General Plan Basics
What is a General Plan?
Every city, town, and county in California must have a general plan, which is the local government’s long-term framework or “constitution” for future growth and development. The general plan represents the community’s view of its future and expresses the community development goals. The general plan contains the goals and polices upon which the City Council and Planning Commission will base their land use decisions. Typically, a general plan is designed to address the issues facing the city for the next 20 years.
The general plan is made up of a collection of “elements,” or topic categories. The State currently lists eight elements as mandatory: land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, noise, safety, and environmental justice. San Joaquin Valley cities and counties must also prepare an air quality element. Communities may include other elements that address issues of local concern, such as economic development, community character, or urban design. Communities can also organize their general plan anyway they choose, as long as the required topic categories are addressed.
Three defining features of a General Plan
General
A general plan provides general policy guidance that will be relied on to guide future land use and resource decisions.
Comprehensive
A general plan is comprehensive in nature, covering a range of topics, such as land use, housing, economic development, infrastructure, public safety, recreation, natural resources, and much more.
Long-Range
A general plan provides guidance on reaching a future envisioned 20 or more years in the future. To achieve the vision, a comprehensive plan includes goals, policies, and actions that address both immediate and long-term needs.
General Plan vs. Zoning
A general plan is not to be confused with zoning. Although both the general plan and the zoning ordinance designate how land may be developed, they do so in different ways The General Plan sets forth long-term policies that guide future development. It identifies the types of development that will be allowed, the spatial relationships among land uses, and the general pattern of future development.
Zoning implements General Plan policies through detailed development regulations, such as specific land use types and development standards including but not limited to lot size, setbacks, height, and lot coverage. The land uses shown on the general plan land use map will typically be reflected in the local zoning maps as well and changes to the zoning map are required to be consistent with the adopted general plan map. Development must not only meet the specific requirements of the zoning ordinance but also the broader policies set forth in the general plan.