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◊ Overview ◊ FAQ
The future of Sacramento begins with a document called the General Plan. It is one of the most important and influential City documents, as it provides guidance for future City growth and operations. Every service the City provides its citizens, from police and fire protection to park maintenance, can trace its roots back to goals and policies found in the General Plan. Also, all land use decisions are governed by the General Plan, and must be consistent with the General Plan's direction. The General Plan is divided into chapters called 'elements'. Each element covers a different topic related to the City's future and provides goals and policies to direct the City's growth and operations. Sacramento's 2030 General Plan will include the following elements: Land Use and Community Design Housing Historic Preservation Economic Development Mobility (Transportation) Utilities Education, Recreation, and Culture Public Health and Safety Environmental Resources Environmental Constraints Implementation Besides goals and policies, the General Plan includes a land use map showing where residential, commercial, and industrial development should be located and where open space should be protected or new park space created. State Law requires that cities and counties keep their General Plans up-to-date. Sacramento's last General Plan dates back to 1988 and needs to be replaced by a new version to address current conditions in the City. The 2030 General Plan is more than a document. It is a plan created by the people. The guidelines contained within the Sacramento General Plan come from the people who live here. It is they who helped craft it and set the direction for our future. For more information on the vision behind the 2030 General Plan, see the Vision and Guiding Principles (pdf, 3.97 MB).
What is a General Plan? A: The General Plan is the City's policy guide for the next 20 to 25 years. It sets policy guidelines for everything from the physical boundaries of the city to its economic growth and physical development. Think of it as a guide for future development and preservation of resources. Why is an update needed? A: The last comprehensive update to the City's General Plan was completed in 1988. Think of all the things that have changed since then! The existing 1988 General Plan has outdated information about our population, as well as incorrect assumptions and projections about growth in the area. It's time to update the plan so that government policies will adequately meet the future needs of this community. Also, the State requires that city and county governments maintain up-to-date General Plans. What does the General Plan cover? A: The General Plan covers topics related to land use and City services. For a list of General Plan elements (chapters addressing different topic areas) click here. Once adopted, the General Plan becomes the principal tool for the City to use when evaluating building projects and municipal service improvements. It includes goals, policies, and implementation measures (programs and actions) with which building projects and municipal service improvements must comply. General Plan goals, policies, and implementation measures are based on an assessment of current and future needs and available resources. What is the General Plan's guiding vision? A: The guiding vision of the General Plan is that Sacramento will be the most livable city in America. As California's capital, Sacramento will continue to play its traditional role in the region as the primary center of government, employment, and culture. Downtown Sacramento will be vibrant with arts, culture, entertainment, and a 24-hour population. The City's economy will continue to strengthen, diversify, and play a larger role in the global economy. Building on the skills of our workforce, Sacramento's economy will provide a broad range of jobs in all industry sectors, including those related to small and local businesses. Every neighborhood will be a desirable place to live because of its walkable streets, extensive tree canopy, range of housing choices, mixed-use neighborhood centers, great schools, parks and recreation facilities, and easy access to downtown and jobs. Sacramento will be linked to the rest of the region by an extensive, efficient and safe network of roadways, bridges, mass transit, bikeways, pedestrian trails, and sidewalks. It will be linked to the rest of California and the world by an international airport, conventional and high-speed passenger rail, interstate highways, and high-speed communication systems. Sacramento will continue to celebrate its cultural and ethnic diversity and ensure the equitable treatment of all neighborhoods and groups. Sacramento will protect its historic and cultural resources and its natural environment and will increase access to its riverfront and open spaces for the enjoyment of its growing population. Sacramento will promote the health and well-being of the community and will plan for the long-term safety of its citizens. To help address the causes of climate change and the urban heat island effect, Sacramento will be a model of sustainable development in its planning, its use of urban heat island reduction measures, and its conservation of energy, water, and other natural resources. See Vision and Guiding Principles, Destination Livability, and Sacramento 2030 for more information. Where did this vision come from? A: This vision was based on public input in combination with best planning practices. Since the City launched its General Plan Update in late 2004, it has held two rounds of Town Hall Forums, one in 2005 and one in 2006. THe Town Hall Forums provided participants the opportunity to identify the most important issues to be addressed in the new 2030 General Plan. Many of the top issues and values identified during the Town Hall Forums were the same key issues and values identified through other means of public outreach, such as a public opinion survey completed in February 2007. The vision for the General Plan was also developed in accordance with the SACOG Blueprint for regional growth. See Sacramento 2030 for more information. How does the General Plan affect development? A: The General Plan establishes policies that regulate new development projects within City limits, both directly and indirectly. Directly, General Plan policies give direction about what types of projects can and cannot be approved. As for the General Plan's indirect influence, development projects must comply with the zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations, and design guidelines, all of which are implementation tools for General Plan policies. At the same time, the General Plan is designed to be adaptable to unique projects. It provides flexibility in decision-making for certain types of projects. What about areas outside the City limits? A: The 2030 General Plan will include policies for the City's sphere of influence, as well as for special study areas outside of City limits that may be annexed to the City in the future. You mentioned something about a General Plan being legally required? A: State planning law requires that every general plan must
include seven mandatory topics (or elements):
- Land Use - Circulation (Transportation) - Housing - Conservation - Open Space - Noise - Safety The 2030 General Plan addresses all these topics. Additional topic areas of special interest to the City that will be included in the General Plan are: - Community Design - Economic Development - Historic Preservation Additional Information For more information on the structure and legal requirements for a general plan, please click on the link below: →A Citizen's Guide to Planning Published by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research
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