Return to Main Document

City of Novato General Plan

Adopted March 8, 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

1. WHAT IS A GENERAL PLAN?

2. ORGANIZATION AND CONTENT OF THE PLAN

• General Plan Elements
• Goals, Objectives, Policies, and Programs
• Background Information

3. GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF THE PLAN

4. THE GENERAL PLAN PROCESS

5. ADMINISTERING THE PLAN

• Implementing the Plan
• Amending the Plan

6. VISION AND GOALS FOR NOVATO

• Vision
• Goals
  

LAND USE

1. INTRODUCTION

• Growth Management Program
• Applying Land Use Policies to Specific Properties
• Related Policies in Other Parts of the General Plan

2. BACKGROUND

• Comparison with 1981 General Plan
• Existing Conditions and Potential Development
  • Hamilton Field
  • Buck Center for Research in Aging
  • Projected Growth of Population and Jobs
  • Evolution of the Plan
  • Relationship to the Marin Countywide Plan

3. OBJECTIVES, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS

• Land Use Designations Map
• Infrastructure and Public Services
• Constraints Analysis
• Sphere of Influence
• Interjurisdictional Coordination
  

TRANSPORTATION

1. INTRODUCTION

• What is "Level of Service"?
• Coordinating Regional Transportation Planning

2. BACKGROUND

• Streets and Roads
• 1995 Levels of Service
• Coordinating Land Use and Transportation

3. OBJECTIVES, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS

• Alternatives to the Automobile
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities
• Access for the Mobility­Impaired
• Transportation Funding
• Air Transportation
  

HOUSING

1 . INTRODUCTION

• Accomplishments
• New Policies

2. GOALS, OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMS

• Conserve and improve Novato's existing housing supply
• Increase and diversify housing opportunities
• Increase housing opportunities for the disabled, households with very­low to moderate incomes and for persons with special housing needs
• Promote fair and equal housing opportunities for all persons (regardless of race, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, national origin or color)
• Implementing the Housing Element

3. HOUSING BACKGROUND

• Public Participation
• Summary of Housing Background Section
• Summary of Demographic Trends
• Population Projections
• Household Characteristics
• Age Structure
• Minority Population
• Employment Projections
• Age and Condition of Housing Stock
• Annual Construction of Housing Units by Type 1981 to 1994
• Various Housing Characteristics
• Mobile Homes
• Special Housing Needs
• Affordable Housing
• Distribution of Household Income
• Household Income 111­38
• Ability to Pay Housing Costs 111­40
• ABAG Regional Housing Need Allocations 111­41
• Residential Inventory 111­42
• Constraints to Housing Development 111­45
• Community Sentiment 111­49
• Opportunities for Energy Conservation 111­50
• Evaluation of the Previous Housing Element 111­50
• Consistency with the General Plan 111­52
  

ENVIRONMENT

1. INTRODUCTION

2. BACKGROUND

• Streams and Other Bodies of Water
• Wildlife, Vegetation, and Habitats
• Wetlands
• Ridgelines and Other Scenic Resources
• Energy Conservation
• Archaeological Resources
• Historic Resources
• Air Quality
• Water Quality
• Solid Waste
• Mineral and Geological Resources
• Open Space and Parks

3. OBJECTIVES, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS

• Watercourses, Wetlands, and Bayfront Areas
• Wildlife and Native Plant Protection
• Agriculture
• Woodlands
• Scenic Resources
• Energy Conservation
• Air Quality
• Water Resources
• Solid Waste Reduction
• Mineral Resources
• Open Space
• Parks and Trails
  

SAFETY & NOISE

1. INTRODUCTION

2. OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND PROGRAMS & BACKGROUND INFORMATION

• Seismic Hazards
• Non­Seismic Geologic Hazards
• Flood Hazards
• Emergency Preparedness
• Fire Protection
• Police Service
• Emergency Medical Care
• Hazardous Materials
• Electromagnetic Fields
• Aviation Hazards
• Noise
  • Noise Characteristics
  • Human Response to Noise
  • Noise and Land Use Compatibility Standards
  • Existing Noise Environment
  • Future Noise Levels

  
  

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND FISCAL VITALITY

INTRODUCTION

• Economic Development
  • Existing Conditions
    • Office, Retail, and Industrial Activity
    • Employment: Novato Workers and Novato Residents
    • Downtown
    • Visitor and Tourism Activity
  • Issues and Concerns Facing the City
    • Land
    • Social Capital
    • Industries and Infrastructure in Transition
    • City's Influence on a Sustainable Economy
• Objectives, Policies, and Programs for Economic Development
  • Fiscal Vitality
    • Existing Conditions
      • Fiscal Conditions of City (Current)
      • Trend/Projected Fiscal Condition of City
    • Issues and Concerns Facing the City
      • Increasing Demands for City Services/Decrease in City's Revenue
      • Fiscal Impacts of Development
      • Estimated Costs of General Plan Implementation
      • ExIstIng/New Sources of Revenue
      • Administrative Reform &Accountability
      • Regional Planning
      • Public/Private Partnerships/Privatization
• Objectives, Policies, and Programs for Fiscal Vitality
  

HUMAN SERVICES

1. INTRODUCTION

2. BACKGROUND

• Care of Senior Citizens
• Child Care
• Care of Disabled People
• Youth Services
• Social Service Programs
• Medical Services
• Other County Programs

3. OBJECTIVES, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS

PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES

1 INTRODUCTION

2. BACKGROUND

• Water
• Wastewater Treatment and Disposal
• Flood Control and Storm Drainage
• Schools
• Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services
• Other Public Facilities
  

COMMUNITY IDENTITY

1 INTRODUCTION

2. BACKGROUND

3. OBJECTIVES, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS

• Open Areas and Landscaping
• Pedestrian Circulation
• Downtown
• Historic Resources and Public Art
• Conservation of Architectural and Historic Resources
• Public Art
  

Appendix A: Novato Neighborhoods

Appendix B: Reference Materials

Novato General Plan Glossary

Bibliography