Antioch to update its General Plan, welcomes community input

ANTIOCH — After more than two decades, Antioch will be updating its General Plan, and the city is seeking input from residents in creating a new blueprint for the community.

The last comprehensive General Plan update was completed in 2003, but Antioch has grown since then, with new housing developments and business and industry needs that have changed, the city said.

“Our needs and priorities have evolved,” the city said.

Residents, community members, and stakeholders are encouraged to visit the website, https://antioch.generalplan.org. It provides background, timelines, and public documents and allows users to provide their feedback throughout the update process, the city said.

Antioch City Manager Bessie Scott said public involvement is critical in developing a General Plan that reflects the city’s values and vision.

“We’re making it easy for the community to stay informed and engaged every step of the way,” said Scott in a statement.

Residents are encouraged to sign up for email and text notifications through Antioch’s “Notify Me” platform by selecting “General Plan Update” under the news flash section at https://www.antiochca.gov/list.aspx.

Antioch’s Principal Planner Kevin Scudero said general plans typically have a 20-year horizon because they are intended to be “long-range community visions.”

“The City has done focused updates throughout those 20 years, but now we are embarking on a comprehensive update,” he said in an email to this news organization.

Antioch anticipates completing the updates to its General Plan in about 24 months, said Scudero.

During a kickoff meeting in October 2025, Antioch councilmembers and planning commissioners provided input on areas and corridors within Antioch that needed special attention during the General Plan update.

According to meeting minutes, among the areas mentioned are the Lone Tree Way corridor, Deer Valley Road, A Street, East 18th Street, the Sycamore corridor, Wilbur Avenue, the marina and waterfront areas, Delta Fair Boulevard, Somersville Road, and the Amtrak station, among others.

Some members also proposed having mixed commercial and residential zones, while some highlighted the importance of having an economic development strategy in certain areas.

In the General Plan update, Antioch expects to include elements such as land use, community image and design, economic development, conservation and open space, circulation, public services and facilities, noise, and administration and implementation.

The document will also integrate Antioch’s Environmental Hazards Element, Environmental Justice Element, and Housing Elements, which were adopted in 2023, into the General Plan, Scudero said.

“After we have completed our community engagement efforts, we will have a better understanding of community priorities that need to be addressed within these elements,” he said.

Scudero noted the cornerstone of the General Plan update is a “robust and inclusive community outreach program.”

“We believe that early and frequent public participation is critical to developing a successful General Plan,” he said.