Town of Paradise General Plan and Zoning Ordinance Updates

The Town is preparing a comprehensive update to its existing General Plan, which will guide land use, development, infrastructure, and environmental policy through the year 2045. Initiated in September 2025, the General Plan Update is being led by the Town’s Planning Division in collaboration with other Town departments. The updated General Plan will include the following State-mandated elements: Land Use, Circulation, Conservation, Open Space, and Noise—the required Housing and Safety Elements were recently updated by the Town and will not be comprehensively updated as part of the proposed project though the Safety Element may be subject to minor changes to maintain consistency with the other updated elements. The updated General Plan may also include optional elements to be identified through the proposed project’s public engagement process. Each element will include goals (broad desired outcomes), policies (decision-making guidance), and actions (specific actions for implementation). The proposed project is anticipated to include updates to the descriptions and applications of land use designations that will affect allowed densities, development intensities, and land use types, primarily in the town’s commercial areas. Goals, policies, and actions throughout the General Plan will be updated to reflect current community values and priorities, as well as to address all State law requirements. The EIR will evaluate potential environmental impacts based on projected development through the year 2045. In conjunction with the General Plan Update, the Town is also preparing a comprehensive Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map Update to ensure consistency with the updated General Plan, the adopted Housing Element, and current State housing and land use laws. The Zoning Ordinance Update will modernize and reorganize Title 17 of the Paradise Municipal Code, clarify development standards and review procedures, and address issues identified by Town staff and stakeholders. The Zoning Map will be updated to align zoning districts with proposed General Plan land use designations.