 - A health-focused event where staff was be available to discuss the General Plan and gather feedback from attendees.

• Downey Street Faire - May 10, 2025 - A popular community gathering where residents learned about the General Plan and provided input.

• Bunny Patch Event - April 19, 2025 - A popular community gathering where residents learned about the General Plan and provided input.

Environmental Justice Element

The City of Downey kicked-off its comprehensive general plan update with a workshop on the Environmental Justice Element. The workshop was held on August 28, 2024 in the Columbia Memorial Space Center. This new element of the General Plan in 2025 focuses on addressing equity and human health for residents in the City. The element will set goals towards a more equitable future for all residents, which include addressing inadequate access to healthy food, transportation, local parks, and also air and water pollution as some examples.

Here is a summary of the community meeting from that day.

As part of the City's General Plan Update, we have actively made community engagement a priority for seeking public input at family oriented events. By bringing outreach directly to the community at local pop-up events, we've reached residents of all age groups to share their ideas, concerns, and visions for the City's future. This approach helps ensure the General Plan reflects the values and needs of the people who live, work, and raise families here.

General Plan Update Timeline

The General Plan update will be completed in five phases, moving from research and community input to plan development and adoption. This phased approach ensures the plan is informed, inclusive, and aligned with the community’s long-term vision.