General Plan and Community Plan Amendments
Key Questions
Planners consider the following when considering an amendment:
- Does the proposed amendment reflect our views on which land uses should go where?
- Would a change violate other policies in the General Plan?
- How will the change affect public services and facilities (for example, roads, schools, sewers, police and fire services)?
- What are the environmental impacts of making a change?
- Is the change consistent with land use planning and other laws?
The General Plan and Community Plans describe long range goals and objects for the City as a whole and for specific communities. These plans are official policy statements of the City Council. Projects must comply with these plans in order to be approved.
The General Plan and Community Plans were adopted only after extensive study and public hearing by the Planning Commission and the City Council. Any change in the General Plan or Community Plans must also go through the same process of study, review and public hearings.
What is a “General Plan Amendment”?
Just as an architect draws up plans to build a house, land use planners prepare the General Plan to guide overall building activities in a community. It contains not only goals and policies to guide the long term development of the City, but also a land use plan that designates how land uses will be generally distributed.
From time to time, an applicant will propose a change in land use to the General Plan. These changes are called “General Plan Amendments.”About the General Plan
The Sacramento General Plan is a very important document, as it represents our long-term vision for land uses. It guides all land use decisions in our community and includes goals, policies and maps to guide those decisions.
State law states that the General Plan must include seven parts or elements:
- Land Use
- Circulation
- Housing
- Conservation
- Open Space
- Noise
- Safety
The General Plan may also include other elements, depending on the community’s needs and priorities. For example, the City of Sacramento’s General Plan also includes a section on Historic Preservation (DOC - 56 KB). The policies must be consistent with one another.
To Learn More
- California Planning Guide: An Introduction to Planning in California available at www.opr.ca.gov/planning/publications/California_Planning_Guide_2005.pdf
- The Planning Commissioner’s Handbook, League of California Cities, 2005, Chapter 4: The Planning Framework (www.ca-ilg.org/pch4)
- Government Code Section 65350 and following (accessible from www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html)
- Solano Press (www.solano.com) has a number of helpful planning publications available for purchase