planning issues specific to plumas county

Planning Issues Specific to Plumas

County

November 10, 2009

Presented to the County of Plumas

Purpose of Workshop

Topics to be Addressed • Introduction to California General Plans (10:00 to 11:30).

• Lunch Break (11:30 to 12:00).

• Panel Discussion – Best Planning Practices (12:00 to 1:30).

• Working Group Session – Planning Opportunities for Plumas County (1:30 to 3:30).

Role of Participants “Where do we want to be in 20 years…”

Introduction and Overview

IntroductionIntroduction

Introduction to California General Plans

As part of this presentation we will:

• Discuss what a General Plan is (and is not)

intended to provide.

• Discuss how a General Plan is typically used.

• Describe a typical General Plan Update process.

Introduction to General PlansIntroduction to General Plans

What is a General Plan?

A General Plan focuses on shaping the physical form of a community over a 20 to 25 year period.

• It is an expression of community goals and priorities;

• It is a decision-making guide; and

• It fulfills legal requirements created by state law.


How is the General Plan Used?

A General Plan has specific uses for individual community members:

• Board of Supervisor/Planning Commission members – use

plan to evaluate policy changes and make funding/budget

decisions.

• County staff – use plan to evaluate building/development and

make recommendations on projects.

• Citizens – use plan to understand a community’s long range

vision and proposals for different geographic areas.


What the General Plan is Not

A General Plan does not typically provide site-level details.

A General Plan is not an operational plan.

A General Plan is most effective when it is dealing with the physical environment.


The General Plan Update Process The basic requirements for a General Plan:

• Each county and city must adopt a comprehensive, long-term

general plan for the physical development of the county or city,

and of any land outside its boundaries which in the planning

agency’s judgement bears relation to its planning. (§65300)

• The general plan acts as “constitution for future development.”

Lesher Communications v. City of Walnut Creek


Basic Requirements (cont.)

Comprehensive Planning • Geographic.

• Issues.

Long Term (typically 15 to 20 years)

Consistency • Equal status among elements.

• Between elements.

• Within elements. City of Lincoln’s

updated General Plan has a 50 year

planning horizon.


Elements of the General Plan

The “Magnificent Seven” mandatory elements: • Land Use.

• Circulation.

• Housing.

• Conservation.

• Open Space.

• Noise.

• Safety.


Elements of the General Plan (cont.)

Format and Flexibility: • Elements may be combined.

• Plan may be adopted as one

document or several documents.

• The degree of specificity and level of

detail of the discussion of each

element shall reflect local conditions

and circumstances.

A combined Open Space and

Conservation Element – City of

Lincoln General Plan


Elements of the General Plan (cont.)

Popular optional elements: • Air Quality (required in the

Central Valley).

• Design.

• Economic Development.

• Growth Management.

• Historic Preservation.

• Parks and Recreation.

• Public Facilities.

• Scenic Highways.

• Seismic.


Emerging trends elements: • Agriculture.

• Water Resources.

• Sustainability.

Example of Optional Elements

County of Calaveras – Water Element • Prepared by Calaveras County Water

District to support the County’s current

General Plan Update.

• Comprehensive element addressing a

holistic approach to watershed

management, including the provision of

water/wastewater service, climate

change, water quality, water

conservation, and flood management.



County of Tulare – Economic Development Element

• Comprehensive element addressing

County-wide business attraction,

expansion, and retention.

• Policies addressing labor force

development, supporting value-added

industries, expanding current economic

base (including agriculture and tourism).



City of Oxnard – Sustainability Element • Designed to address recent State

legislation including AB32 and SB375.

• Policies addressing global warming,

climate change, sea level rise, energy

conservation, and long-term water

supply.


Preparing a General PlanAdoption deadlines:

• 30 months after incorporation.

• Housing Element revised every 5 years.

• Update recommendations.

General Plan Guidelines (Office of Planning & Research) • Last revised 2003.


Preparing a General Plan (cont.)Public Participation (§65351)

• Goals: • Inform the public.

• Obtain input regarding major issues and objectives.

• Participate in alternative selection.

• Inform decision makers of public opinion.

• Work towards community consensus.


Preparing a General Plan (cont.)Public Participation Tools

• Townhall meetings.

• Workshops.

• Publications & Surveys.

• Website and Interactive Technology.

Committees • Steering.

• Advisory.


Preparing a General Plan (cont.)


The Draft General Plan • Goals & objectives, policies, implementation measures.

• Background data in appendices or separate document.

Preparing a General Plan (cont.)

Adoption: • Legislative act (§65301.5)

• Inter-governmental Coordination (§65352)

• Cities, counties, special districts.

• School districts.

• LAFCO

• Regional planning agencies (Plumas County Transportation Commission).

• Federal agencies (which may be affected).

• Water and utility providers.

• Affected Native American Groups.


Preparing a General Plan (cont.)Adoption:

• Submittal to state agencies:• HCD: Housing Element.

• Division of Mines & Geology; OES: Safety Element.

• Resources Agency: Open Space Element.

• Special Situations:• Board of Forestry: Fire Protection.

• Mining & Geology Board: SMARA.

• Coastal Commission: Local Coastal Plan.


Preparing a General Plan (cont.)Adoption:

• Recommendation made by planning commission (§65354)

• Adoption made by legislative body.

• Notice and hearing (§65353 and 65355)


CEQA Compliance Adoption or amending a General Plan is an action subject

to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Ideally, the CEQA process should parallel the general planning process.

• Objectives.

• Data Collection.

• Alternatives.


CEQA – Our Integrated Approach


CEQA Compliance (cont.) Key Aspects:

• Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

• Describe significant environmental effects, including cumulative and growth-inducing effects.

• Mitigation Measures incorporated into General Plan.

• Tiering.• Master and Program EIR’s


CEQA Compliance (cont.)Advantages of Tiering:

• Streamlines environmental review by focusing future documents on project-specific effects.

• Deals with secondary, cumulative and growth-inducing impacts on a broad level.

• Analysis and mitigation can be incorporated into second tier documents.

• May cover future general plan implementation actions (e.g., master plans, CIP, rezoning).

• EIR required for certain exemptions (SB 1925).


Implementation Implementation Measures

Annual Reporting: • Legislative Body (by October 1).

• OPR.

• HCD (Housing Element).


Implementation (cont.) Implementation Tools:

• Zoning.

• Specific Plans.

• Subdivision Regulations.

• Capitol Facilities.

• Redevelopment.

• Acquisition.


Implementation (cont.) Consistency with the General Plan:

• Zoning.

• Subdivisions.

• Specific Plans.

• Public Works Projects (§65401).

• Acquisition/Disposition of Property (§65402).

• Optional Capitol Improvement Plans (§65403).


Implementation (cont.) Basis for exactions:

• Adequate General Plan can provide the basis for exactions (“nexus”).

Soderling v. City of Santa Monica

Basis for thresholds of significance: • Objectives and policies may provide basis for determining

significant impacts.• e.g. Levels of Service, Noise Contours, Aesthetics.


Implementation (cont.) Amendments (§65358):

• No mandatory element shall be amended more than four times during any calendar year.

• Exceptions: • Low-moderate income housing projects.

• Consistency with Airport Land Use Plans.

• Development of Local Coastal Program.

• Compliance with court decisions.

• Affected specific plans must be reviewed and amended as required for consistency.


Implementation (cont.)Amendments:

• Suggested Criteria: • Is the amendment in the public interest?

• Is the amendment consistent with all other parts of the General Plan?

• If other changes will be required, are they being considered at the same time (“ripple effect”).

• Will the amendment necessitate changes in zoning or other implementing ordinances?


General Plan Update Costs

Cities Counties

Average $255, 210 $844,728

High $1,000,000 $4,000,000

% CEQA 34 29

% PublicParticipation

25 20


General Plan Guidelines

Published by OPR as required by state planning law (§ 65040.2):

• Guidelines are advisory only.

• Guidelines include discussion of general plan process, format, statutory requirements, and other laws and issues which can influence the general plan.


General Plan Guidelines (cont.) For each mandatory element, the OPR guidelines provide:

• Background;

• Court cases and Attorney General’s Opinions;

• Relevant issues;

• Ideas for data and analysis; and

• Ideas for policy development.


Example: OPR Guidelines

Issue: Parks and Recreation (Land Use):

Ideas for Data and Analysis • Assess demand for parks and recreation facilities (often

expressed as acres/1000 residents).

• Identify future park and recreation sites.

Policy Suggestion• Address location, acquisition, and development of public park

and recreation facilities.


Example: Local General Plan Goal: Distribute parks, open spaces and recreation

programs and facilities throughout the City. • Policy: Construct new parks and recreation facilities.

• Action: Acquire and develop parks to meet the distance from dwelling standard (3/8 mile to neighborhood park).


2002 OPR Update

Environmental Justice (AB 1553)

Community Participation

Sustainable Development

Format and Element Consolidation

Optional Elements:• Water.

• Energy.


Panel Discussion - Best Planning Practices

Planning Opportunities for Plumas County