Ventura County 2040 General Plan Update

The County of Ventura is pursuing a General Plan Amendment to update and clarify the environmental mitigation programs and policies established under its 2040 General Plan and its certified Environmental Impact Report. This amendment focuses on revising the Ventura County Initial Study Assessment Guidelines and the CEQA Implementation Manual to improve clarity, eliminate ambiguity, correct outdated references, and standardize procedures for evaluating the environmental impacts of public and private projects within the County’s unincorporated areas. The changes are intended to ensure consistent application of environmental review criteria under the California Environmental Quality Act, aligning with the original intent of the mitigation measures adopted in 2020. An Addendum to the EIR has been prepared and approved to confirm that the revisions do not introduce new or substantially increased environmental impacts. The project is administered by the County’s Resource Management Agency, Planning Division, with all documentation, including the updated guidelines and manual, to be made publicly accessible both physically at the County’s headquarters in Ventura and online through vc2040.org. Administrative actions include payment of a $3,393.25 documentary handling fee processed through the County Clerk’s Office and compliance with CEQA requirements such as the preparation of findings and statements of overriding considerations when impacts cannot be fully mitigated. The initiative is not a traditional procurement contract—it lacks FAR clauses, solicitation pricing, payment mechanisms, or contractor roles—and instead functions as a regulatory and planning update led by the County as the lead agency. Submission of materials required physical copies and adherence to internal County procedures, with no federal contracting infrastructure, acquisition codes, or contractor representations involved. The amendment is finalized, with adoption occurring on September 30, 2025, and enforcement tied to future environmental reviews conducted under the revised county guidelines.