Tracy’s general plan update has officially moved into its public engagement phase, with the first of two visioning workshops recently taking place at the Tracy Transit Station.
Consultants from Kearns & West led the two-hour discussion, attended by approximately three dozen community members, including members of the General Plan Advisory Committee. Jamie Damon, Principal and Senior Mediator for Kearns & West, guided the meeting, while her colleague Beth Thompson elaborated on the process and the public’s crucial role.
Thompson explained that the general plan serves to establish the community’s shared vision for Tracy's appearance and how it should grow. She described the workshops as an opportunity for residents to articulate what they appreciate about the city, as well as to highlight areas needing change or elevated priority.
The general plan update is a comprehensive three-year process, structured into three distinct phases, each expected to span about a year. The current phase is dedicated to gathering information, assessing the existing conditions within the community, and defining the vision by identifying important themes and guiding principles for the update. Subsequent phases will focus on developing specific policies and land use principles to guide the city’s future, followed by a detailed study of how the growing city will integrate with its environmental and regional context.
During the workshop, attendees engaged in lively discussions at tables, using maps of the city to frame their input. Reports from these groups highlighted several key community priorities and observations.
Geoffry Faulkner, representing one discussion group, noted that participants emphasized Tracy's strong agricultural heritage. His group also identified a pressing need for new medical facilities to serve the city’s expanding population and expressed a desire to attract high-tech jobs to the area. They praised downtown, the airport, and older neighborhoods as valued aspects of Tracy, while also recognizing opportunities for residential and commercial development.
Melyssa Barrett reported that her group expressed a desire for more community centers across the city, along with parks designed to create “unique and memorable experiences,” and cultural and historical centers throughout town.
Todd Lieberg, who chairs the General Plan Advisory Committee, conveyed that his group's discussion centered on attracting businesses that could bring Tracy’s commuters back to work closer to home. They also stressed the importance of proactively building necessary infrastructure *before* new residential and commercial growth occurs. Lieberg’s group further highlighted downtown Tracy as an already vibrant area with significant potential for even greater positive transformation.
Other attendees pointed to the city’s sports complex, library, and walkable shopping areas as current attractive features. Areas identified as needing attention included the Bowtie area, a vacant space between Fourth and Sixth streets where old railroad tracks intersect, and the West Valley Mall located on Naglee Road.
At the conclusion of the workshop, Damon remarked on the participants' clear dedication, noting that they had come prepared to work. She observed, as she told a local news report, that "a lot of agreement emerging already about places that you love" and areas within the community that require additional care or services.
The second visioning workshop is scheduled for November 19, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Tracy Transit Station, located at 50 E. Sixth St., and will maintain the same format. Additionally, pop-up events will be held at locations such as the Grand Theatre and various community gatherings, offering opportunities for input in a less formal setting. Residents can also provide their input through the city's official website.
