The City of Santa Ana Planning and Building Agency proudly received the Award of Merit for its Comprehensive General Plan Update from the American Planning Association-California Chapter. At the APA-California 2024 Conference, City staff showcased Santa Ana’s leadership in implementing its Environmental Justice (EJ) framework to an audience of over 200 planners from across the state. The presentation highlighted the City’s efforts to address historical community needs, enact policies targeting noxious and non-conforming land uses, and ensure accountability with regulatory agencies. Santa Ana also shared updates on its Zoning Code, public realm plan, and the creation of a new EJ Action Committee.
The session panel included a community-based organization (CBO) representative of the City’s EJ Action Committee, Getting Residents Engaged in Empowering Neighborhoods – Madison Park Neighborhood Association (GREEN-MPNA), who highlighted strengthened advocacy resulting from the General Plan’s 77 EJ implementation actions and called for continued resources to ensure the protection of the health and safety of residents and pollution-burdened neighborhoods. This recent APA-California recognition underscores the City’s mission to foster a sustainable and equitable environment for all its residents and communities.