After two decades of expanding outward and reaching the limits of
developable land, the City of San Diego’s recent general plan
update incorporates a City of Villages concept that directs
future growth to mixed-use communities that are pedestrian
friendly and linked to regional transit.
Sacramento County encourages greater infill development with a
three-pronged approach that includes 14 corridor plans with
updated designs and densities for older, under-utilized
commercial corridors; a general plan update focused on infill;
and staff assigned to facilitate infill in the county
unincorporated area.
The Riverside bicycle master plan, the result of comprehensive
planning for future bicycle mobility in the city, envisions over
140 miles of new bike paths, lanes and routes to connect
commuters with jobs, students with schools, and the general
population with parks, shopping and regional bicycle trails.
The Petaluma General Plan 2025 reflects planning goals across all
its elements that are designed to mitigate future greenhouse gas
emissions. Highlights include policies that encourage higher
densities around a new regional rail system and in the central
core, as well as greener buildings among existing and future
development.
A comprehensive update of the Livermore zoning code will better
incorporate “smart code” practices, such as enhanced pedestrian
and bicycle mobility, transit-oriented development, mixed-use and
infill.
While Fremont is a largely built-out suburban community, it has
targeted remaining undeveloped and under-utilized sites for high
density, mixed use, and transit-oriented development.
Chula Vista adopted measures aimed, in part, at reducing
greenhouse gas emissions in new development. The measures
emphasize compact neighborhood development, building-specific
energy measures for new communities, as well as comprehensive
project design criteria to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
throughout the community.
Using design charrettes and facilitated meetings, Hercules
engaged the community to help evaluate and plan a new temporary
town center for their suburban community.
In 2006, the City of Chico needed to re-design their 230-acre
downtown area in order to accommodate heavier traffic patterns,
parking, and development. Using the Charrettes engagement model -
a four to seven-day process involving both citizens and
stakeholders from the design, business, and planning fields – the
City used public input to customize their plan for the people of
Chico.
The City of Richmond is using innovative methods to involve a
diverse cross section of residents in updating its General Plan.
The resulting plan will be one of the first in the nation to
include an element that addresses the link between public health
and the built environment.
The fast growing City of Delano is collaborating with community
partners to successfully engage a cross section of residents in
the General Plan Update process, with a particular emphasis on
public health and safety.
PlaceMatters is a design and planning organization that believes
in effective and informed citizen engagement. PlaceMatters worked
with Chula Vista on an urban green development project.
Because of its Bay-front location close to the City’s financial
district, Mission Bay was identified as a prime location for
mixed-use redevelopment. The 303-acre Mission Bay area was
previously a blighted industrial area, marked by vacant parcels
and dilapidated and underused warehouse buildings.
This site was a vacant 10-acre parcel bordering the Union Pacific
railroad line and was in need of environmental clean-up.
Livermore had been looking for ways to provide affordable housing
for its growing senior population.
