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Type of Infrastructure
What is serving the
community now?
What is the need for
additional infrastructure?
How can finance mecha-
nisms meet the need?
Which other programs
and policies could ad-
dress the infrastructure
deficiency?
input?
Required (
§65302.10
)
Water
Wastewater
Stormwater
Drainage
Structural Fire
Protection
Potential Additional
Services
Police Protection
Sidewalks
Lighting
Libraries, Schools,
Community Cen-
ters, etc.
Alleys and other
unsafe roadways
Public transit/
transportation
Preschools and
childcare providers
The analysis must also review the use of benefit assessment districts or other financing alternatives that could make the
extension of services to identified communities financially feasible. Each time the
housing element
is updated, the analysis for
these
communities must be reviewed, and if necessary, updated.
For more information, please see OPR’s
SB 244 Technical Advisory
.
Cities and counties should use this chart to ask these questions while undergoing disadvantaged communities analysis:
The land use element should be updated to include disadvantaged unincorporated communities analysis (
Gov. Code §
65302.10
). Since all elements of a general plan must be internally consistent, the safety element, the
circulation
element, and
other elements as necessary should be reviewed to ensure consistency (
Gov. Code § 65300.5
).
The disadvantaged unincorporated analysis should consider where there may be opportunities to provide more efficient, high
quality service through consolidation,
extension of services, and other regional solutions to address inadequacy of services
and infrastructure. In addition, the analysis should consider whether the reorganization will unify or divide any other public
agencies such as school districts, transit districts, and flood management agencies.
Correlation with Circulation Element
Senate Bill 375
, the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 (Steinberg), hereinafter referred to as SB 375,
supports the state’s climate action goals to reduce GHG emissions through coordinated transportation and land use planning
and to create sustainable communities. This concept
is discussed further in the
circulation
element section.
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The Land Use Element and Regional Sustainable Communities Strategies
California’s land is an exhaustible resource, not just a commodity, and is essential to the economy, environment
and general well-being of the people of California. It is the policy of the state … to protect California’s land
resource, to insure its preservation and use in ways which are economically and socially desirable in an attempt to
improve the quality of life in California. (
Gov. Code § 65030
)
.
Most land use approvals occur at the local government level. Nevertheless, local land use elements
must reflect their statewide
and regional contexts. For example,
Government Code section 65030.1
states:
[D]ecisions involving the future growth of the state, most of which are made and will continue to be made at the local
level, should be guided by an effective planning process, including the local general plan, and should proceed within the
framework of officially approved statewide goals and policies directed to land use, population
growth and distribution,
development, open space, resource preservation and utilization, air and water quality, and other related physical, social
and economic development factors.”
When adopting a general plan, local governments must consult with other entities that may be affected by the plan, such as
neighboring cities,
counties and special districts, school districts, local agency formation commissions, area-wide planning
agencies, federal agencies, the military, water providers, and California Native American tribes (
Gov. Code § 65352
).
Several regional activities may directly bear on local land use planning. One significant example is the sustainable communities
strategy contained within regional transportation plans. While the Government Code states that
a sustainable communities
strategy does not regulate the use of land (
Gov. Code § 65080(b)(2)(K)
), local governments should consider and, if appropriate,
incorporate applicable policies into local land use elements for several reasons.
First, sustainable communities strategies should already reflect the basic outlines of local plans. Second, some transportation
funding is tied to consistency with the regional transportation plan. Third, consistency with the sustainable communities
strategy may help streamline benefits under the
California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 (CEQA)
. Fourth, CEQA analysis
for the general plan requires analysis of any inconsistency with the regional transportation plan.
A sustainable communities strategy might be relevant to a local land use element in several ways. A sustainable communities
strategy should identify locations within the region where land use and transportation investments can be maximized.
Therefore, a local government planning agency should consider whether the land use element
places development in
transportation-efficient locations as identified in the sustainable communities strategy. Other relevant policies include density
and intensity maximums and minimums, as well as policies related to active transportation and protection of public health.
Incorporating such policies into a local land use element and diagram may assist the local government in avoiding conflicts
with neighboring jurisdictions and perhaps more importantly, in maximizing the benefits of transportation funding and
regulatory streamlining.