Residents Identify Strengths and Weaknesses of Newark in Community Forum

In its first meeting with Newark residents, a team headed with updating the city's General Plan learned that residents take pride in its small-town feel.

As attendees broke up into groups, they discussed Newark’s strengths, weaknesses and what they believe would make Newark better.

The strengths included the city's small population, open space, parks and outdoor activities.

Newark is populated by approximately 42,573 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, has 15 parks and sport play facilities and approximately 153 acres of park and median landscape areas, according to the City of Newark website.

But others thought that Newark lacked modern shopping centers, an adequate library and a central downtown area.

Officials with the City of Newark along with graduate students from the California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo encouraged Newark residents to come and participate in the first in a series of meetings that will be held as part of the Newark General Plan Enhancement Project.

The project's objective is to update the 20-year-old Newark General Plan.

 A General Plan is a policy document that acts as a guideline for county and city leaders when it comes to decision-making for future development. The city’s General Plan was last approved in 1992, after eight years of developing the plan.

The community room at the was filled to capacity during the forum, which was held on Saturday, as concerned residents voiced concerns, asked questions and expressed their willingness and interest to be involved in the planning process.

“We want to know and be informed when the subsequent meetings are going to take place,” one resident said. 

The city and planning department told residents they plan on revving up promotion and publicity for the upcoming meetings.  The dates of the upcoming meetings have yet to be announced.

Community Development Director Terrence Grindall said at the next meeting, the discussion will focus on the highlights of possible changes to the General Plan.

Newark contracted Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s City and Regional Planning Department to come up with an update or “enhancement,” as the team coined Newark’s plan, for significantly less than contracting a consulting firm. 

Grindall said contracting the team, which consists of 15 graduate students and one professor, costs $20,000 while hiring a contractor could cost anywhere between $2 and $3 million. 

For more information about the Newark General Plan Enhancement Project, visit www.mynewarkplan.weebly.com.