CHAPTER I: THE NATURE, CONTENT, AND FORMAT OF THE GENERAL PLAN


INTRODUCTION	5

NATURE OF THE GENERAL PLAN	5

The Role of the General Plan	5
The Adoption of a General Plan is a Legislative Act	6
The General Plan is Comprehensive	6
The General Plan is Internally Consistent	10
The General Plan is a Long-Term Document	13
The General Plan is a Statement of Development Policies	14
Community Plans, Area Plans, and Specific Plans	20

CONTENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN	21

Plan Elements and Issues Addressed	21
Adoption of Another Jurisdiction's General Plan and Joint Adoption	22

GENERAL PLAN FORMAT	23

Format Considerations	24
Style Suggestions	30
Physical Aspects of the General Plan Document	30

AVAILABILITY	31


CHAPTER II: PREPARING AND AMENDING THE GENERAL PLAN


INTRODUCTION	35

INTERIM PLANNING AND REGULATORY MEASURES	35

THE EIGHT-STEP PLANNING PROCESS	36

Identifying Issues, Opportunities and Assumptions	38
Formulating Goals	40
Collecting and Analyzing Data	42
Revising Goals and Determining Objectives	52
Developing and Evaluating Alternative Plans, Including Alternative Policies and Implementation Measures	53
Selecting and Adopting the Preferred Plan	54
Implementing the General Plan	55
Monitoring Implementation and Amending the General Plan	56

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION	58

INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION	60

Cities and Counties	60
Local Agencies	62
Indian Trust Lands	64
Regional Agencies	64
State Agencies	66
Federal Agencies	68

ADOPTION DEADLINES	68

SUBMITTING PLANS TO STATE AGENCIES	69


CHAPTER III: THE REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF THE GENERAL PLAN


INTRODUCTION	73

RELATIONSHIPS AMONG ELEMENTS AND ISSUES	73

LAND USE ELEMENT	74

Pertinent California Code Sections	74
Background	75
Court and Attorney General Interpretations	75
Relevant Issues	77
Ideas for Data and Analysis	78
Ideas for Development Policies	80

CIRCULATION ELEMENT	82

Pertinent Government Code Sections	82
Background	82
Court Interpretations	83
Relevant Issues	85
Ideas for Data and Analysis	85
Ideas for Development Policies	91

HOUSING ELEMENT	93

Pertinent Government Code Sections	93
Background	97
Court Interpretations	97
Relevant Issues	98
Reviewing and Revising the Housing Element	99
Ideas for Data and Analysis	101
Ideas for Development Policies	106
Implementation and Funding Programs	110

CONSERVATION ELEMENT	116

Pertinent California Code Sections	116
Background	117
Court Interpretations	118
Relevant Issues	118
Ideas for Data and Analysis	119
Ideas for Development Policies	124

OPEN-SPACE ELEMENT	126

Pertinent California Code Sections	126
Background	128
Court Interpretations	128
Relevant Issues	129
Ideas for Data and Analysis	130
Ideas for Development Policies	133
Ideas for Open-Space Action Programs	134

NOISE ELEMENT	135

Pertinent Government Code Sections	135
Background	136
Court Interpretations	137
Relevant Issues	137
Ideas for Data and Analysis	138
Ideas for Development Policies	138

SAFETY ELEMENT	139

Pertinent California Code Sections	139
Background	143
Court Interpretations	144
Relevant Issues	144
Ideas for Data and Analysis	145
Ideas for Development Policies	147


CHAPTER IV: THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT AND THE GENERAL PLAN


INTRODUCTION	153

THE GENERAL PLAN EIR	153

REVIEW OF THE EIR	156

COMBINING GENERAL PLAN AND EIR DOCUMENTS	157

PROJECT CONSISTENCY WITH THE GENERAL PLAN	158

SUBSEQUENT PROJECTS AND THE TIERED EIR	158

MITIGATION MONITORING	159

MASTER ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS (INVENTORIES)	160


CHAPTER V: IMPLEMENTING THE GENERAL PLAN


INTRODUCTION	163

ZONING	163

Flexibility in Zoning	164
Zoning-Related Statutes	166
Zoning Consistency	168

SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS	168

Rental Conversions	171

SPECIFIC PLANS	171

DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS	173

CAPITAL FACILITIES	175

BUILDING AND HOUSING CODES	176

REDEVELOPMENT	178

GROWTH MANAGEMENT	180

JOBS/HOUSING BALANCE	183

ACQUISITION	184

PREFERENTIAL ASSESSMENTS	187

Williamson Act	187
Timberland Productivity Act	188
Conservation, Open-Space and Scenic Easements	189

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM MANAGEMENT	190

JOINT DEVELOPMENT	192

FINANCING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GENERAL PLAN	194

Local Financing	194
State Funding	200
Federal Funding	202
TRANSPORTATION FINANCING ALTERNATIVES	202

CONSISTENCY IN IMPLEMENTATION	207

Zoning Consistency	212
Subdivision Consistency	217
Capital Facilities Consistency	217

ENFORCEMENT	219

CHAPTER VI: SPECIAL GENERAL PLAN CONSIDERATIONS


INTRODUCTION	223

CALIFORNIA COASTAL ACT	223

Relation to the General Plan	226
Special Requirements for Housing Within the Coastal Zone	227

SURFACE MINING AND RECLAMATION ACT	229

Classification-Designation	230
Relation to the General Plan	232

CALIFORNIA INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1989	235

Integrated Waste Management Plans	235

COUNTY HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT PLANS	241

ALQUIST-PRIOLO SPECIAL STUDIES ZONES ACT AND OTHER RELEVANT HAZARDS ACTS	242
Alquist-Priolo Act	242
Cobey-Alquist Flood Plain Management Act	244
California Emergency Services Act	245
Landslide Hazard Identification Program	245
Seismic Hazards Mapping Act	245

AIRPORT LAND USE COMMISSION LAW	245

Relation to the General Plan	248

CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PLANS	249

Relation to the General Plan	250

APPENDIX A:
GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION AND CONTENT OF THE NOISE ELEMENT
OF THE GENERAL PLAN
253

APPENDIX A-1:

CALIFORNIA NOISE INSULATION STANDARDS
270

APPENDIX B:

GEOTHERMAL ELEMENT GUIDELINES
277

APPENDIX C:

GENERAL PLAN CASES AND OPINIONS OF THE

ATTORNEY GENERAL
287

Table of Cases
288

APPENDIX D:

KEY TO STATE PLANNING STATUTES
323

BIBLIOGRAPHY
331

INDEX
343

PREFACE	iii	ACKNOWLEDGMENTS	x
FOREWORD	xi	INTRODUCTION	xiii
THE STATE'S INTEREST IN LOCAL PLANNING	xiii	THE LEGAL BASIS OF LOCAL PLANNING	xv
ORGANIZATION FOR LOCAL PLANNING	xv	SUMMARY	xvi

1990 GENERAL PLAN GUIDELINES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPENDIX A: GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION AND CONTENT OF THE NOISE ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN	253
APPENDIX A-1: CALIFORNIA NOISE INSULATION STANDARDS	270
APPENDIX B: GEOTHERMAL ELEMENT GUIDELINES	277
APPENDIX C: GENERAL PLAN CASES AND OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL	287
Table of Cases	288
APPENDIX D: KEY TO STATE PLANNING STATUTES	323
BIBLIOGRAPHY	331
INDEX	343