A
county’s General Plan is considered the constitution for land
use and related policy matters. It serves as a roadmap to guide
policy actions and development to further
the vision for the community. Each local government must adopt
a comprehensive, long-term General Plan for the physical development
of the jurisdiction.
Why is the General Plan important? In short, because the General Plan sets the
policy direction for the County for the next 20 years!
It is the basis upon which many of the County’s day-to-day
decisions are made. The plan will address a wide range
of topics important to residents, property owners, and
businesses throughout the County, including providing affordable
housing, conserving open spaces and natural resources,
reducing traffic congestion, preserving agriculture both
as an economic engine and a way of life, and attracting
and retaining businesses that provide high-paying jobs
and economic growth for the County and its residents.
General Plan Requirements
State law does not mandate how often the General Plan must be updated except
for the housing element, which is required to be updated
every five years. State law, however, does require that a
General Plan be updated periodically so that it remains a
true reflection of a community's values and goals. It should
also be updated as needed to update technical information
and address locally relevant issues. State law requires that
the county address the following topics:
Land Use
Circulation
Open Space
Conservation
Housing
Safety
Noise
The County has chosen to organize
the general plan into topical chapters and include a separate
chapter to address Agriculture.
Key Steps in Updating the General Plan
The County plans to spend approximately 30 months updating the General Plan.
The timeline and major phases of this work effort are described
below.
Background Reports: Between March and December of 2006, the General Plan team
will produce a series of reports that identify the current
trends, conditions, and issues to be addressed in the General
Plan and unique qualities to be preserved. From January to
October 2007, the Citizen’s Advisory Committee will use the
background reports to discuss general plan issues. Read up
on the background reports here.
Visioning: Throughout the summer of 2006, the team worked extensively with the
Citizen’s Advisory Committee to develop a long-term, sustainable
vision for the County. You can see a copy of the draft Vision
here.
Special Study Alternatives: In Solano County, most of the areas developed to
provide housing or jobs are located in or near one of the
County's seven incorporated cities. However, several unincorporated
areas, such as Collinsville/Montezuma Hills, Cordelia, Middle
Green Valley, and Suisun Valley are also experiencing strong
demands for growth or economic development. The County held
special workshops for these areas in the summer of 2007.
For more information on the process and outcome of these
special studies, please see Add link to special study areas
County-Wide Alternatives:In Fall of 2007, the CAC and general plan team worked
to develop land use and transportation alternatives for the
entire County. A preferred alternative is scheduled for discussion
by the CAC in November of 2007.
General Plan: A draft of the Solano
County General Plan will be developed in the fall of 2007
and winter of 2008 that contains goals, policies, and implementation
programs for the various issues addressed in each General
Plan chapter. In addition, the General Plan will include
Area Plans for Cordelia, Collinsville/Montezuma Hills, Middle
Green Valley, and Suisun Valley. The County will conduct
workshops and receive public comments on the draft General
Plan in early 2008.
EIR: The County’s General Plan will
be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that
analyzes the impacts of the proposed General Plan on the
built and natural environments. The County will solicit and
respond to public comments on the General Plan EIR in early
2008.
Review and Adoption: The Draft General
Plan and EIR will undergo a thorough review by the public,
various County and Citizen Committees, the Planning Commission,
and the Board of Supervisors. Adoption is expected in 2008.
Consistent with the requirements of Proposition A and the
County Orderly Growth Initiative, voter approval is required
prior to adoption of the updated General Plan if changes
in land use are proposed affecting agricultural lands.
