SAN DIEGO - The next step in the process to plan San Diego's future has been reached with the release of the draft environmental impact report (draft EIR) for the City of Villages. Also released for public review are three related documents, the Draft Strategic Framework Element, City of Villages Map and Five-Year Action Plan.

The Strategic Framework Element is an update to the City's General Plan. The element employs "smart growth" concepts and proposes a City of Villages. The village strategy draws upon the strengths of existing San Diego neighborhoods by combining housing, commercial, employment centers, schools and civic uses together with easy access to transit.

"More than 150 public meetings have been held over the past two and a half years to inform citizens about issues facing our City's future and to hear community concerns. We are now asking for more feedback before the City Council considers the draft EIR and strategy for adoption this summer," said Coleen Clementson, the City's General Plan Program Manager.

The draft City of Villages Map has been updated to reflect the San Diego Association of Governments revised population projections for 2030. The revised projections call for about 349,000 more residents and a need for approximately 104,000 additional homes by the year 2020. These figures are lower than the original 2020 forecast issued in 1998.

Copies of the draft EIR, draft Strategic Framework Element, revised City of Villages map, and five-year Action Plan are available for viewing at all City libraries and community service centers, and at the Planning Department, 202 C St., fourth floor. These documents are also available on the City of Villages web page.

The full draft EIR, map, Element and Action Plan can also be purchased at City Publications in the Development Services Center, 1222 First Ave., third floor, for the cost of reproduction:

• Draft EIR, $59.20 for hard copy
• Map, $15 for a display-size copy
• Element, $12
• Action Plan, $5
• CD-ROM (containing all documents), $5

In addition, a series of five community meetings are being planned for February. Each meeting will be held in a location that serves the surrounding geographic area.

For more information please call the General Plan Hotline at (619) 235-5226 or visit the City's web site (www.sandiego.gov), choose "Departments" and click on "Planning."