INTRODUCTION

Adopted: March 23, 1989

First Revision to Reflect Amendments and Corrections as of April 9, 1991
Second Revision to Reflect Amendmentsand Corrections as of March 1, 1994
Third Revision to Reflect Amendments and Corrections as of December 31, 1998

1.0 AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE

1.1 AUTHORITY FOR THE GENERAL PLAN

Statutory authority for a general plan is expressed in Title 7, Division 1 of the Government Code of the State of California. Article 5, Section 65300 et seq requires the county to adopt a comprehensive general plan to guide its future physical development. The plan may recognize local conditions in a format that is appropriate for the local agency. Although the general plan must address a number of different subjects and elements, the county may choose the degree of specificity and level of detail that is appropriate for its circumstances.

1.2 REQUIRED AND OPTIONAL ELEMENTS

The general plan must contain a statement of development policies, including diagrams or maps and text, setting forth objectives, principles, standards, and plan proposals. Seven mandatory elements are land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, noise, and safety.

A number of optional elements are allowed. This general plan includes three optional elements: Agricultural Resources, Air Transportation, and Public Facilities and Services.

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

The Sonoma County General Plan is a revision of the previous general plan which was adopted in 1978, and supersedes and replaces that document. This plan carries forward the major goals and policy framework of the 1978 Plan, but changes the format in several ways. A major purpose of the revised plan is to take into consideration the changes in conditions and circumstances that have occurred since 1978, and to express policies in a manner that will simplify their interpretation, administration, and application to individual development decisions. The intent of the plan is that policies, guidelines, and standards be clear and direct so that property owners and citizens may easily understand its provisions and how they apply to parcels of land as well as their cumulative impact on future environmental conditions and quality of life.

The broad purpose of the Sonoma County General Plan is to express policies which will guide decisions on future growth, development, and conservation of resources through 2005 in a manner consistent with the goals and quality of life desired by the county's residents. Under State law many actions on private land development, such as specific plans, area plans, zonings, subdivisions, public agency projects and other decisions must be consistent with the general plan. The goals, objectives, and policies set forth in the plan will be applied in a manner to insure their constitutionality.

2.0 REGIONAL AND LOCAL CONTEXT

2.1 THE REGIONAL SETTING

Sonoma County, the most northerly of the nine counties in the San Francisco Bay Region, is located along the Pacific coastline about forty miles north of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. The county is just over 1500 square miles, making it the largest of the nine Bay Area counties. Its 1986 population of about 339,000 ranked sixth among these nine counties The county's location in the regional setting is shown in Figure 1G-1 on page 7.

Sonoma County is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west, Marin County and San Pablo Bay to the south, Solano, Napa and Lake Counties to the east, and Mendocino County to the north. Because of the geographic configuration and topography of the Northbay area, transportation linkages to adjacent counties are limited to a few routes. The U.S. Highway 101 Freeway is the major north-south route, connecting the county to San Francisco and Marin to the south and to Mendocino on the north.

2.2 THE COUNTY SETTING

Sonoma County's 1500 square miles include a diverse mosaic of landforms, environments, and human settlements. The broad, flat Santa Rosa Plain, which lies between the Sonoma Mountains on the east and low

coastal hills on the west, contains the cities of Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, and Cotati. The sparsely settled western margin of the county, along the Pacific coastline, includes the redwood and mixed conifer forests of the Mendocino Highlands in the north and rolling oak-studded hills, dairylands, and coastal prairies in the south. The Mayacmas Range forms the eastern boundary of the county. Along with the Sonoma Mountain range, it encloses the Sonoma Valley or "Valley of the Moon," a scenic agricultural valley which extends from near Santa Rosa southeastward to the city of Sonoma and the marshlands of San Pablo Bay. In the north, the Mayacmas Range and Mendocino Highlands enclose the Alexander and Dry Creek Valleys. In the far northeast, the remote interior of the Mayacmas Range contains the Geysers geothermal steam field.

The County's eight cities, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Healdsburg, Sonoma, Sebastopol, Cotati, and Cloverdale, contained a combined population of just under 200,000 in 1986, about 58 percent of the total population of 339,000. Santa Rosa, the largest city, had nearly 100,000 residents. The 140,000 residents in unincorporated areas were concentrated in urban areas located just outside several cities, notably Santa Rosa and Sonoma, and in a number of rural communities. These communities varied substantially in their character, and their diversity and quaintness contribute to the quality of life that is desired by many residents.

2.3 INTERGOVERNMENTAL PLANNING COORDINATION

The Sonoma County General Plan is generally compatible with the plans of the eight cities, and with plans or policies established by other governmental agencies. Areas for future expansion of the cities were coordinated with the various cities. Although the County's plan does not regulate development within the cities, it is applicable to lands within their spheres of influence. In some instances, the policies of the plan establish larger "areas of interest" for cities, in order to provide for their review and comment on proposed county actions.

The plan also considers the policies and concerns of adjacent counties and regional agencies, such as the Association of Bay Area Governments, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District, the Bay Area Water Quality Control Board, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, the Sonoma County Water Agency, and others. The text of the various elements notes those situations where these agencies have particular responsibilities that affect the physical development of the county and approval of permits.

3.0 ORGANIZATION AND OVERVIEW OF THE PLAN

3.1 THE PLAN FORMAT

The general plan consists of the 10 elements and this introduction:

Part 1: Introduction

Part 2: Land Use Element

Part 3: Housing Element

Part 4: Open Space Element

Part 5: Agricultural Resources Element

Part 6: Resource Conservation Element

Part 7: Public Safety Element

Part 8: Circulation and Transit Element

Part 9: Air Transportation Element

Part 10:Public Facilities and Services Element

Part 11:Noise Element

A detailed outline of the contents of the plan is provided at the end of this introduction. Each element includes policies which are related to the physical development of the county to the year 2005.

In addition to the text, the various elements of the plan usually include one or more maps, including land use and open space maps for each of the nine planning areas shown in Figure 1G-2 on page 9. The maps identify the land areas to which various policies apply.

Figure 1G-1

View full size Figure 1G-1

3.2 THE PLAN ELEMENTS

Land Use: In addition to the nine general goals and policies, the Land Use Element describes where the different kinds of uses for land may be established in the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County. Sections of the element express policies which are specific to each of the nine planning areas.

Housing: Future housing production needed to accommodate projected growth is evaluated, along with policies to: 1) encourage development of housing for low and moderate income households, 2) meet the special shelter needs of specific population groups, 3) maintain and improve the quality of housing, and 4) encourage production of diverse types of housing.

Open Space: This element designates various portions of the county in several open space classifications. The limitations on types and intensities of permissible uses and special development and permit review requirements are expressed in the text for each open space classification.

Agricultural Resources: Detailed guidelines and policies which apply to lands designated in the three agricultural land use categories are stated in this element. Policies address marketing of agricultural products, stabilization of agricultural use at the edge of urban areas, limitations on intrusion of residential uses, the location of agricultural services and visitor serving uses, provision of farmworker housing, and the streamlining of permit procedures for agricultural uses.

Resource Conservation: Policies are expressed for managed production and conservation of various resources, including: soils, water, forests and timber, vegetation and wildlife, fisheries and harbors, geothermal, mineral, and energy, atmospheric resources, and air quality.

Public Safety: Special limitations and procedures for review of development projects located in areas subject to natural hazards are included in this element. Safety hazards addressed include seismic and other geologic hazards, flooding, and susceptibility to wildland fires. Hazardous materials are also included in this element.

Circulation and Transit: The plans for the county's future highway and transit systems are expressed, with particular emphasis on the Highway 101 corridor and a parallel arterial system. The plan emphasizes an increased role for transit in serving commute trips and the importance of measures which will allocate existing highway capacity more efficiently during peak travel periods.

Air Transportation: This element expresses policies related to the public use airports in the county, including compatibility of land uses in adjacent areas. The plan focuses on the Sonoma County Airport and expresses policies related to the types and amounts of aviation activities to be accommodated and facilities needed to serve them.

Public Facilities and Services: The various public services which may affect the future development of land are emphasized, including water, sewer, parks, education, fire protection, and others.

Noise: This element evaluates existing and projected future noise conditions related to highways, airports, and other sources and expresses policies and standards to assure noise compatibility in future land development.

4.0 CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN PLAN PREPARATION AND FUTURE UPDATES

The County encourages a high degree of public awareness of planning and development issues and participation by interested citizens in the preparation and consideration of plan policies. Preparation of this plan was assisted by two advisory committees appointed by the Board of Supervisors: an overall General Plan Advisory Committee responsible for reviewing and making suggestions on all elements of the plan, and an Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee with responsibility focused on several elements, especially the Agricultural Resources Element, which directly affects the county's agricultural industry. Local residents and property owners have been and will be encouraged to express their views about planning issues and policies proposed for incorporation into the general plan. Members of the advisory committees are identified on pages 15 and 16.

Figure 1G-2

View full size Figure 1G-2

5.0 CONTENTS OF THE PLAN

6.0 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

COUNSEL

Stephen K. Butler, Assistant County Counsel
Counsel Support Staff: Raquel RiverA

Kenneth L. Milam, Planning Director
Kenneth M. Curtis, Chief, Division of Comprehensive Planning
Greg Carr, Chief, Division of Comprehensive Planing
Program Manager and Editor: Kenneth Curtis, Greg Carr
EIR Manager: Sheila Lee, Maria Cipriani

Introduction: Kenneth Curtis, Greg Carr
Land Use Element: Kenneth Curtis, Greg Carr, Sheila Lee, Carol Whitmire, Richard Rogers, Robert Gaiser, Rick Jones, Nick Chase, Steve Sharpe, Maria Cipriani, Cate Braschi, Ron Taddei
Housing Element: Richard Rogers, Ron Taddei
Open Space Element: Sheila Lee, Maria Cipriani
Agricultural Resources Element: Carol Whitmire
Resource Conservation Element: Sheila Lee, Maria Cipriani
Public Safety Element: Richard Gaiser
Circulation and Transit Element: Kenneth Curtis, Sheila Lee, Cate Braschi
Air Transportation Element: Kenneth Curtis, Greg Carr
Public Facilities Element: Richard Rogers
Noise Element: Robert Gaiser
Planning Department Support Staff: Richard Lehtinen, Steve Sharpe, Nick Chase, Elizabeth Eddins, Helene Steinlauf, Paula Stamp, Tod Fletcher, Ron Taddei
Graphics: Gary Mann (Coordinator), John Plunkett, Larry Watson
Word Processing: Jean Wolcot, Darlene Arriola, Irene Martin