Frame our future
By Jaime Zukowski
Our two neighboring counties, Napa and Sonoma, hold claims to the name "Wine Country" and are at opposite points in the public process of determining how the region will look and feel in the next quarter century. Napa and Sonoma counties are updating their "constitution for development," their "blueprint of the future"-- their General Plans. Sonoma's plan is almost complete, while Napa County is now asking its citizens to participate in theirs.
In California, each city or county's General Plan is the bible for land-use decisions which affect our economy, quality of life, and the ability to meet the diverse needs of our communities over time. County General Plans have a far-reaching effect, balancing agriculture, natural resource protection, intercity transportation, regional housing and employment needs, and public safety provisions for a wide area.
A General Plan regulates development and sets guidelines for land-use decisions.
Elected representatives may come and go, but the General Plan remains the map by which local government develops ordinances and makes land-use decisions which affect the lives of every resident. While it is called a plan, and some changes can be made by the elected body, its adoption and amendment is a legislative act. The General Plan holds the force of law over:
Public Safety Policies and Practices
Transportation and Traffic
Wildlife and Natural Resource Protection
Agricultural Policies and Support activities
Housing Needs
Community Separators and Open Space Preservation
Noise and Light Impacts
Water Quality and Supply
Sonoma County is in the last phases of updating its General Plan and is now taking input from citizens before their elected supervisors vote on the document.
Citizens in that county are currently reviewing the changes proposed to the existing plan and examining the environmental impact report required to assess the potential impacts and alternatives to the new plan. This oversight is essential to a General Plan, ensuring its policies protect the long-term public interest.
Napa County is at the beginning of its General Plan Update.
This period offers this county's residents the greatest opportunity to have some impact on how life will be here in the next decades and beyond.
Thanks to widespread citizen involvement in the past, Napa County has a good General Plan. To keep it strong requires our involvement. Through the General Plan, we as citizens can do our part in caring for the generous, but fragile landscape we call home.
State law requires that the creation and updating of a General Plan include the public. Be informed, get involved, help frame our future!
Napa County GP community meeting schedule:
www.napacountygeneralplan.com
Land Use (the foundation of the General Plan)
Feb. 25
Napa Valley College-
Bldg 1000A Room 1033
2277 Napa-Vallejo Highway,
Napa 1 p.m.
March 8
Pacific Union College-
Dining Commons
1 Angwin Avenue, Angwin,
6:30 p.m.
March 15
Yountville Community Hall
6516 Yount Street
Yountville 6:30 p.m.
Sonoma County GP2020 final schedule details:
www.sonoma-county.org/prmd/gp2020
Bob Gaiser 707-565-7386
Jaime Zukowski is a freelance writer who lives just over the county line just north of Calistoga.