Community Development

Community Development COVID-19 Response and Resources

Business Assistance:

Bilingual Small Business Assistance Hotline - (831) 758-7367 weekdays between 8:00am and 4:00pm, oscarr@ci.salinas.ca.us. Click here for more information.

Business Resource Page (technical assistance, loan assistance, tax information, and more). En español.

Housing Response and Resources:

Increasing Protections for the Homeless

City of Salinas and Salvation Army Team-Up to Provide 225 Daily Meals to Homeless

ECHO Housing - Fair housing resources and counseling

Planning, Building, and Permit Center:

To continue serving the Salinas community and essential projects forward during the Covid-19 pandemic, staff will begin processing applications electronically. The process allows for electronic submittals to all Divisions within the Department. This is inclusive of new or resubmittals of Building Permits, Planning Entitlements, Code Enforcement Cases, Fire Permits and Engineering Permits. For more information on how to submit electronically, call 831-758-7251 or epermit@ci.salinas.ca.us.

Staff is also able to issue and inspect all construction related permits. Construction, including workers who support operation, inspection, and maintenance of construction sites and construction projects, including but not limited to surveyors and workers conducting site inspections. Construction shall comply with Social Distancing Requirements and the Construction Safety Protocol listed in Appendix B of the Monterey County Health Order.

Zoning/Current Planning - Email: CurrPlanwebmail@ci.salinas.ca.us

Code Enforcement - Email: lorenzos@ci.salinas.ca.us or Phone: 831-758-7157

About the Department

The Community Development Department is committed to creating a safe, healthy, and prosperous Salinas through targeted revitalization and sustainable, well-designed land use and development. Department functions include planning, permitting, management of federal funding, housing production, code enforcement, and business development.

There are six divisions in the Department: Plan & Project Implementation, Advanced Planning, Current Planning, Permit Services, Code Enforcement, and Housing & Community Development.

Core Values

We believe in efficient customer service and citizen engagement
We believe that economic vitality is important to community development
We believe in integrity, mutual respect, courtesy and dignity
We believe in innovation and teamwork

Community Development Divisions

Community Development Plans and Projects

Accomplishments

In 2015, the department:

Served 11,289 customers and issued 5,156 permits with a valuation over $74 million
Addressed 969 code complaints
Completed the Housing Element, praised by the State as a model for other cities
Funded 20 public services agencies that provide critical programming to over 1,900 youth, seniors, and homeless
Preserved 40 affordable housing units and assisted in funding 41 new affordable senior housing units
Provided over $1 million in loans for the expansion of four businesses, creating 55 jobs

What We Are Working On

Advancement of our Economic Prosperity through:

Adoption of the Economic Development Element
Development of the Alisal Vibrancy Plan including the Alisal Marketplace
Creation of a plan for Chinatown’s revitalization
Facilitation of the development of the Future Growth Area including nearly 12,000 housing units
- The West Area Specific Plan (WASP) with 4,340 housing units
- The Central Area Specific Plan (CASP) with over 3,900 housing units
  - Click here for the 10/14/2020 CASP Virtual Community Meeting Recording
Implementation of the Downtown Vibrancy Plan
Continued enhancements to streamline the permitting process
Support to foster small businesses growth

Proactive, comprehensive code enforcement that fosters safe, livable neighborhoods.

Creation of a well-planned city with a high quality of life through:

Ensuring a complete count for the 2020 Census, which designates funding for almost all federal programs
The update of the General Plan, the City’s blueprint for our future
Implementation of the Housing Element with a focus on housing production
Continued collaboration with the County and Social Service Providers to address the needs of the Homeless

What's Happening for Community Development

Vendor Ordinance and Zoning Code Amendment

City Staff continues to assist existing and potentially new Food Truck vendors with understanding the changes to the Vendor Ordinance and Zoning Code Amendment that go into effect on Friday, October 22, 2021. The City's Community Development Department and Business Navigator, Development Engineering, and Code Enforcement have held multiple engagement meetings to help vendors understand the changes and new options to continue to operate or to start a Food Truck business.

The three (3) new Food Truck vendor options are:

Option 1

Designated Location (52 locations)

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Beautifying Salinas! The Three-tiers of Landscaping

May 16, 2022

Beautifying Salinas! The three-tiers of landscaping

Did you know that the City of Salinas Zoning Code has a three-tier landscaping requirement for landscaped areas? The three tiers are:

grasses or groundcovers,
shrubs, and
trees.

The three tiers of landscaping requirement helps to

provide a variety of species and varying textures of landscaping (such as flowering bushes, native grasses, and evergreen trees) that improve the public experience, increase beautification of

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Temporary Use of Land Permit (TULP)

May 16, 2022

Want to have a temporary event on a commercial property? Here’s how:

A Temporary Use of Land Permit (TULP) is required for temporary activities, events, or signs, which occur on occasion but are not intended to become permanent. These types of temporary uses include, but are not limited to the following:

Circuses and Carnivals,
Farmer’s Markets,
Outdoor Retail Sales, and
Trade Fairs

Some keynotes to know about TULP’s:

Zoning codes limit the use of TULPs based on sites

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Step Up Sites Will Welcome Home Future Residents

May 5, 2022

Increasing Permanent Supportive Housing: The City of Salinas was awarded 29.5 million dollars from California’s Homekey Program to convert the Sanborn Inn and Salinas Inn into permanent “micro studio” units with supportive services for 99 unhoused residents.

Building Strong Communities : Community members, neighbors, and city staff are taking collective action to address community concerns, discuss best practices, and plan a successful launch for both Homekey projects.

Did You Know? Step Up sites will provide supportive services such as case management, employment assistance, referrals to physical and mental health services,...

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