RANCHO CORDOVA – Rancho Cordova residents are being invited to play an active role in shaping the city’s long-term future later this month as the City of Rancho Cordova continues its update of the Rancho Cordova General Plan with another in a series of community workshops.
Community Workshop No. 3 is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 26, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Rancho Cordova City Hall, located at 2729 Prospect Park Drive. The workshop is part of the city’s General Plan 2050 effort, which will guide land use, housing, transportation, and development decisions over the next 25 years.
City officials say the workshop is designed to be highly interactive, giving community members the opportunity to share ideas, preferences, and priorities for how Rancho Cordova grows and evolves in the coming decades. While an online RSVP is encouraged to help staff plan for attendance, registration is not required to participate.
The evening will begin with a presentation providing background and context for potential land use alternatives currently under consideration. Following the presentation, the workshop will shift into an open-house format with multiple stations set up around the room, allowing residents to engage directly with planners and provide feedback on a range of proposed planning strategies.
One of the key topics to be discussed is the future of Rancho Cordova’s office parks. City planners are exploring what it could look like to transform underused office areas into vibrant, mixed-use neighborhoods where people can live near their workplaces, walk to shops and cafés, meet friends in nearby parks, and enjoy more active and connected surroundings. Residents will be asked to share what amenities, housing types, and services they would want to see if office parks were reimagined as lively community spaces.
Another focus of the workshop will be Folsom Boulevard and its potential role beyond serving as a major transportation corridor. Participants will be encouraged to think about how the roadway could evolve into a destination in its own right, with ideas such as tree-lined sidewalks, local businesses, outdoor dining, and public spaces that foster walkability and connection. Planners are seeking input on how residents envision Folsom Boulevard functioning as a street where people want to spend time, not just pass through.
The workshop will also explore the idea of a future downtown for Rancho Cordova, particularly in light of the planned soccer arena development. Officials describe this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a true city center that could host game-day crowds while supporting restaurants, bars, coffee shops, parks, entertainment venues, and a central gathering space. Community members will be invited to share their vision for what a Rancho Cordova downtown could become and what elements would make it successful and welcoming.
In addition to a centralized downtown concept, planners are also weighing the idea of developing neighborhood hubs throughout the city. These smaller, walkable centers could offer daily essentials, dining options, and social spaces close to where residents live, reducing the need for frequent car trips. The workshop will invite feedback on whether residents prefer a single downtown core, multiple neighborhood centers, or a balance of both approaches.
Housing choices and their role in revitalizing older commercial corridors and transit-accessible areas will round out the discussion. City staff are examining how adding a wider range of housing types, including townhomes, apartments, and live-work units, could support local businesses, create safer and more active streets, and bring new life to aging corridors. Residents will be asked to weigh in on what types of housing they would like to see and where they believe new development makes the most sense.
City officials emphasize that community input gathered during this workshop and others in the series will directly influence the policies and vision outlined in the updated General Plan. Residents unable to attend in person will also have opportunities to share feedback online as the process continues.
Additional information about the General Plan 2050 update and workshop series is available at cityofranchocordova.org/GPU2050.
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