San Joaquin County General Plan Update Newsletter #2 l August 2009
Issues and Opportunities Report
San Joaquin County Citizens: In June 2008 the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors approved a three-year program to update the County General Plan. The General Plan was last comprehensively revised in 1992 and the County is now in the process of updating the Plan to reflect changing conditions in the County. In this newsletter you will find information on currently available documents, upcoming meetings, and ways to get involved in the General Plan Update process.
The County published the Issues and Opportunities Report on July 28, 2009. The report is a summary of the key issues and opportunities that have major policy implications for San Joaquin County. A summary of the critical issues and main opportunities is located on pages 4 through 7 of this newsletter. The document is available online at: www.sjcgpu.com.
Keep Up To Date During the General Plan Update process the County will maintain a mailing list of individuals who want to be kept informed on the latest program events. If you would like to be added to this list, please sign up online at www.sjcgpu.com or contact: Ray Hoo, Senior Planner San Joaquin County Community Development Department 1810 East Hazelton Avenue Stockton, CA 95205 Ph. 209.468.3164 rhoo@sjgov.org Page 1
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY Purpose of the Issues and Opportunities Report: The purpose of the report is to focus community attention on key physical, environmental, economic, cultural, social, and planningrelated issues and opportunities that have major policy implications for San Joaquin County. The report identifies Countywide
AGRICULTURE
COMMUNITIES
issues and opportunities, organized by major themes that generally correspond to the outline of the Draft Background Report. The report also contains a Community Overviews section that provides a profile of defined rural communities, urban communities, and
AIRPORT
WILDLIFE
city community areas (i.e., unincorporated “fringe” areas adjacent to city limits).
PORT YS RURAL ROADWA
OPEN SPACES
How Issues and Opportunities were Identified: Stakeholder Interviews
Draft Background Report (NOW AVAILABLE!)
In August and September 2008 San Joaquin County conducted a series of stakeholder interviews as part of the General Plan Up-
The Background Report provides a “snapshot” in time of the
date. A diverse group of stakeholders participated in the interviews, representing a variety of agencies, groups, and interests,
County’s existing conditions. It provides data and information on a wide range of topics including demographics and economics, communities, land use, climate change, agriculture, housing, transportation, public utilities and services, natural resources,
including: the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, County departments, San Joaquin COG, cities, Delta Protection
the Delta, recreational and cultural resources, safety, and noise. The Draft Background Report identifies a list of key findings concerning the various topical areas.
Commission, Farm Bureau, Sierra Club, Building Industry Association, San Joaquin Partnership, Agricultural Commission, and many others. The interviews were held to explore the perceptions of problems, issues, goals, and opportunities related to challenges facing the County.
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
Community Workshop #1
County departments. The TAC provides input and review of draft Update documents. On May 22, 2009, the TAC held a
In October and November 2008 San Joaquin County held 14
meeting to discuss and provide input on issues and opportunities for inclusion in the Issues and Opportunities Report.
The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) includes staff from
community workshops to help kick off the General Plan Update. Diverse groups of County residents attended workshops from Manteca, Ripon, Escalon, French Camp, Lammersville, Tracy, Lodi, Stockton, the Delta, Mountain House, Morada, Lockeford, Clements, Woodbridge, Thornton, Linden, and Lathrop. The
The Focus Groups provide technical and policy input to County staff and the Consultants. Each of the five Focus Groups consists
workshops provided an opportunity for the public to offer their thoughts on what they like and what the problems are within their communities and the County, and what should be addressed in preparing the General Plan.
Focus Groups
of 12-20 members, formed around the following topics: Agriculture; Natural Resources and the Delta; Land Use, Housing, and Economic Development; Transportation and Circulation; and Services, Utilities, and Safety. On May 28 and June 3, 2009, the Focus Groups met to discuss the issues and opportunities that the General Plan Update should address and should be included in the Issues and Opportunities Report. The meetings were open to the public and several community members provided comments.
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GENERAL PLAN UPDATE Steps in Updating the General Plan
What is an issue? An “issue” is defined as an important unsettled matter or problem that needs to be addressed through the General
Project Initiation Coordinate with County staff and conduct the first round of community workshops.
1
Background Report Collect information on current conditions and trends and prepare the Background Report.
2
Housing Element Prepare a comprehensive update of the 2004 Housing Element.
3
Issues & Opportunities Work with focus groups, Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, and the public to identify key issues and opportunities.
4
Plan Update process.
What is an opportunity? An “opportunity” is defined as a unique, favorable, or advantageous condition within the County that the County can preserve or capitalize on through the General Plan Update process.
General Plan Update Website The General Plan website provides a one-stop location to get the latest information on the General Plan program. The website will provide up-to-date information on upcoming events and allow anyone to download copies of meeting minutes/agendas and documents/reports prepared for the General Plan Update.
www.sjcgpu.com Page 3
Alternatives Report Develop a range of alternatives based on issues and opportunities identified in Phase 4 and develop a vision statement.
5
Goals and Policies Report Draft a set of goals, policies, and implementation programs that achieve the County’s desired vision.
6
Environmental Impact Report Assess the environmental implications of the proposed Draft General Plan.
7
Public Review Review and comment on the proposed General Plan at hearings with the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.
8
Final Documents and Adoption Prepare the final General Plan and EIR following public review and hearings.
9
Development Title Revise the Development Title to carry out the overall land use policy direction of the updated General Plan.
10
ISSUES
Want more information on the issues below? See the Issues and Opportunities Report, available at www.sjcgpu.com. Shifting Land Use Patterns. Historic inefficient development
Demographics and Economic Development
patterns in the Central Valley and San Joaquin County cities have resulted in lower densities and rapid conversion of agricultural lands.
Future Population Growth. San Joaquin County’s population is expected to exceed one million by 2030. Where and how these people live and work is a central General Plan issue.
Climate Change
Aging Population. The County’s elderly population (i.e., age 60
Reducing GHG Emissions. Future planning and environmental
and over) is expected to double in the coming decades.
review processes must address the issue of climate change consistent with State mandates to reduce greenhouse gas emis-
Education and Training. San Joaquin County’s educational
sions.
attainment is low compared to the rest of the state, resulting in higher unemployment rates and lower wages for residents.
Adapting to Climate Change. Climate change impacts are expected to include shifts in the availability of resources and in-
Student/Employee Retention. Retention of highly trained and
creased risks from natural disasters.
skilled employees and students graduating from the County’s higher education institutions is low within the County.
Agriculture
The County is limited in its ability to directly influence education and training and student/employee retention. However, the County can allow for the development of facilities that address these issues.
Farmland Conversion. Agricultural farmland continues to be converted to urbanization primarily as a result of annexation and development of cities.
Low Wage Jobs. Wages within the County and its cities are low compared to state averages, putting a strain on families and
Agricultural-Urban Conflicts. As the
limiting the retention of highly skilled workers and attraction of new high wage industries.
population continues to increase in urban and rural areas of the County, agricultural-urban
Unemployment. Unemployment is extremely high in San Joa-
conflicts are likely to increase.
quin County and its cities and continues to worsen during the current economic downturn.
Transportation
Land Use and Development
Public Transit Service. Service and coordination continues to
Growth and Development. How and where growth occurs
be a challenge to provide public transit service to unincorpo-
within San Joaquin County over the next 20 years is a major is-
rated communities.
sue that the General Plan will address. Passenger Rail Service. Passenger rail service is limited and Cities Expansions. Expansion of cities has continued to urban-
unable to meet existing and expected demands.
ize more of the County’s agricultural areas and encroach on unincorporated communities.
Bikeways. Bikeway connections among unincorporated areas
Agricultural Parcelization. Accord-
and cities lack continuity, resulting in a fragmented inconvenient system.
ing to local farmers, demand for rural residential homesites can lead to the
Transportation Funding. Lack of funding has made it increas-
conversion of agricultural lands, resulting in a diminished flexibility and profitability of farming.
ingly difficult for the County to construct transportation improvements necessary to meet mobility needs and provide transit options.
Airport Compatibility. Of the County’s six public airports, the Stockton Metropolitan Airport faces the greatest risk for conflicts between growth of the airport and urbanization of surrounding land. Page 4
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE Traffic Congestion. Rural roads have
Energy. Energy costs and renewable energy requirements are
become congested and are expected to continue to worsen as the County and its cities grow.
expected to rise requiring more energy conservation and new sources of renewable energy.
The Delta
Rural Road Conflicts. San Joaquin County’s rural roads are ex-
Water Supply. The reliability of the Delta as a water supply
periencing greater conflicts between the transport of farming equipment and commuter-oriented automobile traffic.
source is increasingly threatened by drought, declining ecosystem conditions, and Delta levee stability.
Roadway Conditions. Roadway conditions are poor on many Flooding/Island Loss. Within the
local County roads.
Delta few of the levees were constructed to meet modern engineering standards.
Public Services and Utilities Over-extended Services. San Joaquin County faces the challenges in meeting increased service demands with less money.
Development Pressures. Development within the Secondary
Infrastructure Age, Capacity, and Funding. The County and
Zone of the Delta has increased over the past decade, placing pressure on existing delta agriculture and ecosystems.
Special Districts face challenges in maintaining, improving, and funding infrastructure to meet service demands.
Recreation and Cultural Resources
Fire Protection Districts. Expansion of cities may limit the abil-
Parks and Recreation. Unincorporated communities lack ac-
ity of some fire districts to continue operating in the future.
cess to local parks and recreation facilities and programs.
Flood Control Infrastructure. Flood control infrastructure im-
Waterway Access/Facilities. Public access to the waterways is
provements are needed to protect residents from heightened flood risk.
limited and public facilities serving waterway users are inadequate to meet demand.
Law Enforcement Response. Law
Cultural Resource Protection. Many undiscovered archaeo-
enforcement response time is a concern of County residents.
logical sites are at risk of loss from development, agriculture, and river erosion.
Schools and Education. Educational
Safety
performance and the location and provision of educational facilities within San Joaquin County are in need of improvement.
Air Quality. Air quality in the County is among the poorest in the state, annually exceeding Federal and State standards.
Natural Resources Water Supply. Water supplies for urban, agricultural, and envi-
Flooding. Flooding is the most likely natu-
ronmental uses will continue to decrease as demand increases.
ral hazard to occur in the County.
Groundwater Overdraft and Saltwater Intrusion. Groundwa-
Evacuation Routes. Unincorporated communities and rural
ter overdraft has reduced the storage capacity of groundwater basins, limited the future availability of groundwater supplies,
areas in San Joaquin County are at risk during major emergencies due to lack of coordinated evacuation planning.
and is causing eastward intrusion of saltwater. Crime. Significant increases in locally reported crimes and local Habitat Encroachment/Loss. A serious threat to native plants,
crime rates have occurred compared to statewide trends.
animals, and their habitats is conversion of habitat to urban development or agricultural uses.
Airport Hazards. Updates to Airport Land Use Plans will require consideration and incorporation within the General Plan.
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OPPORTUNITIES
Want more information on the opportunities below? See the Issues and Opportunities Report, available at www.sjcgpu.com. Employment Generating Development. There are many op-
Demographics and Economic Development
portunities to plan for unincorporated employment centers that can provide jobs for residents and revenues for the County.
Key Economic Generators. San Joaquin County has several key economic engines (i.e., Port of Stockton, Stockton Metropolitan
Climate Change
Airport, agriculture, and commercial/manufacturing opportunities) that have access to one of the most interconnected trans-
Planning and Monitoring. The County can address the issue of
portation hubs in California.
Plan.
Enterprise Zone. The Stockton/San Joaquin Enterprise Zone
Carbon Sequestration. San Joaquin County’s agricultural lands
offers businesses and industries considerable advantages of a
are the County’s biggest resource to remove GHG emissions
California State Enterprise Zone, which in turn can stimulate business investment and entrepreneurship, create jobs, and sustain economic expansion.
from the atmosphere.
climate change and reduce GHG emissions with a Climate Action
Agriculture
Tourism. Natural and agricultural resources offer a major op-
Farmland Preservation. Farmland pres-
portunity to expand new areas of the economy while supplementing existing industries and marketing the County’s unique
ervation opportunities exist through a variety of tools, including: farmland and
resources and products.
habitat conservation easements, Williamson Act contracts, and agricultural mitigation.
Clean-Green Industries. As demand for clean, renewable energy continues to grow, the County can tap into this de-
Agricultural Economy. Keeping the agricultural industry healthy and robust will maintain San Joaquin County’s diverse farming industry, encourage economic and job growth, and pro-
mand and be an economic center for green industries and
vide effective and efficient infrastructure-serving agriculture.
“green-collar” jobs. Sustainable Agriculture. Agricultural operations can expand
Land Use and Development
their stewardship of the land through sustainable agricultural
Open Space Separators. A carefully applied
practices and make possible the benefits of farming to future generations.
strategy can ensure that the County has a consistent approach to maintaining open space separation between its
Organic Farming. Organic farming offers a small but poten-
urban areas.
tially very profitable “niche” segment of San Joaquin County agriculture.
Intergovernmental Coordination. The San Joaquin County
Locally Grown Produce. The County is surrounded by large
General Plan Update offers a unique opportunity to establish partnerships with surrounding jurisdictions and agencies.
urban populations that can support markets for agricultural products that are grown, purchased, and consumed locally.
Available Capacity. The County has land planned under the
Agricultural Education. Urban populations within the County
current 2010 General Plan to accommodate population growth
can learn the benefits through an understanding and support of local agriculture.
for the next 20 years, however limited services and other constraints limit the ability of this capacity to be realized.
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SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE Mineral Resources/Mining. Protection of mineral rich areas
Transportation
will ensure this resource is available for future extraction.
Public Transit Investments. The Alternative Energy. Alternative energy sources and technol-
County has opportunities to expand and link local and regional transit with
ogy have the potential to improve air quality and reduce energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
inter-state and inter-regional transportation systems.
The Delta
Transportation Demand Management. Transportation de-
Delta Protection . The County is working towards manage-
mand management is a major opportunity to reduce vehicle miles traveled, traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions,
ment plans that may offer guidance and policy directives for making decisions within the Primary and Secondary Zones in
and air pollution.
the Delta. High Speed Rail. High Speed Rail presents long-term transportation connections and economic growth opportunities.
Recreation and Cultural Resources
ACE Train Extensions. Extension of the ACE train line will ex-
The Delta. The Delta is the County’s
pand connections to the Bay Area and areas south of San Joaquin County.
single most important recreational asset.
Goods Movement Efficiency Improvements. Expanded and
Rails to Trails. Abandoned rail lines
enhanced goods movement facilities and infrastructure offer potential solutions to addressing needs for better trade connec-
offer an opportunity to link recreational activities and communities.
tions.
Joint Use School Facilities. School playgrounds can provide an important local recreation resource, particularly in smaller communities and neighborhoods in the County.
Public Services and Utilities Communications Infrastructure. Improvements in high capacity information communica-
Safety
tions infrastructure can benefit residents and stimulate economic growth.
Emergency Preparedness. Preparing area response plans that incorporate inventory data, training for emergency responses, and evacuation plans is crucial for ensuring the safety of County
Low Impact Development. Low impact development offers a new, innovative way to improve water quality, recharge groundwater basins, and provide cost-effective drainage systems.
residents and businesses. New Flood Maps. New Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for the County will ensure
Natural Resources Water Conservation/Re-use.
that existing and future residents are aware of their flood risk exposure and are prepared
Increased demand for water and
for possible flooding.
the costs associated with providing additional supplies have led to
Minimal Impact Development. Land use policies play a critical role in avoiding incompatible land uses and reducing localized
strong support for additional water conservation and re-use.
air pollution exposure that can result in adverse health impacts. Groundwater Recharge Areas. Efforts to recharge groundwaHealthy Communities. Access to grocery stores, parks, and
ter basins have been effective in restoring groundwater levels.
recreational programs can influence an individual's choice to eat Habitat Protection. Natural habitat protection can provide
better, exercise more, and live healthier.
places for plants and wildlife to live and recreation amenities for residents and visitors.
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SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE
COMMUNITY WORKSHOP #2 VISION 2030
There are many other questions that are
Your input is needed! Where should development occur?
relevant and need to be considered in this
How should your community grow or be preserved?
decision-making process. We urge everyone
What sectors of our economy should we grow?
to participate and help develop a vision and
What are our infrastructure needs and standards?
guiding principles that will shape the future
How can transportation and movement throughout the County be improved?
of our County. The Board of Supervisors, the
How can the County promote healthy communities and residents?
Planning Commission, and the Community
What is the County's role in the long-term success of the agricultural industry?
Development Department want you to be
How do we protect and manage our water and open space resources?
involved so the General Plan reflects the
Can we make a constructive difference to address climate change?
collective wisdom of our communities and residents.
Public Meeting Dates All Meetings Begin at 7:00 p.m. DATE
LOCATION
DATE
LOCATION
Monday 8/10/09
Ripon Community Center 334 W. Fourth St., Ripon, CA 95366
Thursday 8/27/09
Lathrop City Hall, Council Chambers 390 Towne Centre Dr., Lathrop, CA 95330
Wednesday 8/12/09
Woodward Elementary School, Multi-Purpose Room 575 Tannehill Dr., Manteca, CA 95337
Monday 8/31/09
Elks Lodge 19071 N. Lower Sac. Rd., Woodbridge, CA 95258
Thursday 8/13/09
Escalon Library 1540 Second St., Escalon, CA 95320
Tuesday 9/01/09
Davis Elementary School,Multi-Purpose Room 5224 E. Morada Lane, Morada, CA 95212
Monday 8/17/09
Lockeford Elementary School, Multi-Purpose Room 19456 N. Tully Rd., Lockeford, CA 95237
Wednesday 9/09/09
Houston Elementary School, Auditorium 4600 E. Acampo Rd., Acampo, CA 95220
Tuesday 8/18/09
New Hope Elementary School, Multi-Purpose Room 26675 N. Sacramento Rd., Thornton, CA 95686
Thursday 9/10/09
First Baptist Church 17580 E. State Route 26, Linden, CA 95236
Monday 8/24/09
Lodi Grape Festival, Jackson Hall 413 E. Lockeford St., Lodi, CA 95240
Monday 9/21/09
Larch-Clover Community Center 11157 W. Larch Rd., Tracy, CA 95304
Wednesday 8/26/09
Public Health Department, Multi-Purpose Room 1601 E. Hazelton Ave., Stockton, CA 95205
Wednesday 9/23/09
Robert J. Cabral Agricultural Center 2101 E. Earhart Ave., Stockton, CA 95206
The County will be holding 14 Community Workshops throughout the County during the months of August and September. For more information, check out the General Plan Update Website (www.sjcgpu.com) or contact Ray Hoo, Senior Planner, at 209.468.3164 or rhoo@sjgov.org.
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