PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 9, 2010
Contact: Mike Strong, Associate Planner
On March 1 the Encinitas Planning and Building Department held their first of six educational lecture series to help inform the community about issues and policies that will be discussed throughout the 2035 General Plan update. During Monday evening’s program, city staff and guest speakers from the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) noted that Encinitas will continue to grow but at a much slower pace than in the past. Patrick Murphy, Encinitas Director of Planning and Building, noted that before incorporation the City’s population increased at 5.7% annually, while a 1.4% growth rate was experienced over the 20 years following incorporation. “More people were added to the Encinitas population during the 7 year period from 1980 to 1987 than the 20 years following the City’s first General Plan,” Mr. Murphy stated. The Encinitas Educational Lecture Series occurs the first Monday of every month from March 1 to August 2, 2010 at 6:30 at the Encinitas Library. These sessions will provide a broad range of educational material and highlight topics such as climate change, sustainable design, alternative transportation, and public health. April 5 will be the next session in the Lecture Series and will address Resource Conservation Strategies
The City of Encinitas was incorporated in 1986 and adopted its first General Plan in 1989. Beth Jarosz, Senior Planner, SANDAG, noted that the population growth rate over the next 40 years will reduce to 0.4% annually for Encinitas, resulting in one of the slowest growth rates in the county. Ms. Jarosz noted that although all age categories will increase, the “elderly population will experience the greatest growth through the next 40 years.”
The presentation on growth and demographic forecasts was well received by the 35 plus audience and sparked numerous questions. Laurin Pause of Community Resource Center asked about the policy implications of an aging population. Other questions ranged from potential policies to reduce the size of homes to how SANDAG’s growth forecast affects future water availability for the region.
The PowerPoint presentations for Monday’s event will be posted on the City’s General Plan web page at www.Encinitas2035.info
under Educational Lecture Series.
For further information contact Mike Strong, 760-943-2102.
