Auburn is a historic city of approximately 14,000 residents located in the heart of California’s Gold Country. As the county seat of rapidly growing Placer County, Auburn is navigating the challenge of accommodating growth while preserving its identity as a small, economically vibrant Sierra foothills community. In 2023, the City retained Barry Miller to lead its first comprehensive General Plan Update in more than 30 years. The Planning Area encompasses an area nearly four times the size of the city itself, requiring close and ongoing coordination with Placer County. The update includes a new land use map and several new General Plan elements, including Arts and Culture, Community Services, and Historic Preservation and Design.

Barry and his team implemented an innovative and highly interactive community engagement program to ensure the Plan reflects local values and priorities. Public workshops featured creative formats such as “Mayor for the Day,” which invited participants to envision Auburn in the year 2045, and “Which Way, Auburn,” a hands-on board game in which teams made land use decisions using real fiscal data. Engagement also included regular meetings of a 12-member steering committee and a citywide survey completed by approximately 10 percent of Auburn households. The resulting 2045 General Plan establishes a clear roadmap for the next 20 years, addressing annexation, a new Downtown zoning framework, and policies to enhance resilience and sustainability.

The General Plan and Environmental Impact Report are currently being drafted, with adoption anticipated in Summer 2026.