For Immediate Release
Media Contact
Hawthorne City Manager
4455 W. 126th Street
Hawthorne, CA 90250
(310) 349- 2900
HAWTHORNE, Calif., January 26, 2026 – The City of Hawthorne continues to move forward with its General Plan Update, a long-range planning effort that will guide the City’s growth, development and policy decisions for the next two to three decades. Recent community workshops marked an important milestone in engaging residents, business owners and stakeholders in shaping Hawthorne’s future.
The City’s General Plan informs decisions on land use, housing, transportation, public spaces, infrastructure and sustainability, ensuring that future development aligns with community priorities and state requirements while supporting a balanced, resilient city.
“The current General Plan was adopted in 1990-1991 and is a reflection of the City’s goals and policies of that time,” said Planning Director Gregg McClain. “Obviously, the world has changed significantly since then. Once desirable goals are holding the City back in its economic development efforts, its need to address the housing crisis and how the City responds to the needs of the residents. This update is more than just making goals that reflect the values of this time, it is being designed to allow it to be more easily adaptable to future changes.”
As part of its outreach efforts, the City released a community survey and an interactive mapping survey on September 16, 2025 to gather broad public feedback. Residents can now view the results of the mapping survey, which highlight location-based concerns and desired improvements related to parks and green space, safety, development opportunities and mobility throughout Hawthorne City of Hawthorne General Plan.
Building on this initial input, the City hosted an in-person General Plan Update community workshop on November 6, 2025. The workshop provided residents and business owners an opportunity to learn about the General Plan process, understand its long-term impacts and share their priorities and vision for Hawthorne. City staff emphasized that meaningful community participation is essential to developing policies that reflect local needs and values.
To expand access and participation, the City also hosted a virtual community workshop on November 13, 2025. The virtual meeting covered the same material as the in-person session and was designed to engage individuals who may be unable to attend meetings in person due to scheduling constraints or mobility challenges. Offering multiple formats is part of the City’s broader strategy to ensure inclusive participation in long-range planning efforts.
Feedback gathered through the workshops, online outreach, stakeholder meetings, an advisory committee and pop-up engagement events revealed several recurring themes. Community members expressed strong interest in promoting economic growth, addressing commercial vacancies, improving cleanliness and expanding public spaces such as parks and potential farmers markets. These priorities will help inform the development of the General Plan’s policies and implementation strategies.
The next steps in the General Plan Update process will focus on developing and refining the Plan’s individual elements, incorporating community feedback and sharing progress with the public. Additional outreach opportunities will allow residents and stakeholders to help fine-tune the goals and objectives that will guide Hawthorne’s future.
Community members can stay informed and engaged by visiting the City of Hawthorne General Plan Residents may also subscribe to City email notifications through the City of Hawthorne Homepage and follow the City’s social media channels for announcements related to the General Plan Update.
Please see the attached statement from the city: City of Hawthorne Highlights General Plan Update Community Workshops and Next Steps
