General Plan Elements

In California, the General Plan consists of seven required elements, as well as any optional elements that the jurisdiction may choose to adopt. The required seven elements are: land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, noise, and safety. The current Sonoma County General Plan is organized into the following 10 elements: land use, housing, open space, agricultural resources, resource conservation, public safety, circulation and transit, air transportation, public facilities and services, and noise. The following is a brief description of the Sonoma County General plan elements:

Land Use: Following statement of nine general goals and related policies, the Land Use Element describes where the different kinds of uses for land may be established in the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County. The element concludes with policies which are specific to each of the nine planning areas.

Housing: Future housing production needed to accommodate projected growth is evaluated, and supported by 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 as scenic resources, biotic resources, and recreation resources. 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 for 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, timber, vegetation,wildlife, fisheries, harbors, geothermal, mineral, energy, and air.

Public Safety: Special limitations and procedures for review of development projects located in areas subject to natural hazards are included in this element. The 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: Future plans for the county's 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 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, waste management, and public utilities.

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 with future land use development.