Support of general plans for the orderly development and use of land in San Joaquin County and its incorporated areas. The main goals of the General Plans should be to improve the physical and economic environment of the community as a setting for human activities; to make it more functional, efficient, beautiful, healthful and interesting. Planning and ordinances for land use should promote the interest of the community at large rather than the interests of individuals or special groups. Opportunity for citizen participation in the consideration of land use problems and in the evaluation or proposed solutions must be provided at all levels of the decision-making process.
Adopted in 1967; Revised in 1972, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1980; Reviewed in 2001. Revised in 2011.
- Environmental impact reports should be required.
- The resources of the Stockton Channel areas should be protected while encouraging the redevelopment and reutilization of vacant properties along the waterfront.
- Land use policies should be developed which restrict urban sprawl. Any new urban development should be adjacent to existing urban developments.
- Infill and higher density should be encouraged. A comprehensive inventory of available land in the county should be done and growth should be directed to the poorer quality lands for needed housing and industry.
- Support redevelopment of older downtown and urban centers. Facilitate reuse of abandoned or vacant properties.
- Prohibit residential development in areas of natural hazards (e.g. floodplains) or areas with significant resource values (e.g. vernal pools). Work with FEMA and conservation organizations to buy out these properties.
- Minimize conflicts and insure more effective coordination of regional planning opportunities by strengthening and formalizing working relationships between cities and county utilizing San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) and the Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCO).
- Policies should be developed to acquire, preserve and/or create greenbelts, natural wild-life areas, agricultural buffer zones, and other open spaces between urban areas. Regional park development and flexibility in park planning should be promoted.
- Biking and walking paths should be provided for the purposes of recreation and as a means of transportation.
- Restore urban waterways by creating accessible and attractive greenbelts with pedestrian/bike paths that not only beautify the community, but create alternative means of transportation or access within the community.
Land Use: Promote policies that manage land as a finite resource and that incorporate principles of stewardship.
- Promote an environment beneficial to life through the protection and wise management of natural resources in the public interest by recognizing the interrelationships of air quality, energy, land use, waste management and water resources
- Resources should be conserved and protected to assure their future availability. Pollution of these resources should be controlled in order to preserve the physical, chemical and biological integrity of the ecosystems and to protect public health.
Resource Management (Position in Brief): Promote resource conservation, stewardship and long-range planning, with the responsibility for managing natural resources shared by all levels of government.
Environmental Protection and Pollution Control (Position in Brief): Preserve the physical, chemical and biological integrity of the ecosystem, with maximum protection of public health and the environment.
Public Participation (Position in Brief): Promote public understanding and participation in decision making as essential elements of responsible and responsive management of our natural resources.
adopted in 1975 + Support state land use planning that recognizes land as a resource as well as a commodity. The state should establish guidelines and standards for land areas of more than local concern. Decisions for these areas should be made at the lowest level of government feasible, but should be subject to state review. Citizens must have a meaningful participation in land use planning and regulation.
