e live here, play here, shop here, raise children here and work here. But how long has it been since we’ve really come together and thought about Pasadena? How does our community look, feel and function?

pana This summer, let’s slow down for a bit, stop and smell the roses, maybe pull a few weeds, and create an even more enjoyable Pasadena. The city is launching a major update of our General Plan, and we all need to play a major role.

Much more than just paper and ink, the crucial document has been shaped by residents past and present, laying out a detailed blueprint for our community’s future. Sixteen chapters, called “elements,” address specific topics. As Pasadena inevitably changes, so do our hopes, values, needs and preferences. This summer and fall, everyone is encouraged to come out, speak up, talk with neighbors and be part of the update.

A communitywide outreach effort has been launched to help Pasadenans speak their minds about four of the most important elements: Land Use (where different types of buildings should be located), Mobility (how we get from place to place), and Open Space and Conservation (how open space and natural resources should be preserved). These critical chapters will guide how Pasadena grows and changes, and how we prioritize clean and simple travel well into the next decade.

The aim is to involve thousands of Pasadenans in the update. The outreach also includes fun, self-guided “MoveAbouts,” community workshops, a thought-provoking speaker series, a youth task force and an interactive website -- all designed to collect thoughts, ideas and priorities from every facet of the community.

Later in the fall, council district workshops and a community open house will be held to report on what’s been said and to introduce the next phase of the General Plan update. Please read through this special issue of Pasadena In Focus to learn how you can jump in! You can also call 744-6807 or visit www.cityofpasadena.net/generalplan.

What’s a General Plan?

Every city in California has a General Plan, a blueprint for growth and development that lays out specific strategies for land use, mobility, housing, open space, conservation, noise and safety. It reflects a community’s values and directs all of the municipal government’s day-to-day decisions, plans and priorities.

A thoughtful General Plan can protect a city’s character, create a vibrant downtown, support a healthy business community, advance the arts, preserve historic treasures, foster diversity, protect open space, promote transit choices, enrich neighborhoods and much more. As times change, about every five years the General Plan is revised to become more meaningful and relevant based on the current state of a community, with an eye toward the future.

Each city’s General Plan is unique, including the level of community participation. Pasadena is proud to have a long history of involving thousands of residents, business leaders and others in shaping our General Plan. The Pasadena you see today is a result of that history. In 1994, for example, more than 3,000 people took part in the General Plan update, many urging that development should be steered away from single-family neighborhoods and closer to downtown, near transportation lines.

A Fresh Perspective from Youths

When planning a great community for future generations, it’s essential to involve the next generation!

Teens and young adults are being mobilized to help spark interest and excitement about Pasadena’s General Plan update among the under-20 crowd. The inventive team of young “activists,” ages 13 to 18, represents diverse backgrounds and interests and was recruited from public and private schools as well as local youth service groups.

Among many other duties, the team is designing a fun and fast-paced General Plan summit this fall to elicit fresh, young ideas on the very same issues being considered by adults: What do we love most about Pasadena, what would we like to see changed and what is most important for our city’s future success?

The team is also on the street videotaping a collection of “Pasadena Stories,” will join city staff and GPUAC members this fall to present General Plan information at campus back-to-school nights citywide and will play an active role at the Nov. 14 community open house.

If you’d like to get involved or know of a youth group that could help, call 744-7249 or email youthvoices@cityofpasadena.net.

Speaker Series will Spark Ideas and Insights

A diverse slate of knowledgeable professionals will add their unique voices to Pasadena’s General Plan update through a thought-provoking speaker series.

Free and open to the public, the entertaining dialogues will shine a light on new ideas, perspectives and questions as Pasadenans help plan our community for generations to come. How can a pedestrian-friendly city be nurtured while quick transit corridors are created? How can we retain the city’s unique character while accommodating economic growth?

The speaker series is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday nights including Sept. 16 and 30, Oct. 14 and 28, and Nov. 4. Topics will include housing, density and affordability; streets, traffic and transit; design and community character; how to share water, energy and other resources; and our plans and the marketplace.

Each session will open with a rousing conversation among panelists, followed by questions and answers plus audience discussion. Ideas generated from discussion will be recorded for future consideration in the plan update process.

So turn off the TV and share an evening with your community! Visit the General Plan website for the complete schedule and more details.

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