Step 1 and 2 helped the General Plan Team to understand Lancaster and get community input. Step 1 included reviewing existing plans and studies, data collection, and public awareness. The Community Visioning process included four community workshops, an Open House, and Online Survey to listen to what residents and businesses had to say about the future of Lancaster.

Step 3, Alternative Land Use Futures, analyzed various land use concepts for the City of Lancaster in 2030. Data and information during this Step was presented to the General Plan Citizen's Advisory Committee (GPCAC) and used to develop land use alternatives that were analyzed by the Program Environmetal Impact Report (PEIR).

Step 4 of the General Plan process updated the City’s goals, policies, and actions and incorporate data and community feedback from Steps 1 to 3 in order to produce a draft General Plan Policy Document.

During Steps 2 through 4, the General Plan Citizens Advisory Committee held regular meetings to review the goals and objectives of the General Plan and to select a GPCAC preferred land use alternative.

Step 5 and 6 are the final two steps in the process. A Program Environmental Impact Review (PEIR) will be developed to review impacts of the General Plan during Step 5. And the final step will involve public hearings first before the Planing Commission and then before the City Council for adoption of the Lancaster General Plan 2030.