The first of two scheduled Community Workshops dealing with the Housing Element of the General Plan for Escalon was hosted on Tuesday, July 9 at 6 p.m. – the second is on the schedule for Thursday, July 18 at 2 p.m.

The city is updating the Housing Element for its General Plan, which basically is a document that serves as the city’s ‘playbook’ for decisions on land use, infrastructure, public services, resource conservation and more.

Development Services Manager Dominique Romo said each of the workshops is focusing on identifying and confirming the community’s vision, priorities, and concerns related to housing and environmental issues. Those will include the types of housing needed in Escalon, access to safe and affordable housing, barriers to housing production or access, equitable opportunities for physical activity, recreation and access to community facilities throughout the city. Also being discussed will be the disproportionate exposure of some areas of the city to pollution and environmental hazards. Access to affordable and nutritious foods is also one of the topics.

Those that were unable to attend the July 9 evening session will have the chance to discuss the issues in the afternoon meeting on July 18, in the City Council Chambers at 2060 McHenry.

Romo noted that the update to the Housing Element will also address recent requirements of California law related to environmental justice and climate adaptation in the Land Use and Conservation Elements of the plan.

For those that can’t attend the workshop, there is a survey available to post concerns and comments: www.surveymokey.com/r/EscalonGP.

Residents can also contact Romo in the Development Services Department at 209-691-7450 or via email at dromo@cityofescalon.org to get added to the project mailing list or offer comments and input on the Housing Element Update and General Plan amendments process.