The County aims to update 15 community plans by 2030 and an additional four plans by 2040. Developing plans for communities in the unincorporated county promotes health and economic vitality and encourages new growth near existing and planned infrastructure, services, and jobs to support biking, walking, the transit service, and ultimately reduce the need to drive. 

The Department of Planning & Development Services (PDS) is currently updating the community plans for Alpine,  Valley Center, and Twin Oaks Valley. When updating community plans the County reviews existing conditions, assesses market and infrastructure needs, and conducts environmental review of potential impacts. Community plan updates are built on input from members of the community including those who live, work, go to school, and own a business in the community to address concerns and future needs. Feedback from the community enriches the plan and helps preserve community character.

Community plans build upon and enhance the smart growth framework established by San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), the region’s transportation planning agency. Focusing growth within village centers and near existing and planned infrastructure encourages and allows residents to take shorter vehicle trips and choose to walk, bike, or take available transit more often to destinations. Greenhouse gas emissions reductions result from a reduction in the estimated vehicle miles traveled by residents within the community even as the community grows.

Community plans aim to embody the qualities important to the unincorporated communities in San Diego county such as promoting strong community identity; building local support for businesses; maintaining safe and high-achieving schools; developing trails for hiking, horseback riding, and biking; and creating a balance between job and housing growth where the community needs it. The community plan update process identifies barriers to achieve planned community growth and designs ways to increase density appropriate for the community.

Mixed-use development within existing village centers creates core areas for economic development, reduces the need to drive to jobs and services, and allows for the creation of transit ready conditions. This is done by providing connected walking and biking infrastructure to encourage non-auto trips, focusing development in villages with an appropriate jobs and housing balance, and identifying funding and financing strategies to accomplish planned actions.