HomeMy WebLinkAboutButte County GPTU Policy DocumentBUTTE COUNTY
GENERAL PLAN TECHNICAL UPDATE (GPTU)
POLICY DOCUMENT RECODIFICATION
FINAL DRAFT
AUGUST 8, 2005
[Note: underlining and strike-outs show the changes from the March 29, 2005 Public Review
Draft version of this document
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................................4
NATURE, CONTENT, AND PURPOSE OF THE GENERAL PLAN ......................................................................................4
PURPOSES OF THIS GENERAL PLAN ...........................................................................................................................5
ORGANIZATION OF THE GENERAL PLAN ....................................................................................................................5
GENERAL PLAN RELATIONSHIP TO STATE PLANNING LAW REQUIREMENTS .............................................................8
1. LAND USE ELEMENT..........................................................................................................................................9
LAND USE DESIGNATIONS .........................................................................................................................................9
Functional Separation........................................................................................................................................10
Principles and Standards...................................................................................................................................10
Land Use Intensity Standards ............................................................................................................................17
GOALS, POLICIES, & IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMS ...............................................................................................22
General ..............................................................................................................................................................22
Review and Amendment.....................................................................................................................................23
Land Use Diagrams...........................................................................................................................................23
Zoning................................................................................................................................................................24
Development Review..........................................................................................................................................24
Coordination of Plans........................................................................................................................................25
Other County Wide Plans...................................................................................................................................26
Residential Development....................................................................................................................................26
Commercial Uses...............................................................................................................................................27
Industrial Uses...................................................................................................................................................28
Compatibility of Land Uses................................................................................................................................28
Open Space and Urban Development................................................................................................................29
2. AGRICULTURAL ELEMENT ...........................................................................................................................30
GOALS, POLICIES, & IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMS ...............................................................................................30
General ..............................................................................................................................................................30
Designation and Zoning of Agricultural Land...................................................................................................31
Grazing Land.....................................................................................................................................................33
Parcel Sizes........................................................................................................................................................33
Agricultural Uses...............................................................................................................................................34
Agriculture and Urban Uses..............................................................................................................................34
Conflict with Non-Agricultural Uses..................................................................................................................35
Agricultural Land Preservation.........................................................................................................................37
Buffer Zones.......................................................................................................................................................38
Conversion of Agricultural Lands......................................................................................................................39
Environmental Resource Protection ..................................................................................................................40
Soils....................................................................................................................................................................41
Agricultural Products ........................................................................................................................................41
Agricultural Worker Housing ............................................................................................................................42
3. TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION ELEMENT ...............................................................................44
CIRCULATION DIAGRAM AND STANDARDS..............................................................................................................44
Functional Classification and Design Standards of Roadways.........................................................................44
Circulation Diagram..........................................................................................................................................46
GOALS, POLICIES, & IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMS ...............................................................................................54
Transportation and Land Use............................................................................................................................54
Fiscal .................................................................................................................................................................55
Environmental....................................................................................................................................................57
Road and Street Standards.................................................................................................................................57
Safety..................................................................................................................................................................59
Special Studies and Specific Plans.....................................................................................................................60
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Interjurisdictional Coordination........................................................................................................................60
Urban Streets and Highways .............................................................................................................................61
Public Transportation........................................................................................................................................61
Bicycle Transportation.......................................................................................................................................62
Pedestrian Circulation.......................................................................................................................................63
Air Transportation.............................................................................................................................................64
Multi-modal Transportation...............................................................................................................................64
Additional Urban Area Policies.........................................................................................................................65
4. HOUSING ELEMENT .........................................................................................................................................66
5. PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES ELEMENT.......................................................................................67
GOALS, POLICIES, & IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMS ...............................................................................................67
General ..............................................................................................................................................................67
Water & Sewer Systems .....................................................................................................................................67
Solid and Liquid Waste Disposal Facilities.......................................................................................................68
Drainage Facilities............................................................................................................................................68
Private Utility Facilities.....................................................................................................................................68
Schools...............................................................................................................................................................69
Fire Stations and Other Public Buildings..........................................................................................................69
Recreation Facilities..........................................................................................................................................69
6. CULTURAL RESOURCES ELEMENT.............................................................................................................71
GOALS, POLICIES, & IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMS ...............................................................................................71
Scenic Areas and Corridors...............................................................................................................................71
Archaeological and Historical Sites ..................................................................................................................72
7. HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT.................................................................................................................73
GOALS, POLICIES, & IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMS ...............................................................................................73
General ..............................................................................................................................................................73
Noise ..................................................................................................................................................................73
Fire Hazards......................................................................................................................................................79
Seismic Hazards.................................................................................................................................................80
Geologic Hazards ..............................................................................................................................................81
Flood Hazards ...................................................................................................................................................82
8. NATURAL RESOURCES ELEMENT...............................................................................................................84
GOALS, POLICIES, & IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMS ...............................................................................................84
Water Resources ................................................................................................................................................84
Air Quality .........................................................................................................................................................85
Energy Resources...............................................................................................................................................85
Mineral Resources.............................................................................................................................................86
Timberland.........................................................................................................................................................87
Habitat...............................................................................................................................................................88
9. PLANNING AREA PLANS..................................................................................................................................89
OROVILLE AREA PLAN ............................................................................................................................................90
Purpose and Intent.............................................................................................................................................90
Goals and Policies.............................................................................................................................................90
Implementation Program...................................................................................................................................92
CHICO AREA PLAN ..................................................................................................................................................95
Chico Urban Reserve Area................................................................................................................................95
Goals and Policies.............................................................................................................................................95
Chico Area Greenline Policy.............................................................................................................................97
GRIDLEY-BIGGS AREA PLAN .................................................................................................................................106
Purpose and Intent...........................................................................................................................................106
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Goals and Policies...........................................................................................................................................106
Implementation Program.................................................................................................................................107
PARADISE URBAN RESERVE AREA PLAN ...............................................................................................................110
Purpose and Intent...........................................................................................................................................110
Goals and Policies...........................................................................................................................................110
Implementation Program.................................................................................................................................111
DURHAM–DAYTON–NELSON PLANNING AREA PLAN............................................................................................114
Purpose and Intent...........................................................................................................................................114
Goals and Policies...........................................................................................................................................114
Implementation Program.................................................................................................................................123
CHAPMAN/MULBERRY NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN ......................................................................................................128
Purpose and Intent...........................................................................................................................................128
Goals and Policies...........................................................................................................................................129
Implementation Programs................................................................................................................................133
10. IMPLEMENTATION STANDARDS: LAND USE DESIGNATIONS AND ZONING COMPATIBILITY
...................................................................................................................................................................................137
Tables and Figures
TABLE 1 LAND USE DESIGNATION INTENSITY STANDARDS .........................................................................................19
FIGURE 1 COUNTYWIDE LAND USE DIAGRAM .............................................................................................................21
FIGURE 2 COUNTYWIDE CIRCULATION DIAGRAM ........................................................................................................47
FIGURE 3 CHICO URBAN AREA MAJOR STREET AND HIGHWAY NETWORK .................................................................48
FIGURE 4 OROVILLE URBAN AREA MAJOR STREET AND HIGHWAY NETWORK ...........................................................49
FIGURE 5 PARADISE URBAN AREA MAJOR STREET AND HIGHWAY NETWORK ............................................................50
FIGURE 6 GRIDLEY-BIGGS URBAN AREA MAJOR STREET AND HIGHWAY NETWORK ..................................................51
FIGURE 7A STANDARDS FOR ROADWAY CLASSES ........................................................................................................52
FIGURE 7B STANDARDS FOR ROADWAY CLASSES ........................................................................................................53
TABLE NO-1 EXTERIOR NOISE LEVEL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR NEW PROJECTS AFFECTED BY OR INCLUDING
NON-TRANSPORTATION NOISE SOURCES............................................................................................................76
TABLE NO-2 REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ACOUSTICAL ANALYSIS....................................................................................77
TABLE NO-3 MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE NOISE EXPOSURE TRANSPORTATION NOISE SOURCES .....................................78
FIGURE 8 OROVILLE URBAN RESERVE .........................................................................................................................93
FIGURE 9 OROVILLE AREA LAND USE DIAGRAM .........................................................................................................94
FIGURE 10 CHICO URBAN RESERVE [PLACEHOLDER]................................................................................................103
FIGURE 11 CHICO AREA LAND USE DIAGRAM ...........................................................................................................104
FIGURE 12 CHICO AREA GREENLINE ..........................................................................................................................105
FIGURE 13 GRIDLEY URBAN RESERVE .......................................................................................................................108
FIGURE 14 GRIDLEY/BIGGS AREA LAND USE DIAGRAM............................................................................................109
FIGURE 15 PARADISE URBAN RESERVE .....................................................................................................................112
FIGURE 16 PARADISE AREA LAND USE DIAGRAM .....................................................................................................113
FIGURE 17A DURHAM-DAYTON-NELSON PLANNING AREA .......................................................................................126
FIGURE 17B DURHAM-DAYTON-NELSON PLANNING AREA........................................................................................127
FIGURE 18 CHAPMAN/MULBERRY NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN .........................................................................................136
TABLE 2 LAND USE DESIGNATIONS CONSISTENT ZONES AND ZONING FACTORS ......................................................139
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INTRODUCTION
The Butte County General Plan is a comprehensive, long-term framework for the protection of
the county’s agricultural, natural, and cultural resources and for development in the county.
Designed to meet State general plan requirements, it outlines policies, standards, and programs
and sets out plan proposals to guide day-to-day decisions concerning Butte County’s future.
Nature, Content, and Purpose of the General Plan
A general plan is a legal document that serves as a community's “blue print” or “constitution” for
land use and development. State law requires every city and county in California to adopt a
general plan that is comprehensive and long-term. The plans must outline proposals for the
physical development of the county or city and any land outside its boundaries which in the
planning agency's judgment bears relation to its planning (California Government Code Section
65300 et seq.).
General plans must be comprehensive both in their geographic coverage and in the range of
subjects they cover. General plans must also be long-term in perspective. General plan time
horizons vary but typically range anywhere from 15 to 25 years into the future.
Every general plan in California must address seven topics or “elements.” The importance of
each of the required topics will, of course, vary from community to community. Following are
brief descriptions of what State law requires be addressed in each of the seven elements:
1. The Land Use Element designates the general distribution and intensity of all uses of the
land in the community. This includes residential uses, commercial uses, industrial uses,
public facilities, and open space, among others.
2. The Circulation Element identifies the general location and extent of existing and
proposed major transportation facilities, including major roadways, rail and transit, and
airports.
3. The Housing Element assesses current and projected housing needs and sets out policies
and proposals for the improvement of housing and the provision of adequate sites for
housing to meet the needs of all economic segments of the community.
4. The Conservation Element addresses the conservation, development, and use of natural
resources including water, forests, soils, rivers, and mineral deposits.
5. Overlapping the Conservation and Safety Elements, the Open Space Element details
plans and measures for preserving open space for: protection of natural resources such as
wildlife habitat; the managed production of resources such as agricultural and timber
land; outdoor recreation such as parks, trails, and scenic vistas; and public health and
safety such as areas subject to geologic hazards, flooding, and fires.
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6. The Noise Element identifies and appraises noise problems and includes policies to
protect the community from excessive noise.
7. The Safety Element establishes policies and programs to protect the community from
risks associated with seismic, geologic, flood, and wildfire hazards.
The general plan may also address other topics that the community feels are relevant to its
development, such as economic development, historic preservation, and urban design.
For each locally-relevant mandated issue or optional issue addressed, the general plan must do
the following:
•Describe the nature and significance of the issue in the community (Background
Information);
•Set out policy in text and maps for how the jurisdiction will respond to the issue (Policy);
and
•Outline specific programs for implementing policies (Implementation Programs).
The format and structure of the general plan is left to local discretion, but regardless of the
format or issues addressed, all substantive parts of the plan must be consistent with one another
(i.e., internally consistent). For instance, the policies in the land use element must be consistent
with those of the housing element and vice versa.
Purposes of This General Plan
The objectives of the Butte County General Plan Technical Update (GPTU) are to:
• Prepare a General Plan background document that reflects current conditions and trends.
• Consolidate all General Plan elements in a single General Plan document or set of General
Plan documents.
• Eliminate any possible legal deficiencies.
• Ensure consistencies among elements.
• Create a consistent format for all General Plan elements.
Organization of the General Plan
The Butte County General Plan consists of multiple documents.
The General Plan Background Report, which inventories and analyzes existing conditions and
trends in Butte County, provides the formal supporting documentation for General Plan policy.
This report addresses the following seventeen subject areas:
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•Chapter 1: Land Use
•Chapter 2: Population
•Chapter 3: Economics
•Chapter 4: Housing
•Chapter 5: Transportation and Circulation
•Chapter 6: Public Facilities and Utilities
•Chapter 7: Public Services
•Chapter 8: Recreation
•Chapter 9: Cultural Resources
•Chapter 10: Aesthetics
•Chapter 11: Mineral Resources
•Chapter 12: Water Resources
•Chapter 13: Biological Resources
•Chapter 14: Energy
•Chapter 15: Air Quality
•Chapter 16: Hazards and Safety
•Chapter 17: Noise
The countywide General Plan Policy Document Recodification contains explicit statements of
goals, policies, standards, and implementation programs that constitute the formal policy of
Butte County for land use, development, open space protection, and environmental quality. The
Policy Document Recodification consists of the following seven eight countywide elements
(there are also two additional chapters addressing Planning Area Plans, Chico Area Greenline
Policy, and Implementation Standards):
1) Land Use and Agricultural Element
2) Agricultural Element
23) Transportation and Circulation Element
4) Housing Element (published under separate cover)
35) Public Facilities and Services Element
46) Cultural Resources Element
57) Health and Safety Element
68) Natural Resources Element
7) Housing Element (included as a separate document)
Each countywide element includes goal statements relating to different aspects of the issues
addressed in the element. Under each goal statement, the plan sets out policies that amplify the
goal statement. Implementation programs are listed at the end of many sections and describe the
proposed actions to be carried out to implement goals and policies.
The Land Use and Agricultural Element also describes the designations appearing on the Land
Use Diagram and outlines the legally-required standards of density and intensity for these land
use designations. The Transportation and Circulation Element describes the proposed circulation
system, including a description of the street classification system and the Circulation Diagram.
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The following definitions describe the nature of the statements of goals, policies, standards,
implementation programs, and quantified objectives as they are used in the Policy Document
Recodification:
•Goal: Ultimate purpose of an effort stated in a way that is general in nature and
immeasurable. Each section (topic area) of the plan has only one goal.
•Policy: Specific statement guiding action and implying clear commitment.
•Implementation Program: An action, procedure, program, or technique that carries out
general plan policy.
The use of the word “shall” in a policy is an unequivocal directive; the word “should” is a less
rigid directive that will be honored in the absence of compelling or countervailing
considerations.
The term “decision-making body” refers to the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, or
County Staff exercising authority over a policy or project matter in accordance with the General
Plan or the Butte County Code.
The term “County” with a capital “C” refers to the Butte County Board of Supervisors, the
Planning Commission, or County agencies and departments that carry out their responsibilities
under the direction of the Butte County Board of Supervisors. The term “county” with a lower
case “c” refers to Butte County as a geographic area.
The term “discretionary permit” or “approval” refers to a decision by a County decision-making
body in which it exercises its discretion to approve, deny, or condition an approval (e.g.,
conditional use permit). By contrast, a “ministerial permit” must be approved or denied based
almost solely on its compliance with adopted standards.
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General Plan Relationship to State Planning Law
Requirements
The Butte County General Plan has been prepared specifically to comply with (and as adopted
does comply with) State general plan requirements (Government Code Section 65300 et seq.)
and related State mandates.
The following table delineates the relationship of various elements of the countywide Butte
County General Plan to the seven State-mandated general plan elements. This is only a
generalized list; specific related topics may be contained in other sections.
The following is a generalized list of how the new document structure corresponds to the
element organization:
Relationship of Butte County General Plan Elements to State-Mandated Elements
State-Mandated
Elements
Butte County General Plan Policy
Document Recodification
Butte County General Plan
Background Report
Land Use Element Land Use and Agricultural Element
Agricultural Element
Chapter 1: Land Use
Chapter 2: Population
Chapter 3: Economics
Circulation Element Transportation and Circulation Element
Public Facilities and Services Element
Chapter 5: Transportation and Circulation
Housing Element (Separate) Housing Element (published
under separate cover)Policy Document
Chapter 4: Housing (Housing Element Background
Report)
Conservation Element Natural Resources Element
Land Use and Agricultural Element
Agricultural Element
Chapter 11: Mineral Resources
Chapter 12: Water Resources
Chapter 13: Biological Resources
Chapter 14: Energy
Chapter 15: Air Quality
Open Space Element Natural Resources Element
Land Use and Agricultural Element
Agricultural Element
Cultural Resources Element
Health and Safety Element
Public Facilities and Services Element
Chapter 6: Public Facilities and Utilities
Chapter 7: Public Services
Chapter 8: Recreation
Chapter 9: Cultural Resources
Chapter 10: Aesthetics
Chapter 11: Mineral Resources
Chapter 12: Water Resources
Chapter 13: Biological Resources
Chapter 16: Hazards and Safety
Safety Element Health and Safety Element Chapter 16: Hazards and Safety
Noise Element Health and Safety Element Chapter 17: Noise
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1. LAND USE ELEMENT
The Land Use Element is divided into two major parts. The first part describes the County’s
Land Use Diagram, the land use designations that appear on the diagram, and related
development standards. The second part sets out goals, policies, and implementation programs
organized under thirteen main topic headings:
•General
•Review and Amendment
•Land Use Plan Diagrams
•Zoning
•Development Review
•Coordination of Plans
•Other County Wide Plans
•Residential Development
•Commercial Uses
•Industrial Uses
•Compatibility of Land Uses
•Economic Development
•Open Space and Urban Development
Land Use Designations
The General Plan includes fourteen resource, residential, commercial, industrial, and other land
use designations that depict the types of land uses that will be allowed throughout the
unincorporated county:
•Orchard and Field Crops
•Grazing and Open Land
•Timber-Mountain
•Agricultural Residential
•Foothill Area Residential
•Low Density Residential
•Medium Density Residential
•High Density Residential
•Commercial
•Industrial
•Research & Business Park
•Public
•Sports and Entertainment
•Solid Waste Management Facility Combining Designation
These designations are broken down into two categories: primary and overlay. The thirteen
primary land use designations consist of standard land use designations that appear on the land
use diagram. There is also one overlay designation: the Solid Waste Management Facility
Combining Designation.
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Each primary land use designation is defined in terms of allowable uses and intensity standards.
Overlay land use designations modify the policies, standards, or procedures established for the
underlying primary land use designation. Allowable uses and site designation criteria for each
land use designation are set out in the descriptions that follow; intensity standards for the various
land use designations are set out in Table 1 (Land Use Designation Intensity Standards) after the
individual land use designation descriptions.
The land use designations are implemented largely through zoning. Table 2 (Land Use
Designation Consistent Zones and Zoning Factors) in Section 10 9 of this document
(Implementation Standards: Land Use Designations and Zoning Compatibility) describes which
zoning districts are deemed compatible with the various General Plan land use designations.
Functional Separation
General Plan policies express County desires and objectives regarding future development and
are implemented largely by applying them to the arrangement of various land uses on a map. The
translation of policies to map form requires a set of land use classifications to serve as a map
legend and as possible choices for designating the proposed general distribution of uses.
Land use designations combine similar and compatible activities into groups with differing needs
for location and space. Agriculture, forestry, mining, outdoor recreation, environmental
preservation activities and other “open space” uses generally require extensive land areas with
little structural development and few residents. In contrast to land and resource-oriented uses,
most residential, commercial, industrial and public uses occupy small areas of land intensely
developed with buildings, pavement, and human activities. Because of employment, service
needs and travel time, urban uses are more location-oriented than rural uses and require sites in
proximity to each other. The various location and space requirements of land uses can only be
satisfied by separating uses into categories and attempting to provide suitable sites for each
designation.
Principles and Standards
The following land use designations and associated standards for development (in Tables 1 and
2), when applied to the Land Use Diagram, together provide the framework for determining
consistent zoning and judging development proposals.
A complete explanation of the format and subjects used for the County’s land use designations is
presented here and is immediately followed by the principles and standards for the land use
designations used on the County’s Land Use Diagram.
Primary Uses: The proposed development pattern is to be illustrated through the designation
and arrangement of general categories of land uses. The title of each land use designation refers
to the predominant character of an area, and the description of primary uses defines the intended
principle uses in that area. Providing suitable locations and space for the primary uses is the
basic purpose of each land use designation.
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Secondary Uses: This section includes other appropriate uses that are less extensive but similar,
compatible or necessary to the primary uses. It is assumed that the terms include necessary and
customary subordinate uses incidental to the stated uses.
Site Designation Criteria: The statements present the preferred site attributes for this category.
Using the criteria to choose the appropriate land use designation requires a comprehensive
evaluation of natural characteristics, public facilities, existing development and growth trends of
every site and the surrounding area. The criteria for each land use designation are not intended to
be conclusive and mutually exclusive, but rather as basic guidelines. Consequently, some sites
may appear to be suited for more than one or perhaps none of the categories. Such areas should
be assigned to the category whose uses and standards seem most compatible to the site
characteristics.
Intensity Standards: Table 1 (Land Use Designation Intensity Standards) after the individual
land use designation descriptions sets out the minimum parcel sizes, the maximum allowed
residential densities, and the non-residential building intensities allowed in each land use
designation.
Consistent Zones and Zoning Factors: Table 2 (Land Use Designation Consistent Zones and
Zoning Factors) in Section 10 of this document (Implementation Standards: Land Use
Designations and Zoning Compatibility) describes which zoning districts are deemed compatible
with the various General Plan land use designations and the criteria to be considered in the
evaluation of consistent zones and the choice of the most appropriate zoning classification.
Orchard and Field Crops
Primary Uses: Cultivation, harvest, storage, processing, sale and distribution of all plant crops,
especially annual food crops.
Secondary Uses: Animal husbandry and intense animal uses, resource extraction and
processing, hunting and water-related recreation facilities, dwellings, airports, utilities,
environmental preservation activities, public and quasi-public uses, home occupations.
Site Designation Criteria:
1. Soil conditions well suited for plant crop operations.
2. Adequate water supply.
3. Predominate parcel sizes of 5 acres of more.
4. Used for crop production or secondary uses.
5. Adjacent uses compatible with primary and secondary uses.
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Grazing And Open Land
Primary Uses: Livestock grazing, animal husbandry, intense animal uses and animal matter
processing.
Secondary Uses: Resource extraction and processing, forestry, plant crops, agricultural support
services, outdoor recreation facilities, airports, dwellings, utilities, environmental preservation
activities, public and quasi-public uses and home occupations.
Site Designation Criteria:
1. Natural conditions poorly suited for plant crops or timber.
2. Predominate parcel sizes of 40 acres or more.
3. Used for grazing and secondary uses.
4. Adjacent uses conducive to livestock grazing.
Timber-Mountain
Primary Uses: Forest management and the harvesting and processing of forest products.
Secondary Uses: Animal husbandry, resource extraction and processing environmental
preservation activities, outdoor recreation facilities, dwellings, utilities, public and quasi-public
uses, home occupations, and airports.
Site Designation Criteria:
1. Climates, slope and soils generally suitable for conifer forests and commercial timber
production.
2. Predominate parcel sizes of 40 acres or more.
3. Ownership by U.S. Government or timber companies.
4. Adjacent uses conducive to timber production.
Agricultural Residential
Primary Uses: Agricultural uses and single-family dwellings at rural densities.
Secondary Uses: Animal husbandry, forestry, intense animal uses, home occupations, mining,
outdoor recreation facilities, environmental preservation activities, airports, utilities, public and
quasi-public uses, group quarters, care homes and transient lodging.
Site Designation Criteria:
1. Beyond service areas of community water and sewer systems.
2. Less than 30% slopes.
3. Adjacent or near to existing roads and public utilities.
4. Not within flood plains or known active faults.
5. Past official actions.
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Foothill Area Residential
Primary Uses: Single family dwellings at rural densities.
Secondary Uses: Agricultural uses, animal husbandry, home occupations, resource extraction
and processing, forestry, outdoor recreational facilities, environmental preservation activities,
airports, utilities, public and quasi-public uses, dwellings, group quarters, care homes, and other
secondary uses that are consistent with the Foothill Area Residential designation.
Site Designation Criteria:
1. Needed for rural foothill residential development within 20 years.
2. Not important for the maintenance of commercial livestock, forestry or agricultural
industries of Butte County.
3. Located in rural foothill areas outside of the urban communities.
4. Located beyond the service areas of community water and sewer systems.
5. Having topography, slope and soil conditions conducive to foothill rural residential
development, in conformity with safety, health, and environmental requirements.
6. Adjacent or near to existing roads and public utilities.
7. Past official actions.
Low Density Residential
Primary Uses: Detached single-family dwellings at urban densities.
Secondary Uses: Agricultural uses, animal husbandry, home occupations, outdoor recreation
facilities, utilities, public and quasi-public uses, group quarters and care homes.
Site Designation Criteria:
1. Needed for urban residential development within 20 years.
2. Adequate water supply.
3. Sewers available or natural conditions suitable for septic tanks.
4. Adjacent or near to existing utilities, roads and single-family residential development.
5. Good accessibility to commercial services, schools, fire protection and other community
facilities.
Medium Density Residential
Primary Uses: A mixture of urban residential uses, including, detached single-family homes,
condominiums, multiple-dwelling structures, mobile home parks, group quarters and care homes.
Secondary Uses: Home occupations, professional and business offices, outdoor recreation
facilities, utilities, public and quasi-public uses.
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Site Designation Criteria:
1. Needed for urban residential development within 20 years.
2. Adequate water supply.
3. Sewers available or natural conditions well suited to septic tanks.
4. Adjacent or near existing utilities and urban development.
5. Excellent accessibility to commercial services, schools, fire protection and other
community facilities.
High Density Residential
Primary Uses: Higher-density urban residential uses, including condominiums, multiple-
dwelling structures, mobile home parks, group quarters and care homes.
Secondary Uses: Home occupations, professional and business offices, outdoor recreation
facilities, utilities, public and quasi-public uses.
Site Designation Criteria:
1. Needed for higher-density urban residential development within 20 years.
2. Within service areas of community water systems.
3. Sewers available or natural conditions well suited to septic tanks.
4. Adjacent or near existing utilities and urban development.
5. Excellent accessibility to commercial services, schools, fire protection and other
community facilities.
Commercial
Primary Uses: Structures and activities providing a full range of merchandise and services to the
general public.
Secondary Uses: Wholesale storage and distribution, processing and manufacturing, transient
lodging, dwellings and group quarters, home occupations, utilities, public and quasi-public uses.
Site Designation Criteria:
1. Needed for commercial development within 20 years.
2. Good road accessibility to service area or traveling public.
3. Adjacent or near utilities, walkways and commercial development.
4. Less than 20% slopes.
5. Adequate fire and police protection.
6. Adequate water supply and sewage disposal capabilities.
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Industrial
Primary Uses: Processing, manufacturing, packaging, storage and distribution of goods and
commodities.
Secondary Uses: Light commercial uses, dwellings, utilities, public and quasi-public uses.
Site Designation Criteria:
1. Needed for industrial development within 20 years.
2. Adequate water supply and sewage disposal capabilities.
3. Adjacent or near utilities and industrial development.
4. Adjacent or near arterial roads, railroads or major airports.
5. Less than 20% slopes.
6. Adequate fire and police protection.
7. Not immediately adjacent to residential uses.
Research & Business Park
Principal Characteristics: Following are the principal characteristics that define the Research
& Business Park land use classification:
1. High quality employment centers within well-designed, well-maintained campus
environments.
2. High land use and design standards, with large open space areas, active and passive
recreational amenities, and extensive landscaping.
3. Development standards and design guidelines that are distinguished from other
commercial and industrial land use designations in the county. Land use controls that
prohibit outdoor storage and processing and minimize nuisance factors, such as Noise,
light trespass, vibration, odor, etc.
4. An atmosphere that is conducive to economic development and the creation of
employment opportunities at various levels, particularly medium income, and at
relatively high employee densities.
Primary Uses: Allowable uses are narrowly defined to assure compatibility between uses.
Industrial uses are limited to those manufacturers engaged in the production of low volume, high
value products, particularly advanced technology products. Businesses requiring outdoor
production and storage are prohibited. Following is a partial, representative listing of the primary
permitted uses:
1. High and advanced technology, research and development uses, laboratories, including
university-based research and facilities used for testing and analysis of products or uses.
2. Business and professional corporate headquarters, regional offices, and data processing
facilities.
3. Uses that emphasize product development over high volume production in order to
minimize traffic associated with the transportation of raw materials and products, and
other nuisance factors.
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Secondary Uses: Secondary uses are limited to supporting retail and service commercial uses
intended primarily for the convenience of employees and businesses within the Business Park.
Site Designation Criteria: Following are the primary criteria for siting of Research & Business
Parks:
1. Preclude lands with “Orchard and Field Crops” General Plan land use designation,
including primary/productive agricultural lands and locations that could cause conflicts
with existing agricultural operations.
2. Close proximity to existing communities while creating or maintaining open space values.
3. Close proximity and access to existing/planned highways and arterial streets.
4. Close proximity and access to existing/planned major infrastructure.
5. Minimal impacts on environmentally sensitive lands, such as wetlands, areas with
sensitive habitat, and steep slopes.
6. Minimum site area of 200 acres.
7. Avoid 100-year flood-prone areas and known floodways.
Public
Primary Uses: Large facilities owned and operated by government agencies, including schools,
colleges, airports, dams and reservoirs, disposal sites, recreation facilities, conservation areas,
fire stations and other government buildings and property.
Secondary Uses: Hospitals and other large quasi-public uses, housing for students or on-site
employees, utilities.
Site Designation Criteria:
1. Needed for public use within 20 years.
2. Adequate utilities, water supply and sewage disposal capabilities.
3. Suitable location and road access for type of use.
4. Adequate police and fire protection.
5. Sufficient space for future expansion.
Sports And Entertainment
Definition and Purpose: The purpose of the sports and entertainment classification is to provide
for sports, facilities, theater, a golf course, and an amphitheater, as primary uses, with a range of
related land uses. The related land uses may include a range of commercial uses, including
localized retail, commercial retail and service establishments that serve more than a single area.
The intent is to encourage an appropriate mix of uses that will be compatible with a golf course,
theaters, amphitheater, and rodeo facilities primary land use.
Permitted Uses: Examples of uses that are considered appropriate under this classification
include, but are not limited to a golf course; an amphitheater for use as an open air entertainment
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facility; eating and drinking establishments; food and beverage sales; vehicle repair services;
gasoline service stations; public buildings; hotels and motels; offices; RV Park.
Solid Waste Management Facility Combining Designation
Purposes: To identify existing solid waste facilities including landfills, dumps, and solid waste
transfer stations, expansion areas and to reserve future sites. The solid waste management facility
combining land use designation allows uses that are accessory and/or related to solid waste
and/or septage disposal. Support and accessory uses that are consistent with the solid waste
management facility designation include, but are not limited to: recycling and waste diversion
facilities, site monitoring operations, tire shredding and storage, composting operations,
household hazardous waste facilities, metal scrap yards, offices, maintenance and storage
facilities for commercial refuse haulers and/or septic tank pumping companies and other similar
uses that meet the purposes of this land use designation.
A potential site for a solid waste facility or site expansion may be designated on the land use
diagram only when land uses authorized in the applicable city or County General Plan adjacent
to or near the site expansion or potential site are compatible with the establishment or expansion
of the site for a solid waste facility.
The solid waste management designation shall preempt the property from being concurrently
used for residential purposes.
When a property is designated solid waste management facility, the underlying General Plan
designation shall be retained to show the planned future land use.
The solid waste management designation shall be retained on the property until one of the two
following conditions are met:
1. The site has been closed and fully reclaimed to Solid Waste Management Board, Regional
Water Quality Control, and other regulatory agency standards; or
2. The site was a designated expansion area or reserved site never utilized, and determined to
be inconsistent with surrounding land uses or the Butte County Solid Waste Management
Plan.
Land Use Intensity Standards
State planning law requires general plans to establish “standards of population density and
building intensity” for the various land use designations in the plan (Government Code Section
65302(a)). To satisfy this requirement, the General Plan includes such standards for each land
use designation appearing on the Land Use Diagram. These standards are stated differently for
residential and non-residential development.
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Standards of development density for residential uses are stated as the allowable range of
dwelling units (DU) per gross acre. The term “gross acre” includes all land (including streets and
rights-of-way) designated for a particular residential use, while net acreage excludes streets and
rights-of-way. In urban areas, net acreage is normally 20 to 25 percent less for a given area than
gross acreage. In rural areas and open space areas, the difference between net and gross can be as
low as five percent. Net acreage is the standard typically used in zoning, while gross acreage is
more commonly used in general plan designations.
Standards of population density for residential uses can be derived by multiplying the maximum
allowable number of dwelling units per gross acre by the average number of person per dwelling
unit assumed for the applicable residential designation. According to the California Department
of Finance (DOF), in unincorporated Butte County in 2004, there were approximately 2.55
persons per occupied dwelling unit (household).
Standards of building intensity for non-residential uses such as commercial and industrial
development are stated in terms of maximum floor-area ratios (FARs) and maximum building
heights for the three agricultural/ resource designations. A floor-area ratio is the ratio of the gross
building square footage on a lot to the net square footage of the lot (or parcel). For example, on a
lot with 10,000 net square feet of land area, an FAR of 1.00 will allow 10,000 square feet of
gross building floor area to be built, regardless of the number of stories in the building (e.g.,
5,000 square feet per floor on two floors or 10,000 square feet on one floor). On the same
10,000-square-foot lot, an FAR of 0.50 would allow 5,000 square feet of floor area, and an FAR
of 0.25 would allow 2,500 square feet.
Table 1 below states the residential densities and non-residential intensities allowed in each
designation.
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Table 1
Land Use Designation Intensity Standards
Land Use
Designation
Minimum Parcel Size Residential Density (DU/ gross
acre
Non-Residential Building Intensity
(Floor Area Ratio (FAR))/
Maximum Building Height (7)
Orchard and Field
Crops
20 acres (1)One single-family dwelling per
parcel with additional housing for
on-site employees. to
accommodate up to 12 on-site
agricultural employees and their
families. (8)
0.10
40 feet
Grazing And Open
Land
40 acres (2).One single-family dwelling per
parcel with additional housing for
on-site employees. to
accommodate up to 12 on-site
agricultural employees and their
families. (8)
0.10
40 feet
Timber-Mountain 40 acres (2).One single-family dwelling per
parcel with additional housing for
on-site employees. to
accommodate up to 12 on-site
agricultural employees and their
families. (8)
0.10
40 feet
Agricultural
Residential
20 acre (1)One single-family dwelling per
parcel.
0.15 0.30
Home occupations, farm animals,
other uses and setbacks regulated to
maintain rural character.
Foothill Area
Residential
5 acre (1)One single-family dwelling per
parcel.
0.15 0.30
Low Density
Residential
6,500 square feet(3) (4)One single-family dwelling per
parcel with other residential uses
limited to a maximum density of 6
dwelling units per gross acre (4)
0.50 0.40
Home occupations, farm animals,
other uses and setbacks regulated to
maintain single-family residential
character.
Medium Density
Residential
6,500 square feet (3) (5)Maximum density of 13 dwelling
units per gross acre with group
quarters and care homes limited to
similar densities (5).
0.55 0.50
Home occupations, commercial
uses, other uses and setbacks
regulated to maintain residential
character.
High Density
Residential
6,500 square feet (3) (6)Maximum density of 20 dwelling
units per gross acre with group
quarters and care homes limited to
similar densities.
0.60 0.50
Home occupations, commercial
uses, other uses and setbacks
regulated to maintain residential
character.
Commercial N/a Maximum density of 20 dwelling
units per gross acre.
Residential and uses limited to
minimize conflicts with
commercial uses.
0.60 1.0
Industrial uses limited to minimize
conflicts with commercial uses.
Industrial N/a Maximum density of 20 dwelling
units per gross acre.
Residential uses limited to minimize
conflicts with industrial uses.
0.70 1.5
Light commercial uses limited to
minimize conflicts with industrial
uses.
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Land Use
Designation
Minimum Parcel Size Residential Density (DU/ gross
acre
Non-Residential Building Intensity
(Floor Area Ratio (FAR))/
Maximum Building Height (7)
Research &
Business Park
N/a
The following are the primary
mechanisms for controlling the
intensity of uses and ensuring a
quality campus environment:
1. Comprehensive
development standards
contained in the Zoning
Ordinance further refine
the listing of permitted
uses.
2. Design guidelines.
3. Natural open space areas
supplemented with formal
landscaping maintained by
property owners
associations or public
entity. Outdoor passive
and active recreational
facilities are encouraged.
N/a 0.60
Public N/a Maximum density of 20 dwelling
units per gross acre.
0.50
Sports &
Entertainment
N/a N/a 0.60
Solid Waste
Management
Facility Combining
Designation
N/a N/a N/a
Notes:
(1) Can be reduced based on findings of conformance (see Table 2).
(2) Where a PUD is used the minimum gross density could vary from 20 to 40 acres per dwelling unit provided at least 80% of the total acreage
of a project is set aside for open space uses.
(3) Except corner lots, which require 7,500 square feet
(4) Developments with densities in excess of 4 dwelling units per gross acre utilizing septic waste disposal systems must meet Health Department
requirements and be clustered (PUD) or be provided with sewer service.
(5) For areas dependent upon septic tank waste disposal, soil conditions and the effluent volume based on the number of bedrooms will determine
the actual number of units per acre not to exceed 13 dwelling units per gross acre in any case.
(6) For areas dependent upon septic tank waste disposal, soil conditions and the effluent volume based on the number of bedroom will determine
the actual number of units per acre not to exceed 20 dwellings per gross acre in any case.
(7) Maximum building heights are only provided for the Orchard and Field Crops, Grazing And Open Land, and Timber-Mountain designations
(8) An agricultural employee (as defined by Butte County Code Section 24-305.020) is an individual who verifies, by personal affidavit and by
affidavit of his employer, that he is, or will be, employed at least thirty-two (32) hours per week for at least sixteen (16) weeks per year, or
that his primary source of annual income is, or is anticipated to be, derived from, any of the following described occupations:
(a) The preparation, care and treatment of farm land, pipelines or ditches, including leveling for agricultural purposes, plowing, discing
and fertilizing the soil.
(b) The sowing and planting of any agricultural or horticultural commodity.
(c) The care of any agricultural or horticultural commodity. As used in this subdivision, “care” includes, but is not limited to, cultivation,
irrigation, weed control, thinning, heating, pruning, or tieing, fumigating, spraying and dusting.
(d) The harvesting of any agricultural or horticultural commodity including, but not limited to, picking, cutting, threshing, mowing,
knocking off, field chopping, bunching, baling, balling, field packing, and placing in field containers or in the vehicle in which the
commodity will be hauled on the farm or to the place of first processing.
(e) The assembly and storage of any agricultural or horticultural commodity including, but not limited to, loading, roadsiding, banking,
stacking, binning and piling.
(f) The raising, feeding and management of livestock, fur-bearing animals, fish, frogs and other aquatic animals, and bees including, but
not limited to, herding, housing, hatching, milking, shearing, handling eggs and extracting honey.
(g) The operation, conservation, improvement or maintenance of such farm and its tools and equipment.
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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Figure 1
Countywide Land Use Diagram
[Placeholder]
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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Goals, Policies, & Implementation Programs
General
Goal LU-1
The County should provide for the health, safety and well-being of the County’s present and
future residents.
Policies
Policy LU-1.1: The County should plan for future development of all incorporated and
unincorporated areas with[in] county boundaries.
Policy LU-1.2: The County should plan for development within the County for the ensuing 20
years, giving emphasis to the more immediate years, while at the same time considering the
long range factors and trends.
Policy LU-1.3: Based upon continuous analysis of population trends, the County should provide
plans that allow reasonable “freedom of choice” of sites and facilities for the population
growth of the County, both in the County as a whole and in its various sections.
Policy LU-1.4: The County should designate adequate land for free-market competition among
land suppliers to avoid artificially constricting land availability.
Policy LU-1.5: The County should seek wide public participation in development of land use
policies and proposals.
Policy LU-1.6: The County should attempt to coordinate all government plans and programs so
that they are mutually supportive in all areas.
Policy LU-1.7: The County should promote the full utilization of sites served by existing public
facilities.
Policy LU-1.8: The County should encourage development in and around existing communities
with public facilities.
Policy LU-1.9: The County should encourage annexation to existing cities and existing districts.
Policy LU-1.10: The County should consult with incorporated cities and neighboring counties in
the development of planning proposals for areas of mutual concern.
Policy LU-1.11: The County should encourage urban infill development within city limits and
within existing unincorporated communities where development can more easily and readily
be served by public infrastructure facilities.
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Review and Amendment
Goal LU-2
To maintain an up-to-date General Plan.
Policies
Policy LU-2.1: County staff shall prepare the annual report required by Government Code
Section 65400(b) and submit it to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.
Policy LU-2.2: The County will consider all suggestions for needed changes in the General Plan
and shall initiate formal approval proceedings on proposals it deems worthy of further
consideration.
Policy LU-2.3: The County shall correlate future revisions in this text and future revisions of
land use diagram amendments with stated concerns and policies in all adopted elements.
Policy LU-2.4: The County shall review and amend, as necessary, the other general plan
elements to minimize conflicts with the provisions of the Land Use and Agricultural
Element.
Policy LU-2.5: Subsequent to the revision and adoption of a land use diagram for each
community area, the County will consider formal applications for changes from one land use
category to another designation on the land use diagrams.
Land Use Diagrams
Goal LU-3
To maintain up-to-date land use diagrams.
Policies
Policy LU-3.1: Planning staff shall prepare and the Planning Commission shall adopt land use
diagram boundaries for each community or area of the County.
Policy LU-3.2: The County shall ensure that land use diagrams have an appropriate scale as
determined by the Planning Director (generally 1” = 4 miles for the overall maps, 1” = 2,000
feet for urban and planning areas and 1” = 400 or 800 feet for special circumstances).
Policy LU-3.3: The County shall decide which land use category is the more appropriate where
development sites are split by or adjacent to indefinite category boundaries not following
known physical feature or property lines.
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Policy LU-3.4: Before holding public hearings regarding land use diagram amendments,
planning staff shall prepare and present a comprehensive report of all relevant policies and
environmental considerations.
Policy LU-3.5: The County shall seek wide public participation before and during consideration
of land use diagram amendments through the use of public meetings, local groups,
questionnaires and other methods and notification of affected property owners.
Policy LU-3.6: Before approving land use diagram amendments, the Planning Commission and
Board of Supervisors shall each hold at least one public hearing after notifying all affected
property owners.
Zoning
Goal LU-4
To ensure the consistency of zoning with the General Plan.
Policies
Policy LU-4.1: The County shall review and amend the zoning ordinance as necessary to
consistently reflect the policies and standards of this element.
Policy LU-4.2: The County shall establish precise zoning of all unincorporated areas consistent
with the proposals of this element.
Policy LU-4.3: The County should ensure that all land use diagram changes are immediately
followed by consistent rezoning.
Policy LU-4.4: Planning staff shall review consistency of zoning proposals with private
applicants at the time of application and with the Planning Commission before initiation of
rezoning.
Development Review
Goal LU-5
To ensure that the review of development proposals is consistent with the General Plan.
Policies
Policy LU-5.1: In its environmental review process, the County shall consider the concerns of all
policies of the entire general plan and possible effects on all existing and planned land uses.
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Policy LU-5.2: The County should ensure that conditions for approval of use permits and
variances serve to maintain primary uses in the area or allow a continuation of a legal
nonconforming use.
Policy LU-5.3: The County shall ensure that consistency with the provisions of the General Plan
is a condition of approval of all proposed divisions of real property reviewed by the County.
Policy LU-5.4: The County shall require subdividers to meet all design standards necessary to
implement the Land Use and Agricultural Element and to provide improvements made
necessary by their project.
Policy LU-5.5: The County shall consider land use designations, zoning classifications, street
functions, and community preferences in the development of improvement standards.
Policy LU-5.6: The County shall prepare street and drainage plans for areas that are designated
for urban uses on land use diagrams.
Coordination of Plans
Goal LU-6
To promote city-county cooperation in the development and implementation of plans.
Policies
Policy LU-6.1: The County will review development policies and proposals for both county and
city general plans with the incorporated cities.
Policy LU-6.2: County planning staff shall review all city planning agendas and request
consideration of county plans where necessary.
Policy LU-6.3: The County shall refer all proposed zoning activities and development projects
within a city's general plan area to the city for review and comment.
Policy LU-6.4: The County shall ensure that County subdivision standards consider city
standards in areas designated for urban development on both city and county general plans.
Policy LU-6.5: The County shall request adequate consideration of the provisions of the General
Plan in LAFCO review of all proposed boundary changes.
Policy LU-6.6: The Planning Commission and staff shall work with LAFCO to develop
mutually-supportive spheres of influence and land use plans in all areas of the County.
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Other County Wide Plans
Goal LU-7
To promote consideration of the Butte County General Plan in the development and
implementation of other county-wide plans.
Policies
Policy LU-7.1: The County shall evaluate potential impacts on air quality in the development of
land use plans.
Policy LU-7.2: The County shall request adequate consideration of its adopted General Plan
policies in the development of the Air Quality Implementation Plan by the Butte County
Association of Governments.
Policy LU-7.3: The County shall request adequate consideration of its adopted General Plan
policies and plans in the development of the Regional Transportation Plan by the Butte
County Association of Governments.
Residential Development
Goal LU-8
To provide adequate land designated for residential uses.
Policies
Policy LU-8.1: The County should provide a diversity of housing sites varying in size, density
and location.
Policy LU-8.2: The County should ensure that residential densities are correlated with soil, slope
and other natural site characteristics.
Policy LU-8.3: The County should ensure that residential densities are correlated with
availability of water and sewage disposal and proximity to other public facilities.
Policy LU-8.4: The County should relate residential densities to intensity and compatibility of
adjacent uses.
Policy LU-8.5: The County should balance residential densities with traffic-carrying capacities
of existing and proposed circulation plans.
Policy LU-8.6: The County should allow residential development to occur based upon either
minimum lot size or average density using variable lot sizes, in appropriate residential
General Plan land use designations provided that the density of the existing Zoning district is
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not exceeded. When the use of density averaging results in open space parcels, a binding
mechanism shall be provided to permanently assure, to the greatest extent feasible, protection
of the open space area from future development. Depending upon the needs of the property
owner and the environmental sensitivity of the open space lands, acceptable mechanisms for
protection can include a conservation easement, development agreement, or the transfer of
development credits.
Policy LU-8.7: The County should provide for, in appropriate residential Zoning districts,
Flexible Lot Size Provisions that allow for flexibility in the siting of residential development
and the preservation of open space.
Policy LU-8.8: The County should allow for the transfer of residential density between parcels
within a single development area, including between General Plan land use designations and
Zoning districts. Density transfers shall only occur under a development agreement or other
acceptable mechanism administered by the County of Butte.
Commercial Uses
Goal LU-9
To provide adequate land designated for commercial uses.
Policies
Policy LU-9.1: The County should encourage a full range of commercial services at the regional,
community and neighborhood levels.
Policy LU-9.2: The County should require the coordination of future commercial facilities with
existing and proposed transportation systems, utilities and other public facilities.
Policy LU-9.3: The County should designate sufficient land for commercial facilities to fulfill
needs for services and employment.
Policy LU-9.4: The County should designate retail and service commercial areas in close
proximity to residential development.
Policy LU-9.5: The County should allow home occupations and compatible types of commercial
uses in residential areas.
Policy LU-9.6: The County should regulate visibility, employment, advertising, parking, etc. of
businesses allowed in residential areas in order to maintain a predominantly residential
character.
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Industrial Uses
Goal LU-10
To provide adequate land designated for industrial uses to provide sufficient employment
opportunities and strengthen the economic base of the county.
Policies
Policy LU-10.1: The County should promote the development of new industry in the County.
Policy LU-10.2: The County should encourage the location of industry near major transportation
facilities that carry raw materials, finished products and commuting workers.
Policy LU-10.3: The County should direct new industry to locations adequately served by major
utilities and provide sufficient services and utilities to meet future industrial needs.
Policy LU-10.4: The County should encourage the grouping of industrial and heavy commercial
uses into integrated industrial parks.
Policy LU-10.5: The County should promote the full utilization of existing industrial areas.
Compatibility of Land Uses
Goal LU-11
To ensure the compatibility of adjacent land uses.
Policies
Policy LU-11.1: The County should relate the intensity and variety of commercial uses to the
market accessibility of each site.
Policy LU-11.2: The County should limit light commercial uses in planned industrial areas.
Policy LU-11.3: The County should limit manufacturing and wholesale activities in light
commercial areas
Policy LU-11.4: The County should limit residential uses in industrial and commercial areas.
Policy LU-11.5: The County should encourage the separation of heavy industrial and residential
area with other uses, natural barriers or public facilities. Economic Development
Goal LU-12
To promote a strong, stable and diversified economy that provides a wide range of meaningful
employment and investment opportunities.
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Policies
Policy LU-12.1: The County should provide sites and facilities to accommodate a variety of
economic activities
Policy LU-12.2: The County should encourage the economic use and value of private property.
Open Space and Urban Development
Goal LU-13
To provide adequate open space for relaxation and recreation; and for the functions of
maintaining air quality, defining community boundaries and identities, natural resources, and
rural activities.
Policies
Policy LU-13.1: The County should provide open space areas near and between designated urban
areas on the Land Use Diagram.
Policy LU-13.2: The County should set large minimum parcel sizes for open space lands outside
the urban areas indicated on the Land Use Diagram. “Urban development” would then be
defined as the creation or use of smaller parcels.
Policy LU-13.3: The County should not allow urban development of open space land described
in this plan.
Policy LU-13.4: The County should conduct studies to determine the urban development
capabilities of the foothill and mountain areas.
Policy LU-13.5: The County should allow urban development only in areas physically suited to
such use.
Policy LU-13.6: The County should discourage urban development isolated from existing
development and urban centers unless a need for such uses can be determined.
Policy LU-13.7: The County should permit the creation of residential parcels near large numbers
of vacant sites of similar characteristics only if a need for such uses can be demonstrated.
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2. AGRICULTURAL ELEMENT
[Note: In the Public Review Draft Policy Document Recodification there was a purposeful
decision to include the policies concerning agricultural land with land use policies and call the
new element the “Land Use and Agricultural Element”. The rationale behind this decision was
that it would bring the County's agricultural policies up to a more prominent level within the
document and change the perception of them from being an extra optional element to an integral
part of the “main” element of the General Plan.
However, based on direction from County staff, the Agricultural policies have been placed in a
separate Agricultural Element for the Final GPTU Policy Document.]
Goals, Policies, & Implementation Programs
[Note: unless stated otherwise, these goals, policies, and programs only apply to land designated
“Grazing and Open Land” or “Orchard and Field Crops”.]
General
Goal AG-1
To preserve agricultural lands for continued agriculture use; to strengthen and support the
agricultural sector of the economy; and to protect the natural resources that sustain agriculture in
Butte County.
Policies
Policy AG-1.1: The County should maintain agricultural crop production as a major source of
food, employment and income.
Policy AG-1.2: The County should work with state and federal representatives to amend or
develop legislation that continues to promote and protect agriculture in California and the
nation.
Policy AG-1.3: The County should encourage urban expansion toward the least productive soils.
Policy AG-1.4: The County should allow rural residential development as a buffer between
urban development and intensive crop land. Policy AG-1.5: The County should encourage all
agricultural land owners to enter open space agreements.
Policy AG-1.6: The County should support all State and federal legislation designed to preserve
soil and agricultural land.
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Designation and Zoning of Agricultural Land
Goal AG-2
To ensure that agricultural lands are appropriately designated and zoned.
Policies
Policy AG-2.1: The County should designate all “prime agricultural land” (as defined in the
Williamson Act) outside designated urban areas as “Agricultural” on the Land Use Diagram.
Policy AG-2.2: The County should retain in an agricultural designation on the Land Use
Diagram areas where location, natural conditions and water availability make lands well
suited to orchard and field crop use, while considering for non-agricultural use areas where
urban encroachment has made inroads into agricultural areas and where past official actions
have planned areas for development.
Policy AG-2.3: The County should allow only open space uses and necessary related structures
in agricultural
Policy AG-2.4: The County shall designate areas outside of the adopted Spheres of Influence of
Chico, Oroville, Paradise, Biggs and Gridley, and outside of the more intensely developed
portions of the communities of Durham, Nord, Honcut, Bangor, Richvale, and Palermo for
the protection of continued agriculture. The County recognizes the Cities of Gridley and
Biggs desire to study possible future urbanization within the corridor area between those two
cities. However, as long as these are unincorporated lands the County has the primary
responsibility for planning in this area.
Policy AG-2.5: In order to address and plan for future growth needs, the County shall encourage
the Cities of Gridley and Biggs to undertake a comprehensive review and update of their
respective general plans and related documents.
Policy AG-2.6: The County shall conserve Orchard and Field Crops lands and Grazing and Open
Lands as designated in the General Plan Land Use Diagram.
Policy AG-2.7: The County shall designate Orchard and Field Crops lands on the General Plan
Land Use Diagram based on Figure 13-7 (Land Capability) in the General Plan Background
Report and the current or historical existence of field crops, seed crops, vegetable crops, tree
and vine crops, aquaculture, nursery stock, and apiary products and uses.
Policy AG-2.8: The County shall designate Grazing and Open Lands lands on the General Plan
Land Use Diagram based on Figure 13-7 (Land Capability) in the General Plan Background
Report, and the current or historical existence of grazing, animal husbandry and aquaculture
use.
Policy AG-2.9: The County should retain in a Grazing-Open Land category areas on the Land
Use Diagram where location and natural conditions make lands well suited for grazing land,
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while considering for non-grazing use areas where urban encroachment has made inroads
into grazing areas and where past official actions have planned areas for development.
Implementation Programs
Program AG-2.A: The County shall apply A (Agriculture) zoning to all lands designated Orchard
and Field Crops on the General Plan Land Use Diagram.
Program AG-2.B: The County shall develop and apply a new GOL (Grazing and Open Lands)
zone to all lands designated Grazing and Open Lands on the General Plan Land Use
Diagram.
Program AG-2.C: In the zones consistent with the general plan designations of Orchard and
Field Crops and Grazing and Open Lands, the County shall make provisions for the
following:
A definitive purpose and intent
A detailed list of permitted and expressly prohibited uses
Aquaculture and related facilities
Accessory uses
Continuation of agricultural segregations for processing only
Specific requirements for agriculture-dependent and agriculture-related industries
Parcel consolidation
Site sensitive land planning
Residential clustering through the PUD process with density bonuses in the Grazing and
Open Land area
Residential clustering without density bonuses in the Orchard and Field Crops area
Transfer of Development Credits
Minimum lot sizes and development setbacks
Program AG-2.D: The County shall amend the Land Use Diagram outside of the LAFCo-
adopted Spheres of Influence by designating Orchard and Field Crops and Grazing and Open
Lands generally as shown on Figure 13-6 (Agricultural Lands) in the General Plan
Background Report. Amendments to city spheres of influence and community spheres may
occur from time to time. Consideration of amendments to the spheres for cities and for
communities must be based upon detailed land planning, including but not limited to a
specific plan, community plan or detailed general plan, and the LAFCo sphere amendment
process.
Program AG-2.E: The County shall amend the Zoning Ordinance to provide zoning consistent
with a Orchard and Field Crops and a Grazing and Open Lands land use designations
including minimum lot sizes, and uses that support continued agriculture, as shown on Figure
13-6 (Agricultural Lands) in the General Plan Background Report.
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Grazing Land
Goal AG 3
To preserve and protect grazing land for continued grazing uses.
Policies
Policy AG-3.1: The County should maintain extensive areas for primary use as livestock grazing
land.
Policy AG-3.2: The County should allow livestock grazing on all suitable sites not needed for
development or crop production.
Policy AG-3.3: The County should prevent scattered development in grazing areas.
Policy AG-3.4: The County should discourage irrigation of grazing land with poor drainage or
that has a high risk of mosquito production.
Parcel Sizes
Goal AG-4
To maintain parcel sizes that ensure the long-term preservation, conservation and continuity of
those general plan areas identified as Orchard and Field Crops and Grazing and Open Lands.
Policies
Policy AG-4.1: The County should maintain minimum parcel sizes in designated agricultural
areas by following comprehensive zoning principles.
Policy AG-4.2: The County should specify a minimum parcel size of 20 to 160 acres for each
agricultural zone.
Policy AG-4.3: In areas identified as Orchard and Field Crops on the General Plan Land Use
Diagram, the County shall limit the minimum parcel sizes for new land divisions to not less
than the existing zoning designations from 5 to 160 acres. The densities currently established
by the existing zoning on Orchard and Field Crops lands shall be the minimum lot size
allowable. Further subdivision of Orchard and Field Crops lands are discouraged.
Policy AG-4.4: In the Orchard and Field Crops area, the County shall encourage parcel
consolidation and site-sensitive planning by allowing for Transfer of Development Credits
(TDC) and other land use concepts.
Policy AG-4.5: In the Grazing and Open Lands area, the County shall encourage the voluntary
retention of ranch lands in large acreages through site-sensitive planning, Transfer of
Development Credits (TDC), density bonuses, and other land use concepts.
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Agricultural Uses
Goal AG-5
To allow appropriate agricultural uses on agricultural land.
Policies
Policy AG-5.1: The County should allow a wide range of agricultural and necessary accessory
uses in crop production areas.
Policy AG-5.2: The County should allow agricultural uses and farm animals in designated
residential areas where appropriate.
Policy AG-5.3: The County should limit density of farm animals in relation to type of animal and
parcel size.
Agriculture and Urban Uses
Goal AG-6
To conserve and stabilize agricultural land uses at city and community boundaries in order to
protect agricultural lands from encroachment and conversion to urban uses.
Policies
Policy AG-6.1: The County shall ensure that agriculture will not be made inviable by the
economic impacts of urban development.
Policy AG-6.2: The County shall create development and performance standards designed to
protect agricultural uses from urban encroachment conflicts.
Policy AG-6.3: The County shall provide a clear delineation on the General Plan Land Use
Diagram between long-term agricultural production lands and city/community areas.
Policy AG-6.4: The County shall encourage urban development to the LAFCo adopted Spheres
of Influence.
Policy AG-6.5: The County shall support LAFCo policies that limit the expansion of urban
services and densities outside of adopted Spheres of Influence.
Policy AG-6.6: The County shall utilize the LAFCo adopted Spheres of Influence for the cities
and the identified unincorporated community cores as areas for urban and/or more intensive
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development. The County shall restrict urban and intensive development to those areas
outside agriculture and other low-intensity uses.
Policy AG-6.7: The County shall rezone unincorporated land within LAFCo-adopted Spheres of
Influence to be consistent with urban densities and City-adopted General Plans. Cooperate
with cities to make maximum efficient use of vacant lands within adopted Spheres of
Influence.
Policy AG-6.8: The County shall work with LAFCo to create and maintain a consistent approach
to the conservation of agricultural land through the designation of reasonable and logical
Sphere of Influence boundaries. The County shall support future annexations and Sphere of
Influence amendments only when in compliance with the Land Use and Agricultural Element
and LAFCo policies and procedures. It is not the intent of this policy to preclude cities from
expansion.
Policy AG-6.9: The County shall continue to support the Chico Greenline policies.
Implementation Programs
Program AG-6.A: The County shall establish areas of influence for the identified unincorporated
rural communities, such as Durham, Nord, Honcut, Bangor, Richvale, and Palermo. The rural
community areas should encompass the more intensively developed portions.
Program AG-6.B: The County should encourage the Cities of Gridley and Biggs to define a
planning area for that is beyond the existing Spheres of Influence to reflect each city’s area of
interest. General plan amendments, Spheres of Influence modifications, and finally,
annexation of those areas of interest is the legally required process. Upon annexation of the
areas of interest, the city general plan and zoning will apply. Until that time, the County
General Plan and zoning will apply. The County will participate in a cooperative manner in
this process as requested by the cities and as County resources permit. Until annexed, the
area will be designated by the County as productive agricultural land, and also because
retention in larger tracts will be most beneficial to the cities if the land is eventually
developed.
Program AG-6.C: The County shall apply the agricultural policies of the Land Use and
Agricultural Element to the Durham-Dayton-Nelson (D2N) Area Plan as well as the currently
adopted policies of Durham-Dayton-NelsonD2N. Minimum lot sizes for agricultural land
uses shown on the Durham-Dayton-Nelson D2N Area Plan map shall be the minimums of
the current zoning.
Conflict with Non-Agricultural Uses
Goal AG-7
To support the management of agricultural lands in an efficient, economical manner, with
minimal conflict from non-agricultural uses.
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Policies
Policy AG-7.1: The County shall apply its Right to Farm Ordinance to all non-agricultural land
use approvals, including building permits, within or adjacent to designated agricultural areas.
Policy AG-7.2: In order to preserve the maximum amount of land for commercial agricultural
production and to avoid conflicts, the County shall restrict non-agricultural uses in the
Zoning Ordinance, including, but not limited to, water ski lakes, riding stables, golf courses,
residential subdivisions, and industrial and commercial uses not directly related to agriculture
on agricultural lands. Public uses, including but not limited to, sewer treatment plants,
drainage facilities, and energy generating facilities shall be permitted subject to a Use Permit.
Such facilities shall be carefully located so as not to unduly interfere with existing or planned
agricultural activities.
Policy AG-7.3: The County shall discontinue Agricultural Segregations for homesites (life
estates serve the same purpose).
Policy AG-7.4: The County shall continue Agricultural Segregations for agricultural processing
while requiring an agricultural conservation easement on the remaining land, a vegetation
buffer of 6 to 8 feet at full growth around the processing use, and a 200-foot setback from the
agricultural area.
Policy AG-7.5: The County shall ensure that the primary purpose of the Orchard and Field Crop
and Grazing and Open Lands land use designations is for agricultural production, related
processing, and services in support of agriculture. Residential uses, such as the farmer’s
home, in these categories are secondary uses and are permitted on a limited basis to assist
and support agriculture.
Policy AG-7.6: The County shall carefully locate residential lands where limited agricultural
uses and farm animals are allowed, to avoid conflicts with agricultural operations. This
includes, but is not limited to, commercial stables, and the raising of exotic animals.
Policy AG-7.7: The County shall ensure that pre-existing lots, uses, and buildings that were legal
prior to the adoption of the Agricultural Element in 1995 are permitted to continue.
Policy AG-7.8: The County shall utilize mitigation banks, environmental mitigation sites,
wildlife refuges, and other natural resource preserves, within or adjacent to land designated
or used for agricultural lands, to allow the continuation of standard farming or ranching
practices.
Implementation Programs
Program AG-7.A: The County shall require recordation of the County’s Right to Farm agreement
as a condition of all residential land divisions in areas adjacent to or designated for Orchard
and Field Crops and/or Grazing and Open Lands. The County shall promote a general public
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
37
awareness and understanding of the special requirements of commercial farming, ranching,
and agricultural practices associated with normal farm activities. Additionally, the County
shall provide the County Recorder’s Office with copies of the County’s Right-to-Farm
Ordinance and copies of the County-prepared written explanation.
Program AG-7.B: The County shall require sellers or any fiduciary agents to provide a County-
prepared written explanation of the County’s Right-to-Farm Ordinance as part of the notice
package to prospective buyers in areas adjacent to and within Orchard and Field Crops and/or
Grazing and Open Lands areas.
Program AG-7.C: The County shall enforce provisions of existing State Nuisance Law
(California Civil Code Sub-section 3482.5).
Program AG-7.D: The County shall require the submittal of an agricultural maintenance plan to
provide for the continuation of existing agricultural activities when a request is made for a
Use Permit on a lot(s) with existing agricultural operations. The Agriculture Commissioner
and the Department of Development Services shall review the plans for comments and
conditions prior to the Planning Commission hearing on the Use Permit.
Program AG-7.E: The County shall provide a definitive purpose section for the agricultural
zones in the Zoning Ordinance and a list of agricultural uses, including, but not limited to,
crop production, orchards, aquaculture, animal husbandry, agricultural industries, and the
like, that preserve, promote, and support the agricultural area.
Program AG-7.F: The County shall amend the Zoning Ordinance to recognize the legal rights of
existing legal lots, uses, and buildings that, as a result of the adoption of the Agricultural
Element in 1995 do not comply. Additionally, the County shall amend the Zoning Ordinance
to exempt legal non-conforming lots, uses, and buildings, in Agricultural Zones, from the
requirement of a Use Permit for expansions, additions and modifications that would normally
be allowed for conforming lots, uses, and buildings in Agricultural Zones.
Agricultural Land Preservation
Goal AG-8
To seek and support preservation policies and programs to protect long-term agricultural
production.
Policies
Policy AG-8.1: The County shall encourage the use of the Williamson Act as a means of
preserving agricultural land.
Policy AG-8.1: The County shall actively encourage the use of voluntary agricultural and open
space easements with the County or appropriate private land trusts as a means of preserving
land in agricultural and open space use.
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Policy AG-8.1: The County shall use proactive incentives including but not limited to density
bonuses, clustered development, Transfer of Development Credits (TDC), Purchase of
Development Credits (PDC), innovative land use planning, and land trusts to retain and/or
protect agricultural lands.
Implementation Programs
Program AG-8.A: The County shall continue participation in the Williamson Act program and
work with the Land Conservation Act Committee to develop a consistent set of policies to
deal with Williamson Act contracts and amendments.
Program AG-8.B: The County shall provide maps, data, and technical assistance to support and
encourage Butte County farmers/ranchers or other suitable groups to develop a County-wide
agricultural land trust.
Program AG-8.C: The County shall support efforts by private conservation organizations to
utilize voluntary conservation easements that provide for such items as preservation,
continued agricultural use, agricultural supportive uses, and tax breaks as a tool for
agricultural conservation.
Program AG-8.D: Using the authority under CEQA, the County shall consider establishing a fee,
to be applied to all new development on agricultural lands within the unincorporated portion
of Butte County, to mitigate the loss of prime farmlands and/or lands with intensive
agricultural investments. The primary purpose of the fee shall be for the conservation of
prime farmlands.
Program AG-8.E: The County shall establish a voluntary transfer of development credits
program to be administered by the County. The program shall establish requirements and
procedures for transfer of development credits from certain agricultural areas to specified
receiving areas. Receiving areas may be in the County and/or may be jointly identified by a
City through a joint powers agreement.
Program AG-8.F: In the Grazing and Open Lands area, the County shall establish a residential
density bonus program under the Zoning Ordinance, that would allow for the awarding of
density bonuses upon approval of development plans that provide for clustering of residential
units, reservation of the agricultural portions of the property in permanent easements,
provisions of significant amounts of open space, appropriate minimum lot sizes, and other
similar criteria.
Buffer Zones
Goal AG-9
To provide buffer areas on non-agricultural land to protect adjacent existing agricultural uses.
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Policies
Policy AG-9.1: The County shall require development to provide land use transitions, setbacks
and buffers between urban development and agricultural interface to reduce interference and
conflict.
Implementation Programs
Program AG-9.A: The County shall amend the Zoning Ordinance to require that a buffer be
established on property proposed for residential development in order to protect existing
agricultural uses from incompatible use conflicts. The desired standard shall be 300 feet, but
may be adjusted to address unusual circumstances. Guidelines, as part of the General Plan’s
implementation, shall be developed illustrating buffer requirements for various situations.
Program AG-9.B: The County shall amend the Zoning Ordinance to require a natural or man-
made buffer between a development and an agricultural land use when non-residential
development is proposed on lot(s) adjacent to an agricultural operation or Orchard and Field
Crops land use category. The County shall require that the buffer is located totally on the
lot(s) where development is proposed. A buffer could be a topographic feature, a substantial
tree stand, a water course or similarly defined feature. Agricultural uses may be permitted in
the buffer area. This program does not apply to additions and remodeling to legally existing
development.
Program AG-9.C: The County shall amend all zones to provide development and performance
standards that include such items as setbacks, buffer areas, landscaping requirements, and
fencing.
Conversion of Agricultural Lands
Goal AG-10
To allow limited conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural uses, and to provide for
adequate mitigation of impacts where such conversion does occur.
Policies
Policy AG-10.1: The County shall allow for the conversion of agricultural land within LAFCo
Spheres of Influence where land has been determined to be irretrievably lost to urbanization.
These would likely be areas where urban development has surrounded or substantially
encroached upon agricultural land and has limited its continued productive use.
Policy AG-10.2: The County could permit limited conversion of agricultural land to urban uses
when the following criteria are met and mitigated:
A general plan amendment and rezone application has been approved
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The lot(s) for which conversion are requested is (are) adjacent to uses identified as
other than agriculture or agricultural support uses, i.e. receiving plants, hulling plants
The conversion will not be detrimental to existing agricultural operations
The conversion land is adjacent to existing urban infrastructure and would constitute a
logical contiguous extension of a designated urban area
No feasible alternative exists that is less detrimental to agriculture
Infill within the adjacent designated urban area has reached a 75% level of
development. Development is defined as improvements to property including, but not
limited to non-agricultural buildings or structures.
Policy AG-10.3: The County shall permit new residences and/or conversion of agricultural land
to non-agricultural land only when full mitigation of impacts to the extent under law are
provided including, but not limited to, roads, drainage, schools, fire protection, law
enforcement, recreation, sewage, and lighting.
Policy AG-10.4: The County shall require new residences within agricultural areas to pay their
fair share of development impacts on public services and infrastructure.
Environmental Resource Protection
Goal AG-11
To encourage environmental resource protection measures to ensure the continued agricultural
use of the land.
Policies
Policy AG-11.1: The County shall work with water purveyors to ensure water availability for the
long term productive use of the County’s agricultural areas.
Policy AG-11.2: The County shall encourage irrigation methods that conserve water.
Policy AG-11.3: The County shall encourage LAFCo and Cities to require that irrigation and
drainage channels be improved consistent with the standards of the affected irrigation and
drainage district where land is proposed to be converted to urban uses.
Implementation Programs
Program AG-11.A: The County shall encourage the University of California to provide
information on water conservation measures to farmers. The County shall seek to coordinate
conservation efforts of local Resource Conservation Districts, the Soil Conservation Service
and irrigation districts.
Program AG-11.A: The County shall participate with wastewater generators to establish
programs for agricultural reuse of treated wastewater in a manner that would be
economically beneficial to agriculture.
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Soils
Goal AG-12
To reduce soil erosion, encourage the conservation of soil resources.
Policies
Policy AG-12.1: The County shall recognize state and federal legislation designed to preserve
soil and protect agricultural land.
Policy AG-12.2: The County shall consult with soil experts to determine proper locations of
urban as well as agricultural land uses.
Policy AG-12.3: The County should define the full impact of roads on the soil and vegetation in
Butte County and establish control measures for road-related soil and vegetative problems so
that these problems will be minimized if not eliminated.
Agricultural Products
Goal AG-13
To seek measures to preserve and maintain agriculture and encourage new agricultural industries
and operations.
Policies
Policy AG-13.1: The County shall facilitate agricultural production by allowing a limited range
of ancillary or support services/uses. These services/uses shall directly relate to agricultural
production occurring in the surrounding area or dependent upon an agricultural location to
function.
Policy AG-13.2: The County shall create and facilitate opportunities to promote and market
agricultural products grown or processed in Butte County.
Policy AG-13.3: The County shall create opportunities to promote and market agricultural
products grown or processed within Butte County (such as a Farmers’ Market) as a part of
the economic development activities of local government agencies.
Implementation Programs
Program AG-13.A: The County shall allow limited visitor-serving commercial uses, such as
wineries and specialty produce markets, subject to the approval of a Use Permit in
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agricultural areas, to ensure continued agricultural use and compatibility with surrounding
uses.
Program AG-13.B: The County shall continue to permit roadside stands for the sale of
agricultural products, in any agricultural land use category, to promote and market those
agricultural products grown or processed on the property. Clearly secondary and incidental
sales of agricultural products grown in Butte County may be permitted subject to appropriate
approvals.
Program AG-13.C: The County shall require that agriculture-dependent industries and uses meet
the following criteria:
The use will not require the extension of sewer or water
The use does not substantially detract from agricultural production on-site or in the area
The use does not create a concentration of commercial uses in the immediate area
The use is compatible with and does not adversely impact surrounding land uses
The use provides for adequate traffic circulation
Agricultural Worker Housing
[Note: see the Housing Element for further policies and programs regarding Agricultural
Worker Housing.]
Goal AG-14
To support appropriate amounts of farm worker and farm family housing in agriculturally zoned
areas.
Policies
Policy AG-14.1: In order to help provide a stable work force for agriculture, the County shall
continue to facilitate efforts of individuals, private organizations and public agencies to
provide safe and adequate housing for farm workers.
Implementation Programs
Program AG-14.A: The County shall require the siting of farm labor and farm family housing
units to minimize disruption of farming operations, avoid conversions of productive
farmland, and take maximum advantage of existing facilities including utilities and
driveways.
Program AG-14.B: The County shall limit residential land uses in the agricultural areas to
dwellings only for preservation of the family farm, for farm employees and those persons
who own the farm land, up to a limit established by ordinance. All such dwellings shall be
encouraged to locate on lands least impacted for agricultural use and/or in “clustered”
configurations to minimize the conversion of agricultural lands to any other uses. A
maximum dwelling unit density for the total acreage in the farm or ranch shall be established
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
43
by ordinance. Records verifying employment of farm workers must be provided and made
available on request.
Program AG-14.C: The County shall enforce the provisions of the Uniform Building Code and
State Health Codes relative to labor camps.
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3. TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION ELEMENT
This element is divided into two major parts. The first major part describes the County’s
Circulation Diagram and functional roadway classification system. The second major part sets
out goals, policies and implementation programs organized under fourteen topics:
•Transportation and Land Use
•Fiscal
•Environmental
•Road and Street Standards
•Safety
•Special Studies and Specific Plans
•Interjurisdictional Coordination
•Urban Streets and Highways
•Public Transportation
•Bicycle Transportation
•Pedestrian Circulation
•Air Transportation
•Multi-modal Transportation
•Additional Urban Area Policies
Circulation Diagram and Standards
Functional Classification and Design Standards of Roadways
Butte County’s streets and highways can be described in terms of a hierarchy of roadways
according to their functional classification. The resulting hierarchy of roadways, as well as the
general characteristics of each type, is described below. Two major classifications, urban and
rural streets, are grouped according to the character of service they are expected to provide. It is
necessary to differentiate between urban and rural areas since the services they provide can differ
greatly. Butte County’s road improvement standards for these classes of roads are contained in
Appendix II of the Butte County Improvement Standards, adopted by Board of Supervisors
Resolution 02-104 and all subsequent amendments. Copies of these Improvement Standards are
available from the Department of Public Works and are available on their web site at:
http://www.buttecounty.net/publicworks/improvement_standards/is_index.html.
This hierarchy of streets and highways is only a general guide to the classification of roadways
that make up the circulation system. Because streets often serve dual functions, they cannot be
definitively classified. In addition, the width of a roadway does not always correspond directly to
its function in the overall circulation system, though the wider roadways tend to have more
regional function.
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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Urban Roadway Classes
Urban Local Roadways
Urban local roadways are intended to serve adjacent properties only. They carry very little, if
any, through traffic and generally have low volumes. They are normally discontinuous in
alignment to discourage through traffic, although they are occasionally laid out in a grid system.
Speed limits on local roads seldom exceed 25 miles per hour. An example of a local roadway in
an urban environment is the cul-de-sac.
Urban Collector Roadways
Urban collector roadways are intended to collect traffic from local roadways and carry it to roads
higher in the hierarchy of classification. Collector roads also serve adjacent properties. They
generally carry light to moderate traffic volumes at speed limits typically in the range of 35 to 45
miles per hour.
Urban Arterial Roadways
Urban arterial roadways can be further divided into major and minor facilities. They are fed by
local and collector roads and provide intra-city circulation and connection to regional roadways.
Although their primary purpose is to move heavy volumes of traffic, arterial roadways often
provide access to adjacent properties, especially in commercial areas. Speed limits on arterial
roadways typically range from 45 to 55 miles per hour.
Rural Roadway Classes
Rural Local Roads
Rural local roads serve primarily to provide access to adjacent land and provide for travel over
relatively short distances.
Rural Collector Roads
Rural collector roads serve travel that is primarily intra-county rather than of regional or
statewide importance. Travel distances on these roads are usually shorter than on arterial
roadways.
Rural Arterial Roadways
Rural arterial roadways provide for corridor movements having trip lengths and volumes that
indicate substantial statewide or interstate travel. They generally link urban areas of over 50,000
population as well as many areas with 25,000 population or more. They are often regional
highways or freeways as described below.
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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The following classifications of roadway serve both rural and urban areas by providing travel on
important, high-volume corridors.
Regional Highways
Regional highways are used as primary connections between major traffic generators or as
primary links in state and national highway networks. Such routes often have sections of many
miles through rural environments without traffic control interruptions.
Freeways and Expressways
Freeways and expressways are intended to serve both intra-regional and inter-regional travel.
They provide no access to adjacent properties, but rather are fed traffic from collector and
arterial roadways by access ramps. Freeways provide connections to other regional highways and
are capable of carrying heavy traffic volumes. Speed limits on freeways are usually the highest
allowed by law.
Circulation Diagram
The Circulation Diagram below (Figures 2 through 6) depicts the proposed circulation system for
unincorporated Butte County to support existing and planned development under the Land Use
Diagram. The Circulation Diagram represents the official functional classification of existing and
proposed streets, roadways, and highways in Butte County. The diagram depicts the principal
arterial, minor arterial, major collector, and minor collector roadway system in the county. All
other roadways are classified as local streets.
Figure 1 shows the countywide Circulation Diagram, and Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 show the existing
and planned major street and highway network for the Chico, Oroville, Paradise, and Gridley-
Biggs Urban Areas.
Figure 7 shows cross-section illustrations of functionally classified roads as they relate to Butte
County's road improvement standards.
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Countywide Circulation Diagram
NOTES:
1. CLASSIFICATION OF COUNTYWIDE CIRCULATION IS BASED ON RURAL CLASSIFICATION DESCRIPTIONS FOUND IN TABLE 5 OF THE TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT TEXT.
2. SEE FIGURES "3" THROUGH "6" FOR DETAILS OF URBAN AREA CIRCULATION.
Source: Cal Trans Functional Classifications 1990; City of Chic o General Plan Nov ember, 1994
Legend
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Chico Urban Area Major Street & Highway Network
Legend
Source: Cal Trans Functional Classifications 1990; City of Chic o General Plan Nov ember, 1994
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Urban Area BoundaryPrincipal Arterial Minor ArterialProposed Freeway/Expressway Major Collector
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Source: Cal Trans Functional Classifications 1990; City of Gridley Circulation Element June, 1999
Urban AreaPrincipal Arterial Minor ArterialMajor CollectorMinor Collector* Proposed Highway 99 Bypass
* Note: Proposed Highway 99 Bypass alignment north of Gridley has not been determined.
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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Goals, Policies, & Implementation Programs
Transportation and Land Use
Goal TR-1
To develop a transportation system in a manner that encourages efficient land utilization.
Policies
Policy TR-1.1: The County should provide a circulation system and plan that is consistent with
and will support existing and proposed patterns and densities of land use.
Policy TR-1.2: The County should ensure that accommodation of growth in areas presently
serviceable occurs in a manner that is cost effective, safe and consistent with environmental
constraints.
Policy TR-1.3: The County shall provide an integrated system of roads and highways that serve
all land use needs.
Policy TR-1.4: The County shall develop the transportation system consistent with specified land
use densities and estimated trip generation capabilities and consistent with the policy to
encourage development in and around existing cities and community centers.
Policy TR-1.5: The County shall use road capacity available within the existing road system to
serve future development, unless construction of a new road will direct development into
areas better suited for development than areas presently served by existing roads.
Policy TR-1.6: In its road system planning, the County shall emphasize preservation of the
existing roadway network while working to increase the efficiency and capacity of the
existing network.
Policy TR-1.7: The County shall design circulation plans for the foothill areas around patterns
that encourage development near existing highway corridors and emphasize development
near existing rural community centers.
Policy TR-1.8: The County shall only allow new road construction in agricultural areas to
support the area’s agricultural economy or to improve capacity of highways that serve a
countywide and regional interest.
Policy TR-1.9: The County shall only allow construction of additional gas and petroleum
products pipelines and electrical transmission lines along existing utility corridors.
Policy TR-1.10: The County should design and maintain the most important roads and highways
to the highest possible level of service and convenience. The least important road and
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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highways should receive only the improvements necessary to maintain their structural
integrity and operational safety. The relative importance of the County’s road highway
network is graphically illustrated in the Circulation Diagram.
Implementation Programs
Program TR-1.A: The County shall develop a road and highway maintenance program that
allocates funds according to functional classification categories, as defined in the Functional
Classification and Design Standards of Roadways section of this Element, based on relative
needs in each category.
Fiscal
Goal TR-2
To provide an adequate road system that is within the County’s ability to finance and maintain.
Policies
Policy TR-2.1: The County should define road and highway programs so that the greatest
benefits are obtained with a minimum use of limited financial recourse resources.
Policy TR-2.2: The County shall encourage development in areas that can be served by public
roads in a manner that does not become an economic burden to the County.
Policy TR-2.3: The County shall use all available public and private sources for the funding of
road and highway development, improvement, and maintenance.
Policy TR-2.4: The County shall support State legislative efforts that increase road maintenance
funds and benefit the county as a whole.
Policy TR-2.5: The County shall take in account the short term and long term costs of improving
and maintaining the circulation infrastructure as a major factor in land use and development
decisions.
Policy TR-2.6: The County shall continue to seek solutions to an equitable allocation of road
revenue resources.
Policy TR-2.7: The County shall ensure that the cost of new roads is borne as equitably as
possible among benefiting property owners and/or users.
Policy TR-2.8: The County shall pursue the development of a comprehensive fiscal impact
model or program that includes traffic and road impacts, to assist in the analysis of cost and
revenue balances from proposed development projects.
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Policy TR-2.9: The County shall encourage and support sincere efforts by county residents to
form assessment districts for road maintenance and road drainage.
Policy TR-2.10: The County should focus on completing projects with a higher priority before
completing a lower priority project when using County road funds. Proposed bridge and road
projects shall be classified in relation to the following priorities:
a. Priority One: Urgent Projects: Projects of an urgent nature that are clearly needed to
protect the health and safety of the traveling public such as imminent bridge or road bed
failure. Sample project: reconstruction of a storm damaged road bed where such damage
has severely restricted traffic and access.
b. Priority Two: Safety Projects: Projects that are intended to reduce the number and severity
of accidents along a particular road segment. Sample project: a change in road alignment
where an alternative is needed to reduce high accident rates. Also includes traffic signals,
stop signs, cross-walks, and other traffic engineering decisions.
c. Priority Three: Reconstruction/Maintenance Projects: Project that involves ongoing
maintenance, rehabilitation, and reconstruction requirements needed to preserve the
existing bridge and road network. Sample project: routine maintenance to prevent
structural damage (as opposed to improvements in surface rideability.
d. Priority Four: Capacity Improvements: Projects that involve operational improvements to
the existing road network that increase service efficiency and capacity. Sample project:
widening of an arterial road to increase capacity. Also includes Transportation System
Management projects.
e. Priority Five: New Construction Projects: Projects that involve construction of a new
bridge or road. New construction projects shall receive higher priority when they
accommodate development in locations within reasonable proximity to centers of
employment and shopping facilities and when they encourage the conservation of energy
in the transportation sector. Sample project: construction of an urban area collector street.
Implementation Programs
Program TR-2.A: The County shall study, develop and implement, as feasible, the following
road related fiscal programs :
1) Road assessment districts for maintenance of new development.
2) Development fees for off-site traffic impacts caused by new development. This
program should first develop plans and schedules for specific developments that will
contribute to the impact of circulation in surrounding locations. A long-term goal of a
countywide developer fee program for traffic impacts should be studied and
implemented at a later date. Comprehensive road development fee programs should
be jointly developed between the County and the cities of Butte County.
3) Drainage assessment districts in problem areas.
4) Enforceable road development agreements.
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Environmental
Goal TR-3
To minimize the negative impacts of transportation in the County.
Policies
Policy TR-3.1: The County shall plan for transportation modes and strategies that ensure good
air quality, reduce noise, reduce petroleum consumption, reduce the need to devote additional
lands to transportation uses, and lessen the dangers presented by transportation of hazardous
materials in the County.
Policy TR-3.2: The County shall support continued implementation of the State motor vehicle
emission control program as part of the effort to meet and maintain federal air quality
standards.
Policy TR-3.3: The County shall require mitigation of the effects of noise from county roads,
highways, and airports to comply with all noise control policies in the General Plan.
Policy TR-3.4: The County shall encourage transportation modes and programs that are capable
of reducing total and per capita transportation energy consumption, including public transit,
bicycle commuting, ridesharing and car pooling, and increased federal vehicle fuel efficiency
standards.
Policy TR-3.5: The County shall encourage the continued development and implementation of
comprehensive state and federal programs for the regulation and monitoring of the
transportation of hazardous and toxic materials on highways and railways in and through the
county The County shall encourage the coordination of appropriate fire and emergency
services agencies in plans for the transportation of hazardous and toxic materials in and
through the county.
Road and Street Standards
Goal TR-4
To provide for a road and highway network that meets the needs of existing and anticipated
movements of people and goods. To provide for adequately designed road and street patterns
to serve present and future traffic volumes.
Policies
Policy TR-4.1: The County should provide transportation facilities of all types to supply needs
for rapid, efficient, comfortable, and safe passage of people and commodities.
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Policy TR-4.2: The County should ensure that road and street standards are appropriately related
to various amounts and types of traffic that result from servicing different land use densities
and planning areas. While design standards should ensure that a project be designed to solve
a problem at a specific location, they should also ensure that circulation patterns are able to
meet future traffic requirements.
Policy TR-4.3: For general and circulation planning purposes, the County shall follow the system
of classification of streets, roads, and highways as described in the Functional Classification
and Design Standards of Roadways section of this Element and illustrated by the Circulation
Diagram (Figure 2)
Policy TR-4.4: The County should plan rural arterial road and highway traffic capacity levels to
provide a level of service “B”. Level of service “C” shall be acceptable when fiscal,
environmental, or site constraints are prohibitive.
Policy TR-4.5: The County shall ensure that arterial routes continue to serve as major traffic
carriers and remain free of unnecessary future intersections, driveways, on-street parking,
and traffic overloads.
Policy TR-4.6: The County shall plan for right-of-way needed for new roads or expansion of
existing roads The County shall prohibit land uses that would preclude the timely
development of such right-of-way.
Policy TR-4.7: The County shall ensure that all road systems, including private roads, connect
various properties slated for potential development, both to each other and to a publicly
maintained road system.
Policy TR-4.8: The County shall require the location of usable road easements of adequate width
to most beneficially serve the needs of all parcels.
Policy TR-4.9: The County shall assume maintenance responsibility only for roads that meet full
County standards.
Policy TR-4.9: The County shall require that private subdivision roads are built to full County
standards and are privately maintained as such throughout their maintenance cycle.
Policy TR-4.10: The County shall require new roads resulting from land divisions to be
constructed to County standards whenever an area has potential for significant traffic from
future development. A lower standard may be considered reasonable for roads that will
always serve as only lot access and will never be suitable to become County roads.
Policy TR-4.11: The County should hold new land divisions responsible for their fair share of the
off-site road improvements needed to handle the traffic increases that they cause.
Policy TR-4.12: The County should encourage the use of development agreements as one way to
ensure that road development standards and plans are met.
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Policy TR-4.13: The County shall require erosion mitigation and control plans for new
developments and for road encroachment permits to prevent soil loss during and after road
development activities.
Policy TR-4.14: The County shall, on an on-going basis, evaluate which roads are needed in the
County road system and which roads should perhaps revert to private ownership.
Policy TR-4.15: The County shall require proposals to abandon or close County roads and rights-
of-way to address the impacts of abandonment on local land uses identified in the General
Plan, and to also address the impacts of alternative public uses of the right-of-way, such as
bikeways, riding trails, and hiking trails.
Policy TR-4.16: For the purpose of Section 66484 of the Subdivision Map Act, the County shall
consider both urban and rural arterials and collectors as major thoroughfares.
Implementation Programs
Program TR-4.A: The County shall prepare and adopt an ordinance and/or resolution requiring
an erosion control plan for the construction of public and private roads.
Program TR-4.B: The County shall prepare a land division design manual that provides detailed
guidance regarding improvement standards, including for roads.
Safety
Goal TR-5
To support safety standards established by emergency and protective service agencies.
Policies
Policy TR-5.1: The County shall require all road systems, both public and private, to provide for
the safe evacuation of residents and adequate access for fire and other emergency services by
providing at least two means of emergency access to an interconnected collector system.
Implementation Programs
Program TR-5.A: The County shall work with the Butte County Fire Department and the
California Department of Forestry towards developing emergency evacuation routing plans
for developing foothill and mountain areas with extreme fire hazard potential.
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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Special Studies and Specific Plans
Goal TR-6
To encourage planning areas to develop with integrated, efficient, and well designed road
systems.
Policies
Policy TR-6.1: The County shall encourage specific plans for land use, circulation, and
cumulative transportation impacts for planning areas where land use designations and zoning
lacks significant prevision to adequately project future traffic conditions and/or where
common circulation needs are appropriate.
Policy TR-6.2: The County shall require that specific Plans developed for each planning area
address circulation.
Policy TR-6.3: The County shall recognize that the County’s rural foothill planning areas will, in
many cases, require more precise land use designations and zoning in the Land Use and
Agricultural Element before a reasonably accurate foothill circulation program can be
projected.
Interjurisdictional Coordination
Goal TR-7
To promote coordinated transportation programs.
Policies
Policy TR-7.1: The County shall coordinate its transportation activities with all affected
agencies.
Policy TR-7.2: The County shall establish urban area transportation planning boundaries based
on urban area land use plans, except in unusual circumstances.
Policy TR-7.3: The County shall conduct land use and circulation planning with the
understanding that the Butte County Association of Governments will integrate its
transportation planning process with local land use plans.
Policy TR-7.4: The County shall consider city-initiated amendments to the County Circulation
Element.
Policy TR-7.5: The County should develop mutual and complimentary policies with the cities in
Butte County regarding the timing and phasing of new urban area development, as necessary,
for the logical and timely development of each urban area circulation network.
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Policy TR-7.6: The County shall jointly coordinate circulation capital improvement programs
with the cities in Butte County.
Urban Streets and Highways
Goal TR-8
To ensure adequate planning for urban-level streets and roads.
Policies
Policy TR-8.1: The County shall use the urban area arterial and major collector street and
highway patterns defined by Figures 3 through 6, as a basis for planning future circulation
patterns and improvements.
Policy TR-8.2: The County should plan urban street and highway traffic capacity levels to
provide a level of service “C”. Level of service “D” shall be acceptable when fiscal,
environmental, or site constraints are prohibitive.
Policy TR-8.3: The County should ensure that urban area street improvement standards conform
to city street standards and circulation plans for each respective city.
Policy TR-8.3: The County shall encourage reduced street widths while not jeopardizing public
safety and future capacity requirements when there are practical site planning opportunities
and development cost savings involved.
Policy TR-8.4: The County shall require arterial and collector streets to be developed so as not to
diminish the integrity and cohesiveness of urban neighborhoods.
Policy TR-8.5: The County should ensure that major residential developments provide adequate
circulation by utilizing interconnecting loops and collector street patterns. Cul-de-sac and
dead-end streets should be avoided on streets with more than twenty (20)parcels.
Policy TR-8.6: The County should ensure that trees located along urban streets are preserved or
replaced in the event maintenance or upgrading requires tree removal. Similar landscaping
should be considered in conjunction with the development of new urban streets and parking
facilities. The County should continue working towards finding new ways to finance street
tree programs, including for public and private sector contributions.
Public Transportation
Goal TR-9
To provide public transportation services that are viable transportation alternatives.
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Policies
Policy TR-9.1: The County’s public transportation programs shall assure the continued mobility
of transportation-disadvantaged persons.
Policy TR-9.2: The County’s public transportation programs shall promote opportunities for
shopping, employment, education, health care, and recreation, as funding and planning
opportunities allow.
Policy TR-9.3: The County shall support local public transportation services in the three largest
urban areas and adequate intercity service to the Chico, Oroville, Paradise, Gridley-Biggs,
and Palermo areas.
Policy TR-9.4: The County shall provide for coordination between social service transportation
providers.
Policy TR-9.5: The County shall provide a level of social service transportation according to
guidelines approved by the Butte County Association of Governments.
Policy TR-9.6: The County shall continue to support door-to-door transportation programs for
low-mobility groups according to guidelines approved by the Butte County Association of
Government.
Policy TR-9.7: Public transportation use shall be encouraged through land use designations and
zoning that cluster areas of employment, areas of parking, areas of commercial uses, and
recreation areas, as appropriate.
Policy TR-9.8: The County shall require developers of major traffic generating land uses to
provide fixed transit facilities such as bus shelters and pullouts, according to expected
demand.
Bicycle Transportation
Goal TR-10
To provide for a safe and convenient bicycle transportation system that is integrated with other
transportation modes; to provide for adequate bicycle circulation and facilities for recreation,
as funding and planning opportunities allow; and to provide a bicycle system that can be
integrated with other transportation modes.
Policies
Policy TR-10.1: The County should place primary emphasis for establishing bicycle routes in
and near urban areas.
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Policy TR-10.2: The County shall encourage the cities to prepare and propose comprehensive
urban area bicycle plans to the County for review and adoption.
Policy TR-10.3: The County shall require the consideration of bicycle lanes or paths of Class II
or better for the construction or expansion of all major arterials
Policy TR-10.4: The County should ensure that residential developments incorporate internal
circulation networks that encourage bicycle use and that connect to the external bicycle
circulation system.
Policy TR-10.5: The County should encourage bicycle parking facilities in apartment complexes,
major commercial, professional office, industrial, and educational sites, along with good
routes, which foster bicycle use.
Policy TR-10.6: The County should ensure that multi-modal transportation facilities such as
park-and-ride lots and bus stops, provide adequate and secure bicycle parking facilities.
Implementation Programs
Program TR-10.A: The County shall map an integrated system of suggested rural bicycle routes
that focus on serving as recreational routes around urban areas, and use the map as an initial
step, in conjunction with city bicycle plans, for establishing a comprehensive bicycle plan.
Pedestrian Circulation
Goal TR-11
To ensure pedestrian access throughout urban areas. Policies
Policies
Policy TR-11.1: The County should ensure that sidewalks, or their reasonable alternatives, are
provided in all urban subdivisions.
Policy TR-11.2: The County shall ensure that handicapped access is incorporated into all
sidewalks and other pedestrian facilities as required by State law.
Policy TR-11.3: The County should encourage hiking and jogging corridors in urban areas, as
funding and planning opportunities allow.
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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Air Transportation
Goal TR-12
To promote safe, effective, and efficient use of existing and future air facilities; and to provide
for compatible land uses in areas that may be impacted by airport operations, so to mitigate
safety and noise problems.
Policies
Policy TR-12.1: The County shall recognize that air transportation is a vital form of
transportation that is important to the economic well being of the county's communities.
Policy TR-12.2: The County shall implement measures in unincorporated areas that provide for
the continued safe operation of airports.
Policy TR-12.3: The County shall ensure that land uses in the vicinity of public airports are
compatible with respective airport land use plans.
Policy TR-12.4: The County shall ensure that private airstrips and landing fields are controlled to
ensure that they are outside of flight paths to and from existing airports, and that they do not
provide a hazard or annoyance to neighboring areas.
Implementation Programs
Program TR-12.A: The Airport Land Use Commission shall adopt and maintain airport land use
plans for the Chico, Oroville, and Paradise airports.
Multi-modal Transportation
Goal TR-13
To provide for a balanced and integrated community transportation format.
Policies
Policy TR-13.1: The County shall plan for transportation modes and strategies that ensure
coordinated and complimentary facilities and schedules.
Policy TR-13.2: The County shall support the cities in the encouragement of ridesharing and car
pooling programs by large employers and public agencies.
Policy TR-13.3: The County shall encourage the provision, where feasible, of bicycle and
automobile storage facilities to be used in conjunction with public transportation.
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Policy TR-13.4: The County shall require that the design and location of new development
considers and incorporates provisions for appropriate transportation modes.
Policy TR-13.5: The County shall ensure that public facilities are located and designed to allow
for convenient access and efficient transportation of all intended users.
Policy TR-13.6: The County shall continue to support local Amtrak passenger services.
Additional Urban Area Policies
Goal TR-14
To promote coordination in transportation planning with the incorporated cities in the county.
Policies: Chico Urban Area
Policy TR-14.1: The County shall maintain the integrity of the Chico area “greenline” adopted in
1982 when formulating community transportation plans.
Policy TR-14.2: The County shall cooperate with the City of Chico and the Butte County Air
Quality Management District (BCAQMD) in efforts to reduce traffic related carbon
monoxide below levels that violate national ambient air quality standards in the Chico urban
area.
Policy TR-14.3: The County shall cooperate with the City of Chico in continued refinement of
the Chico Urban Area Transportation Study (CATS) and its traffic projections and forecasts.
Policy TR-14.4: The County shall encourage Caltrans to study future traffic impacts on State
Routes 32 and 99 as they relate to refinement of the CATS.
Policy TR-14.5: The County shall support the City of Chico in efforts to retain Sacramento
Northern rail service for the community.
Policy TR-14.6: The County should work with the City of Chico for a comprehensive solution to
the role of Warner Street in northwest Chico.
Policies: Oroville Urban Area
Policy TR-14.7: The County shall cooperate with the City of Oroville in the preparation of a
comprehensive transportation study based on projected urban area land uses.
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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4. HOUSING ELEMENT
[Note: published under separate cover.]
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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5. PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES ELEMENT
Goals, Policies, & Implementation Programs
General
Goal PF-1
To provide adequate public facilities and services to meet anticipated needs
Policies
Policy PF-1.1: The County should anticipate public facilities needs so land acquisition and new
construction will be timely and take place with a minimum of cost.
Policy PF-1.2: The County shall notify all local public agencies of the Government Code
requirements for review of public works projects and solicit their assistance and timely
submittal of proposed projects.
Implementation Programs
Program PF-1.A: The Public Works Department shall prepare a coordinated program of all
public works projects proposed for the ensuing fiscal year and shall submit the program to
the Planning Commission for their review of its conformity with the General Plan.
Program PF-1.A: The County shall prepare, adopt and maintain a 5-year capital improvements
expenditures program that takes into account the provisions of the General Plan.
Water & Sewer Systems
Goal PF-2
To provide adequate public water and sewer systems to meet anticipated needs
Policies
Policy PF-2.1: The County should encourage expansion of public water and sewer systems
where development to be served conforms to adopted land use plans.
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Solid and Liquid Waste Disposal Facilities
Goal PF-3
To ensure adequate disposal of solid and liquid wastes.
Policies
Policy PF-3.1: The County should protect the public health and safety of Butte County residents
and the natural environment through efficient solid and liquid waste management practices.
Policy PF-3.2: The County should support the continued review and study of alternate locations
for the disposal of solid and liquid wastes.
Drainage Facilities
Goal PF-4
To ensure adequate drainage facilities.
Policies
Policy PF-4.1: The County should plan drainage facilities to serve areas of future urban growth.
Policy PF-4.2: The County should require adequate drainage improvements for new
development.
Policy PF-4.3: The County shall review all storm water disposal facilities with the other
considerations of the General Plan. This will ensure that water control sites and storm
drainage lines will be adequate for planned future urban growth without the necessity of
expensive enlargements or parallel facilities.
Private Utility Facilities
Goal PF-5
To ensure adequate private utility systems.
Policies
Policy PF-5.1: The County should encourage expansion of private utility systems consistent with
County plans and policies.
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Schools
Goal PF-6
To facilitate adequate planning for future school facilities.
Policies
Policy PF-6.1: The County should provide information on projected population growth and
development patterns to school districts to facilitate adequate school facilities.
Policy PF-6.2: The County should consider proximity to students and compatibility of adjacent
uses in the location of schools.
Policy PF-6.3: The County should relate land use to designated school sites.
Fire Stations and Other Public Buildings
Goal PF-7
To ensure adequate planning for the location of public buildings.
Policies
Policy PF-7.1: The County should locate new fire stations with consideration to accessibility,
future development and natural fire hazards.
Policy PF-7.2: The County should encourage central and convenient locations for all government
buildings consistent with land use plans.
Policy PF-7.3: The County should encourage central and convenient locations for hospitals,
meeting halls, private schools and other quasi-public uses.
Recreation Facilities
Goal PF-8
To encourage variety of recreation opportunities and their continuing availability.
Policies
Policy PF-8.1: The County should work with public agencies to designate sites for new parks and
recreation facilities.
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Policy PF-8.2: The County should financially or politically assist the development of or
recreation facilities commonly used by people outside of cities or recreation districts.
Policy PF-8.3: The County should encourage maximum recreational use of public schools.
Policy PF-8.4: The County shall reserve sites with outstanding recreational value for public parks
and recreational use to avoid their development with less suitable and beneficial land-uses.
Policy PF-8.5: The County should support development of commercial recreation facilities on
suitable sites.
Policy PF-8.6: The County shall encourage the development of private and commercial
recreation facilities – such as golf courses, swimming pools, tennis clubs, camping and
boating facilities etc. – in order that they may help meet existing and future leisure time
needs.
Policy PF-8.7: The County should encourage the development of suitable private and
commercial outdoor recreation areas, especially campgrounds and off-road vehicle areas.
Policy PF-8.8: The County shall seek those monies available from the state and federal
government for the development of recreational facilities.
Policy PF-8.9: The County shall encourage the Butte County Association of Governments to
coordinate the distribution of State and federal grants to local recreation agencies.
Policy PF-8.10: The County should encourage the California Department of Parks and
Recreation to complete their development of recreational facilities in the Lake Oroville State
Recreation Area.
Policy PF-8.11: The County shall encourage the provision of recreational activities that will
satisfy the needs and desires of all age groups; pre-school children, school age children,
teenagers, adults, and senior citizens.
Implementation Programs
Program PF-8.A: The County shall work with local recreation agencies to permit dedication of
land for park purposes.
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6. CULTURAL RESOURCES ELEMENT
Goals, Policies, & Implementation Programs
Scenic Areas and Corridors
Goal CR-1
To protect and enhance scenic areas adjacent to and visible from selected highways; and to direct
the development of specific legislation and programs by Butte County, coordinate local policies
with the State Scenic Highways Program, heighten awareness of the visual environment, and
spur community pride in our natural resources.
Policies
Policy CR-1.1: The County should protect valuable scenic areas and parks for enjoyment by
residents and visitors.
Policy CR-1.2: The County should encourage compatible land use patterns in scenic corridors
and adjacent to scenic waterways, rivers, and creeks.
Policy CR-1.3: The County shall consider development of a system of scenic highways,
including Highway 32 north of Forest Ranch and Highway 70 north of Pentz-Magalia
Highway.
Policy CR-1.4: The County shall delineate scenic corridors with careful consideration of all
factors including State criteria, a survey of scenic corridors, and the solicitation of citizen
participation through public hearings.
Policy CR-1.5: The County shall consider scenic values in the design and improvement of scenic
highway rights-of way.
Policy CR-1.6: The County shall require Planning Commission annual review of major road
projects to include concern for scenic values.
Policy CR-1.7: The County shall control access to scenic highways to maintain safety by using
existing access where feasible and limiting encroachment permits.
Policy CR-1.8: Utilize existing access where feasible. Limit encroachment permits for safety.
Policy CR-1.9: The County shall require the location and design of utility structures to minimize
visual impact, where economically feasible.
Policy CR-1.10: The County shall review the location and design of major future transmission
lines and require the least conspicuous location of distribution lines, where there is
reasonable choice.
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Policy CR-1.11: The County shall encourage compatible land use patterns in scenic corridors by
amending the zoning ordinance to implement County policy.
Policy CR-1.12: The County shall promote its scenic highways program through the following
actions: indicating routes on public maps and plans, placing signs on adopted routes,
encouraging advertising by Chambers of Commerce and others, and seeking citizen
participation in all aspects of the program.
Policy CR-1.13: The County shall consider economic impacts on property affected by a scenic
highway designation.
Implementation Programs
Program CR-1.A: In considering any road designation as a scenic highway, the County shall hold
a public hearing and notify all adjacent property owners of the public hearing by mail, in
addition to publishing general notices in a newspaper of general circulation.
Archaeological and Historical Sites
Goal CR-2
To ensure adequate investigation of identified archaeological and historical sites during the
environmental review process.
Policies
Policy CR-2.1: The County should identify and evaluate all of the cultural resources impacted by
proposed projects before approval and development.
Policy CR-2.2: The County should encourage the preservation of significant sites or require their
detailed investigation by competent archaeologists.
Policy CR-2.3: The County should encourage preservation of significant historical sites.
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7. HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT
Goals, Policies, & Implementation Programs
General
Goal HS-1
To maintain the health and safety of Butte County residents and workers.
Policies
Policy HS-1.1: The County should maintain public health and safety by requiring proper location
and design for uses with offensive odors, dust, smoke, light, traffic, vibration, explosives,
pollutants, insects and similar blighting influences.
Policy HS-1.2: The County should locate, study, and map areas of unstable soil, earthquake
faults and high fire risks as a guide to the use of such lands.
Policy HS-1.3: The County shall develop standards for evacuation routes, peakload water supply
requirements, minimum road widths, and clearances around structures as a part of the Butte
County Improvement Standards document.
Noise
Goal HS-2
To protect county residents from the harmful and annoying effects of exposure to excessive
noise; to protect the economic base of the county by preventing incompatible land uses from
encroaching upon existing or planned noise-producing uses; and to encourage the application of
state of the art land use planning methodologies in areas of potential noise conflicts.
Policies
Policy HS-2.1: The County shall cooperate with the incorporated cities to resolve mutual noise
problems.
Policy HS-2.2: The County shall keep its noise policies and standards current with changing
conditions.
Policy HS-2.3: The County shall monitor changes in noise levels and update noise contour data
on a regular basis.
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Policy HS-2.4: The County should give special consideration to residential development and
other noise sensitive activities near railroads and highways.
Policy HS-2.5: The County shall consider noise in the location and design of county roads, and
locate aircraft flight paths away from developed areas where feasible.
Policy HS-2.6: The County shall locate noise-sensitive uses away from airports and encourage
compatible uses around airports.
Policy HS-2.7: The County shall control recreation activities and events that have the potential to
cause objectionable noise.
Policy HS-2.8: The County shall not allow new development of noise-sensitive uses where the
noise level due to non-transportation noise sources will exceed the exterior noise level
standards of Table NO-1 as measured immediately within the property line or within a
designated outdoor activity area (at the discretion of the Director of Development Services)
of the new development, unless effective noise mitigation measures have been incorporated
into the development design to achieve the standards specified in Table NO-1.
Policy HS-2.9: The County shall require mitigation of noise created by new proposed non-
transportation noise sources so as not to exceed the exterior noise level standards of Table
NO-1 as measured immediately within the property line of lands designated for noise-
sensitive uses.
Policy HS-2.10: The County shall apply an interior maximum noise level criterion (Lmax) of 45
dBA for residential uses affected by new non-transportation noise sources.
Policy HS-2.11: Where proposed non-residential land uses are likely to produce noise levels
exceeding the performance standards of Table NO-1, or the maximum interior noise level
criterion, at existing or planned noise-sensitive uses, the County shall require an acoustical
analysis as part of the environmental review process so that noise mitigation may be included
in the project design. The requirements for the content of an acoustical analysis are given by
Table NO-2.
Policy HS-2.12: The County shall not permit new development of noise-sensitive land uses in
areas exposed to existing or projected levels of noise from transportation noise sources which
exceed the levels specified in Table NO-3, unless the project design includes effective
mitigation measures to reduce exterior noise and noise levels in interior spaces to the levels
specified Table NO-3.
Policy HS-2.13: The County shall require mitigation of noise created by new transportation noise
sources so as not to exceed the levels specified in Table NO-3 at outdoor activity areas or
interior spaces of existing noise-sensitive land uses.
Policy HS-2.14: It is anticipated that roadway improvement projects will be needed to
accommodate build-out of the General Plan. Therefore, existing noise-sensitive uses may be
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exposed to increased noise levels due to roadway improvement projects as a result of
increased roadway capacity, increases in travel speeds, etc. It may not be practical to reduce
increased traffic noise levels consistent with those contained Table NO-3. Therefore, as an
alternative, the County may use the following criteria as a test of significance for roadway
improvement projects:
•Where existing traffic noise levels are less than 60 dB Ldn at the outdoor activity areas of
noise-sensitive uses, a +5 dB Ldn increase in noise levels due to roadway improvement
projects shall be considered significant; and
•Where existing traffic noise levels range between 60 and 65 dB Ldn at the outdoor activity
areas of noise-sensitive uses, a +3 dB Ldn increase in noise levels due to roadway
improvement projects shall be considered significant; and
•Where existing traffic noise levels are greater than 65 dB Ldn at the outdoor activity areas
of noise-sensitive uses, a + 1.5 dB Ldn increase in noise levels due to roadway
improvement projects shall be considered significant.
Policy HS-2.15: Where noise-sensitive land uses are proposed in areas exposed to existing or
projected exterior noise levels exceeding the levels specified in Table NO-3 or the
performance standards of Table NO-1, the County shall require an acoustical analysis as part
of the environmental review process so that noise mitigation may be included in the project
design.
Policy HS-2.16: Where noise mitigation measures are required to achieve the standards of Tables
NO-1 and NO-3, the County shall require the emphasis of such measures on site planning
and project design. The use of noise barriers shall be considered a means of achieving the
noise standards only after all other practical design-related noise mitigation measures have
been integrated into the project.
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Table NO-1
Exterior Noise Level Performance Standards for New Projects
Affected by or Including Non-Transportation Noise Sources
Noise Level
Descriptor
Daytime
(7 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
Nighttime
(10 p.m. to 7 a.m.)
Hourly Leq, dB 55 45
Each of the noise levels specified above shall be lowered by five dB for simple tone noises, noises consisting primarily of
speech or music, or for recurring impulsive noises (e.g., humming sounds, outdoor speaker systems). These noise level
standards do not apply to residential units established in conjunction with industrial or commercial uses (e.g., caretaker
dwellings).
The County can impose noise level standards that are more restrictive than those specified above based upon determination
of existing low ambient noise levels.
Fixed noise sources which are typically of concern include, but are not limited to the following:
HVAC Systems Cooling Towers/Evaporative Condensers
Pump Stations Lift Stations
Emergency Generators Boilers
Steam Valves Steam Turbines
Generators Fans
Air Compressors Heavy Equipment
Conveyor Systems Transformers
Pile Drivers Grinders
Drill Rigs Gas or Diesel Motors
Welders Cutting Equipment
Outdoor Speakers Blowers
The types of uses which may typically produce the noise sources described above include but are not limited to: industrial
facilities including pump stations, trucking operations, tire shops, auto maintenance shops, metal fabricating shops,
shopping centers, drive-up windows, car washes, loading docks, public works projects, batch plants, bottling and canning
plants, recycling centers, electric generating stations, race tracks, landfills, sand and gravel operations, and athletic fields.
Note:For the purposes of the General Plan, transportation noise sources are defined as traffic on public roadways, railroad line operations
and aircraft in flight. Control of noise from these sources is preempted by Federal and State regulations. Other noise sources are
presumed to be subject to local regulations, such as a noise control ordinance. Non-transportation noise sources may include industrial
operations, outdoor recreation facilities, HVAC units, loading docks, etc.
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Table NO-2
Requirements for an Acoustical Analysis
An acoustical analysis prepared pursuant to the Noise Element shall:
1. Be the financial responsibility of the applicant.
2. Be prepared by a qualified person experienced in the fields of environmental noise assessment and architectural
acoustics.
3. Include representative noise level measurements with sufficient sampling periods and locations to adequately describe
local conditions and the predominant noise sources.
4. Estimate existing and projected cumulative (20 years) noise levels in terms of Ldn or CNEL and/or the standards of
Table 1, and compare those levels to the adopted policies of the Noise Element.
5. Recommend appropriate mitigation to achieve compliance with the adopted policies and standards of the Noise
Element, giving preference to proper site planning and design over mitigation measures which require the
construction of noise barriers or structural modifications to buildings which contain noise-sensitive land uses.
6. Estimate noise exposure after the prescribed mitigation measures have been implemented.
7. Describe a post-project assessment program that could be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed mitigation
measures.
Note: Existing dwellings and new single-family dwellings may not be subject to County review with respect to satisfaction of the standards of
the Noise section of the Health and Safety Element. As a consequence, such dwellings may be constructed in areas where noise levels
exceed the standards of the Noise section of the Health and Safety Element. It is not the responsibility of the County to ensure that such
dwellings meet the noise standards of the Noise section of the Health and Safety Element, or the noise standards imposed by lending
agencies such as HUD, FHA and Cal Vet. If homes are located and constructed in accordance with the Noise section of the Health and
Safety Element, it is expected that the resulting exterior and interior noise levels will conform to the HUD/FHA/Cal Vet noise standards.
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Table NO-3
Maximum Allowable Noise Exposure
Transportation Noise Sources
Interior Spaces
Land Use Outdoor Activity Areas (1)
Ldn/CNEL, dB Ldn/CNEL, dB Leq, dB (2)
Residential 60 (3)45 --
Transient Lodging 60 (4)45 --
Hospitals, Nursing Homes 60(3)45 --
Theaters, Auditoriums,
Music Halls
----35
Churches, Meeting Halls 60(3)--40
Office Buildings ----45
Schools, Libraries,
Museums
----45
Playgrounds, Neighborhood Parks 70 ----
Notes:
(1) Where the location of outdoor activity areas is unknown, the exterior noise level standard shall be applied to the property line of the
receiving land use. Where it is not practical to mitigate exterior noise levels at patio or balconies of apartment complexes, a common
area such as a pool or recreation area may be designated as the outdoor activity area.
(2) As determined for a typical worst-case hour during periods of use.
(3) Where it is not possible to reduce noise in outdoor activity areas to 60 dB Ldn/CNEL or less using a practical application of the best-
available noise reduction measures, an exterior noise level of up to 65 dB Ldn/CNEL may be allowed provided that available exterior
noise level reduction measures have been implemented and interior noise levels are in compliance with this table.
(4) In the case of hotel/motel facilities or other transient lodging, outdoor activity areas such as pool areas may not be included in the
project design. In these cases, only the interior noise level criterion will apply.
Implementation Programs
Program HS-2.A: The County shall place limits on the levels of amplified sound and the time
and location of outdoor concerts, auto and motorcycle races, and similar noisy activities; and
identify locations for such activities that are compatible with the public health, welfare and
safety.
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Fire Hazards
Goal HS-3
To reduce loss of life, injuries, property damage, destruction of natural resources, and to deal
effectively with the socio-economic disorder that could result from fires in the unincorporated
areas of Butte County; to map and evaluate fire hazards, provide general criteria for the other
General Plan elements, and heighten public awareness of fire hazards.
Policies
Policy HS-3.1: The County shall consider fire hazards in all land use and zoning decisions,
environmental review, subdivision review, and the provision of public services.
Policy HS-3.2: The County should guide development to areas with adequate fire protection
services.
Policy HS-3.3: The County shall make protection from fire hazards a consideration in all
planning, regulatory, and capital improvement programs, with special concern for areas of
“high” and “extreme” fire hazard.
Policy HS-3.4: The County shall encourage adequate fire protection services in all areas of
population growth and high recreation use.
Policy HS-3.5: The County shall identify present and future limits of adequate fire protection
services and guide development to those areas through zoning and development review
processes.
Policy HS-3.6: The County shall require fuelbreaks where feasible within “high” and “extreme”
fire hazard areas, and enforce regulations on vegetation clearance around structures.
Policy HS-3.7: The County shall attempt to upgrade fire service where economically feasible.
Policy HS-3.8: The County shall promote formation of voluntary fire companies in remote areas,
and construct additional facilities and services as desired by area residents and as
economically feasible.
Policy HS-3.9: The County shall carefully evaluate the effect of development on water supplies.
Policy HS-3.10: The County shall prepare land use plans for critical watershed areas. Consider
possible damages to watershed in environmental review.
Policy HS-3.11: The County shall determine the level of water supplies necessary for new
development for fire protection purposes.
Policy HS-3.12: The County shall ensure that road access for new development is adequate for
fire protection purposes.
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Policy HS-3.13: The County shall require or promote the easy identification of streets and
developed properties.
Policy HS-3.14: The County shall regulate as necessary those activities and uses with a high fire
potential except uses regulated by the Forest Practices Act.
Policy HS-3.15: The County shall regulate use of certain building materials in areas of higher
than average fire hazard.
Policy HS-3.16: The County shall require water connections to pools for fire protection
purposes.
Implementation Programs
Program HS-3.A: The County shall develop fire protection standards for individual and
community water systems serving new development.
Program HS-3.B: The County shall continue to implement standards for widths, grades, and
curves of new roads to permit passage and maneuvering of emergency vehicles, and require
multiple access where feasible.
Program HS-3.C: The County shall continue to implement a consistent street naming and house
numbering system for the entire County. Require all names and numbers to be clearly visible.
Program HS-3.D: The County shall hold hearings to adopt the Uniform Fire Code or
modifications thereof.
Program HS-3.E: The County shall continue to implement building code regulations for roofing
and siding materials in fire hazard areas.
Program HS-3.F: The County shall adopt building code requirements for water connections to
pools for fire protection purposes.
Seismic Hazards
Goal HS-4
To reduce loss of life, injury, damage to property, and economic and social disruption resulting
from earthquakes.
Policies
Policy HS-4.1: The County shall consider the most recent information on seismic hazards in all
zoning and subdivision decisions.
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Policy HS-4.2: The County shall restrict development along known active fault areas.
Policy HS-4.3: The County shall inform the public of current estimates of seismic hazard in all
parts of the County.
Policy HS-4.4: The County shall take into account all known seismic information in making land
use decisions, and avoid locating schools, hospitals, public buildings, and similar uses in
known active fault areas.
Policy HS-4.5: The County shall consider the most recent information on seismic hazards in all
zoning and subdivision decisions.
Policy HS-4.6: The County shall follow the policies and criteria established by the State Mining
and Geology Board within the Special Studies Zone.
Policy HS-4.7: The County shall consider liquefaction potential in making land use decisions.
Implementation Programs
Program HS-4.A: The County shall require appropriate detailed seismic investigations for all
public and private projects in locations of known active fault areas.
Program HS-4.B: The County shall exercise approval authority with respect to all real estate
development and structures for human occupancy within the Special Studies Zone, as
provided by State law.
Program HS-4.C: The County shall require appropriate design of structures susceptible to the
effects of liquefaction.
Geologic Hazards
Goal HS-5
To reduce loss of life, injuries, and property damage, and to deal effectively with the socio-
economic disorder that could result from geologic hazards in Butte County; to map and evaluate
known geologic hazards, provide general criteria for other General Plan elements, and to
heighten public awareness of geologic hazards.
Policies
Policy HS-5.1: The County shall correlate allowable density of development to potential for
landslides, erosion and other types of land instability.
Policy HS-5.2: The County shall inform the public of known geologic hazards.
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Policy HS-5.3: The County shall consider geologic hazards in amending its General Plan
Elements.
Policy HS-5.4: The County shall consider landslide potential in its review of private
development and public facilities in areas rated “moderate to high” and “high” on Figure 16-
7 in the General Plan Background Report (Landslide Potential).
Policy HS-5.5: The County shall consider erosion potential in its review of private development
and public facilities in areas rated “high” and “very high” on Figure 16-5 in the General Plan
Background Report (Erosion Hazard Potential).
Policy HS-5.6: The County shall protect against subsidence from groundwater withdrawal and
oil and gas withdrawal, and support the conservation of groundwater from deep wells for use
within the county through the following: monitoring sinking as necessary, requiring
investigation of subsidence potential in review of proposed withdrawals, requiring the
presentation of findings in environmental review, and supporting canal projects to bring
surface waters into Butte County wherever possible.
Policy HS-5.7: The County shall protect development in valley areas with expansive soils by
monitoring shrinking and swelling as necessary and requiring mitigation measures for large
developments and major facilities when there is a potential for significant damage.
Policy HS-5.8: The County shall support development of erosion control projects.
Policy HS-5.9: The County shall support protection of river banks with appropriate methods, and
support dam projects in Northern California that are beneficial to erosion control.
Implementation Programs
Program HS-5.A: The County shall determine appropriate uses for high hazard areas and
establish limits on the density and type of development permitted in high hazard areas.
Program HS-5.B: The County shall require the investigation of landslide potential for proposed
development in areas with slopes over 15%, weak rock, and high rainfall and the presentation
of findings in environmental review and subdivision review.
Program HS-5.C: The County shall, where appropriate, require investigation of erosion potential
for proposed development and the presentation of findings in environmental review and
subdivision review.
Flood Hazards
Goal HS-6
To reduce loss of life, injury, damage to property, and economic and social disruption resulting
from flooding
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Policies
Policy HS-6.1: The County should direct future urban growth away from flood-plain areas.
Policy HS-6.2: The County should limit development in areas with significant drainage and
flooding problems until adequate drainage or flood control facilities are provided.
Policy HS-6.3: The County should not allow urban development in designated flood plains.
Policy HS-6.4: The County shall encourage protection measures against catastrophic and
uncontrolled flooding of permanent crops, such as orchards, nurseries, and other major
agricultural investments.
Policy HS-6.5: The County should encourage improvement of flood control facilities along the
Sacramento River, while at the same time encourage preserving the riparian habitat of the
river.
Implementation Programs
Program HS-6.A: The County shall protect adjacent downstream properties and the public from
flooding by requiring all development to provide the following information:
Historic peak flow
Drainage designs that do not increase the historic peak flow
Suggested offsite improvements as mitigation for increases in historic peak flow
Drainage plans prepared by a registered civil engineer
Mechanisms for maintenance
Program HS-6.B: The County shall address downstream flooding and protect properties and the
public from flooding by working with the cities, special districts, the farming community,
and property owners to jointly prepare and implement a Countywide Master Plan of
Drainage.
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8. NATURAL RESOURCES ELEMENT
Goals, Policies, & Implementation Programs
Water Resources
Goal NR-1
To maintain quantity and quality of water resources adequate for all uses in the county.
Policies
Policy NR-1.1: The County shall ensure an abundant supply of high quality water.
Policy NR-1.2: The County should control land use and water pollution in accordance with State
water quality control guidelines.
Policy NR-1.3: The County should adopt local ordinances that are consistent with existing State
and federal regulations for water quality and that relate to local land use policies.
Policy NR-1.4: The County should control development in watershed areas to minimize erosion
and water pollution.
Policy NR-1.5: The County should conduct studies to determine the erosional characteristics of
mountain watersheds in the county.
Policy NR-1.6: The County should not permit urban development on highly erodible land.
Policy NR-1.7: The County should regulate logging, mining, recreational vehicles, and other
open space uses to prevent erosion and protect water resources.
Policy NR-1.8: The County should support water development projects needed to supply local
demands.
Policy NR-1.9: The County should require proof of adequate water supply for all new
development.
Policy NR-1.10: The County shall consider conservation of water and energy in approving plans
for new development.
Policy NR-1.11: The County should exercise constant vigilance in the protection against export
of groundwater supply.
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Implementation Programs
Program NR-1.A: The County shall adopt a comprehensive watershed protection plan that
includes:
Identification and protection of zones with high groundwater recharge potential
Monitoring and regulation of groundwater extraction to prevent adverse effects of
groundwater overdrafting.
Air Quality
Goal NR-2
To preserve and enhance the air quality in Butte County.
Policies
Policy NR-2.1: The County should evaluate carefully the air pollution potential of all
development plans and proposals.
Policy NR-2.2: The County shall encourage the Butte County Air Quality Management District
(BCAQMD) to adopt any regulations that will preserve and enhance the quality of the air in
Butte County and to support constructive federal or state legislation that will solve the
problem of air pollution on a broader basis.
Energy Resources
Goal NR-3
To facilitate the provision of efficient and cost-effective energy that serves the existing and
future needs of people in the unincorporated areas of the county, and to promote energy
conservation.
Policies
Policy NR-3.1: The County should encourage expansion, construction and efficiency of
hydroelectric power plants in the County.
Policy NR-3.2: The County should encourage the development of natural gas fields and other
fossil fuel sources.
Policy NR-3.3: The County should encourage the development of alternate forms of energy
production, including solar power and burning of waste.
Policy NR-3.4: The County should promote conservation of energy resources in reviewing
proposed developments.
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Mineral Resources
Goal NR-4
To conserve areas identified as containing significant mineral deposits and oil and gas resources
for potential future use, while promoting the reasonable, safe, and orderly operation of mining
and extraction activities within areas designated for such use, where environmental, aesthetic,
and adjacent land use compatibility impacts can be adequately mitigated.
Policies
Policy NR-4.1: The County should encourage extraction and processing of identified deposits of
building materials and other valued mineral resources.
Policy NR-4.2: The County should encourage the reclamation of lands subject to mineral
extraction.
Policy NR-4.3: In accordance with the California Code of Regulations, Sections 3675-3676, the
County shall maintain all Mineral Land Classification Reports produced by the State
Division of Mines and Geology which pertain to Butte County. Butte County hereby
recognizes, accepts, and adopts by reference those State Classification Reports as they
currently exist and as may be amended, or supplemented, in the future.
Policy NR-4.4: Butte County shall adopt an overlay on the General Plan Land Use Map to be
identified by the Mineral Resources Combining Zoning District to recognize known mineral
resources and those resources classified by the State.
Policy NR-4.5: The County shall request that the State Department of Conservation conduct a
county-wide study to assess the location and value of mineral resources. Once completed, the
County may recognize areas classified by the State in the General Plan and zone them and
appropriate areas surrounding such areas to allow for mineral resource management.
Policy NR-4.6: The County shall only allow the extraction of mineral resources within the
county following the approval of a Mining Permit, Reclamation Plan, and Financial
Assurances pursuant to Chapter 13 of the Butte County Code and the Surface Mining and
Reclamation Act (SMARA), and after appropriate environmental review pursuant to the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Policy NR-4.7: The County shall determine which General Plan designations, as shown on the
General Plan Land Use Diagram, that are considered compatible with surface mining
operations and shall also determine which designations are considered incompatible with
surface mine operations. Such determination must be based upon California Code of
Regulations Section 3675, which defines compatible and incompatible uses and any
additional criteria from the General Plan.
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Timberland
Goal NR-5
To maintain timberlands for economic use, and for wildlife habitat, recreation and watershed
protection values.
Policies
Policy NR-5.1: The County should limit the use of timberland to forestry activities and
compatible uses.
Policy NR-5.2: The County should encourage management of timberland to maintain long-term
productivity.
Policy NR-5.3: The County should study and regulate logging practices to preserve the land’s
potential for timber production.
Policy NR-5.4: The County should conduct studies to determine the multiple-use capabilities of
forested areas.
Policy NR-5.5: The County should encourage the owners of timberland to enter open space
agreements.
Policy NR-5.6: The County should encourage “Timberland Preserve” zoning for all suitable
sites.
Policy NR-5.7: The County should not allow in timber-mountain areas the construction of any
roads or buildings that are not necessary to open space uses.
Implementation Programs
Program NR-5.A: The County should determine any amendments to the forest areas that are to
remain in the various open space classifications and designate them on the Land Use
Diagram.
Program NR-5.B: The County should retain in a “Timber-Mountain” designation areas on the
Land Use Diagram where location and natural conditions make lands well suited for
timberland, while considering for non-timber use areas where urban encroachment has been
made inroads into timber areas and where past official actions have planned areas for
development.
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Habitat
Goal NR-6
To protect natural habitat for the preservation of plant and animal species.
Policies
Policy NR-6.1: The County should regulate development to facilitate survival of identified rare
or endangered plants and animals.
Policy NR-6.2: The County should encourage the creation and expansion of conservation and
natural wilderness areas.
Policy NR-6.3: The County should prevent development and site clearance other than river bank
protection of marshes and significant riparian habitats.
Policy NR-6.4: The County should not allow any urban development that would increase
sediment loads in prime fishing waters.
Policy NR-6.5: The County should limit development that would increase sediment loads in
prime fishing waters.
Policy NR-6.6: The County should not allow any urban development in the Butte Sink area, the
marshes near the Sacramento River and the borrow area along the Feather River.
Policy NR-6.7: The County should encourage the careful management and preservation of
premium riparian habitat areas, including the portion of the Sacramento River from Keswick
to the Delta within Butte County, and the Feather River from Oroville south to the Sutter and
Yuba County lines.
Policy NR-6.8: The County should regulate development in identified winter deer ranges to
facilitate the survival of deer herds.
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9. PLANNING AREA PLANS
Butte County has adopted “Planning Area Plans” for the following Planning Areas (in addition, a
Neighborhood Plan was adopted for the Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood in the Chico Urban
Area):
•Oroville Area
•Chico Area
•Gridley-Biggs Area
•Paradise Urban Reserve Area
•Durham–Dayton–Nelson Planning Area
• Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood
• Concow Area
• Palermo/Honcut Area
•Cohasset-Forest Ranch Planning Area
In most cases, policies specific to each area were also adopted along with Planning Area Plan
maps. Concow and Palermo/Honcut are the exceptions to this – only maps were adopted. A
special circumstance exists for the Cohasset-Forest Ranch Planning Area. While the community
of Forest Ranch does not have an adopted area plan, the Cohasset area has special development
policies incorporated into Title 24 - Butte County Zoning Code as Appendix E.
This section consists of descriptive information, goals, policies, and programs that make up the
Planning Area Plans for each of the Planning Areas and for the Chapman/Mulberry
Neighborhood. These policies supplement the general county-wide policies of the Butte County
General Plan.
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
90
Oroville Area Plan
Purpose and Intent
Approximately 2000+ acres south and east of Wyman Ravine are designated Low Density
Residential. Development to the densities anticipated in the Plan can only be achieved by the
extension of sewer and water services to this area. In addition, downstream flood hazards,
drainage and circulation need to be addressed before Low Density Residential development takes
place.
Drainage problems and downstream flooding affect the Wyman Ravine and Ruddy Creek
(Thermalito) watersheds. Development restraint will only partially offset these problems in the
Wyman Ravine watershed and have no effect in the Thermalito area.
Virtually all land uses east of the City of Oroville are dependent on the Olive Highway (SR-162)
arterial for circulation to and through the planning area. Traffic forecasts indicate that congestion
will become extreme as development proceeds east.
An area west of State Route 70 south of the intersection of Pacific Heights Road (northern
section) is designated Commercial on the Plan Map. Because State Route 70 is designated and
managed as a controlled access highway these properties can not be developed without
alternative access. To fully realize the commercial potential of these properties without
disrupting the safety and capacity of State Route 70, a frontage road, single central ingress-
egress point and turn lanes are needed.
Goals and Policies
I. Goal: To preserve the Low Density residential option, and to coordinate the County’s policies
with the provision of services and circulation.
Objective: [placeholder]
Policies:
•This area shall be managed as an “Urban Reserve,” permitting rural residential
development and uses on parcels of not less than ten acres.; and
Objective: [placeholder]
Policies:
•Plans for the extension of sewers, water, circulation and means to control downstream
flooding shall be developed before development and uses on parcels of less than ten acres
are permitted.
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
91
II. Goal: To address drainage and downstream flooding problems in the Wyman Ravine and
Thermalito drainage, and advance the development objectives reflected in the Butte County
Housing Element.
Objective: [placeholder]
Policies:
•Development in the Wyman Ravine watershed and Thermalito basin that significantly
increase runoff from pre-development levels shall be required to annex to (or from) the
appropriate district formed for drainage or retain the increased runoff on site using
appropriate techniques.
III. Goal: To reduce both congestion and total vehicle miles traveled (VMT)
Objective: [placeholder]
Policies:
•Residential development at relatively higher densities (High, Medium and Low, R-3, R-2,
R-1 zones) should be emphasized and encouraged in the area south of Oroville between
Oroville and Palermo adjacent to the community’s planned industrial district, and
•Urban development in this area should be coordinated with the simultaneous provision of
east-west collectors (e.g. V-6, Ophir Road; as major thoroughfares). Planning in the area
should recognize the need for road improvements to increase the carrying capacity of
Lincoln Boulevard.
IV. Goal: To fully realize the commercial potential of these properties without disrupting the
safety and capacity of State Route 70, a frontage road, single central ingress- egress point and
turn lanes are needed
Objective: [placeholder]
Policies:
•Commercial zoning in the area west of State Route 70 south of the intersection of Pacific
Heights Road (northern section) designated Commercial on the Plan Map shall be
contingent upon the approval of a plan for the development and financing of a frontage
road, single central ingress-egress point and turn lanes. Acceptable methods for this
purpose shall include but not be limited to specific plans, planned unit development
zoning or area wide development agreements.
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
92
Implementation Program
[placeholder]
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Figure 8
Oro ville Ur ban Res erve
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Legend
Roads
Par cels
Ur ban Res er ve
City Li mi ts
Thermalito Afterbay
Lake Oroville
Ther malito Forebay
F e a t h e r R i v e r
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R A M P R D
OROVILLE AREA LAN D U SE MAPFigure 9
Legend
Highways
Water
City Limits
General Plan Designa tion
Agricultural Residential
Commercial
Foot hill Area Residential
Grazing & O pen Lands
High Density Resident ial
Industrial
Low Density Residential
Medium Density Resident ial
Orchard & Field Crops
Public
Sport s & Entertainment
Timber Mount ain 0 0.6 1.2 1.8 2.40.3 Miles
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
95
Chico Area Plan
Chico Urban Reserve Area
[Note: the Nord Avenue Annexation District #18, which includes all the area bounded by West
Lindo Avenue, SR-32 (Nord Avenue), West 8th Avenue, and the Union Pacific RR (including the
four of the five parcels referenced in the Chico Area Plan policies under Goal I and II, but
excepting parcel #042-140-078, which is northwest of West Lindo Avenue), received final
LAFCo approval in May 2005. The annexation took out (moved to City jurisdiction) four of the
five parcels that made up the Chico Urban Reserve. The single northernmost parcel is still under
County jurisdiction.
As of mid-July 2005, City of Chico staff reported that this one parcel remaining
in the Urban Reserve is approximately 30 days from initiating the annexation and probably no
less than 150 days from completing the process. With this parcel annexed there will no longer be
an Chico Urban Reserve area in the County. It follows that as soon as this parcel becomes
annexed, the Urban Reserve policies in the Chico Area Plan would no longer be applicable.
Therefore, the policy language in this section has been deleted.
Any decision to designate additional county land as Urban Reserve would be an appropriate
discussion for the second phase of the General Plan Update (“Policy Update”) to be undertaken
following the conclusion of the GPTU.]
[Note: The previously existing policy language regarding the Chico Urban Reserve Area was
deleted in this document since all of the parcels in the Urban Reserve Area were annexed by the
City of Chico as of Fall, 2005. The headings and Figure 10 (Chico Urban Reserve) have been
left in this section as placeholders should Butte County decide to designate a Chico Urban
Reserve Area in the future.]
Purpose and Intent
[placeholder]
The Highway 32 corridor provides both opportunities and constraints to development of frontage
properties.
Approximately 50 acres now in orchard are slated for commercial development.
Goals and Policies
[placeholder]
I. Goal: To implement the General Plan’s goals and policies regarding orderly growth and
circulation.
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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Objective: [placeholder]
Policies:
• All properties on the northeast side of Highway 32 between Lindo Channel and 660 ft.
north of East Eighth shall be managed as an urban reserve.
• Permitted uses under the urban reserve include 1 d.u./10 acres, agricultural operations and
accessory uses permitted by the A-10 zoning districts.
• Any proposal to remove the urban reserve designation shall be coordinated with extension
of community water, sewer, drainage and fire hydrants.
II Goal: [placeholder; topic: circulation]
Objective: [placeholder]
Policies:
• Parcels 42-14-77, -78 shall take access from Lindo Avenue.
• Parcels 42-14-98, -103, -104, shall be allowed one access each onto Highway 32.
• Along Highway 32, a 1 ft. no-access strip shall be deeded to Butte County, with the
exception of approved encroachments.
• Subdivision of the parcels shall be coordinated with construction of a frontage road
between approved access points.
• Development shall contribute its fair share (as determined by the Director of Public Works)
towards improvement of the Highway 32/Sacramento Avenue intersection. Improvement
includes widening, realignment, or signalization.
• All structures shall be located a minimum of 25 ft. from the northeast right-of-way of
Highway 32.
• Lighting shall be shielded from Highway 32.
• The following high traffic generators are specifically prohibited in this area:
• Gasoline stations.
• Fast-food operations (does not include delicatessens, cafes or restaurants)
• Dry cleaners.
• Banks.
• Coin laundries.
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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Implementation Program
[placeholder]
Chico Area Greenline Policy
[Note: Given that introductory language in the existing “Chico Area Greenline” section states:
“in addition to the other policies of the Butte County General Plan, the following policy is
applicable to the Chico Area Land Use Plan,” the “Chico Area Greenline” section has been
moved here under the “Chico Area Plan” section.
Purposes
The purposes of this policy are:
•To define the limits of future urban development that may occur on agricultural lands in
the Chico Area of Butte County.
•To provide for the long-term protection of agricultural resources of the Chico Area of
Butte County.
•To mitigate the threat to agricultural resources posed by urban encroachment into and
conversion of agricultural lands in the Chico Area of Butte County.
•To reduce agricultural/urban conflicts in the Chico Area of Butte County.
•To establish County cooperation with the City of Chico in land use planning of urban and
agricultural lands located in the Chico Area of Butte County.
•To identify urban development limits in or near agricultural lands within the County’s
Chico Area Plan by use of a certain bold dashed boundary line.
•To establish a certain and clear policy text for Butte County’s Chico Area Plan that will
enhance and uphold the aforementioned boundary line and policy text.
•To establish certain land use designations for the Chico Area of Butte County in
conformity with the aforementioned boundary line and policy text.
Findings
The Board of Supervisors of Butte County hereby find and determine that:
•Butte County possesses valuable agricultural lands with prime and non-prime soils and
one of the finest growing climates in the world.
•Agriculture and its related businesses are critical to Butte County’s economic stability.
•Inappropriately placed urban development in the Chico Area of Butte County threatens
the continued economic viability and cultivation practices of commercial agriculture in
the Chico Area.
•At present, the Chico Area of Butte County is substantially surrounded by agricultural
lands on its northwestern, western, and southwestern borders. These agricultural lands
play a vital role in the overall economic vitality of Butte County and must be
conserved.
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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•The Chico Area of Butte County has experienced the continued conversion of valuable
agricultural lands to urban and suburban development. Unless the Land Use and
Agriculture Element of the Butte County General Plan, as it pertains to the Chico Area,
is amended to include an urban limit line and a clear policy text, it is likely that the
Chico Area of Butte County will continue to experience such conversion in the future,
with significant adverse effects on the viability of agricultural uses in the Chico area.
•It is critically important to the citizens of Butte County that the Chico Area Greenline be
established in order to conserve agricultural lands and to ensure that the agricultural
viability of agricultural lands in the Chico Area is not permanently destroyed by
premature and inappropriate conversion to non-agricultural uses.
•The population of the Chico Area of Butte County will continue to grow. The City of
Chico General Plan estimates an urban area population range of from 56,500 to 71,100
individuals by the year 1995, which will result in urbanization of up to 1,600 acres in
the Chico area. There exist in the Chico Area of Butte County productive agricultural
soils already committed to future urban and suburban development, as well as less
productive soils capable of supporting future urban and suburban development. Such
less productive soils are generally located easterly of the urban limit line established by
this ordinance. Unless an urban limit line is established to protect uncommitted
productive agricultural lands in the Chico Area of Butte County, it is likely, based upon
historical trends, that future urban and suburban growth will not be directed towards
those lands that are already committed to or capable of supporting urban and suburban
land use.
•It is the desire of the people of Butte County that future urban land development required
to accommodate planned population growth in the Chico Area shall be directed and
accommodated on the Urban Side of the Chico Area Greenline. Such direction and
accommodation of urban land development is hereby declared to be an essential
component of the conservation of agricultural uses on the Agricultural Side of Chico
Area Greenline.
•It is further the desire of the people of Butte County that public officials of the County of
Butte cooperate with public officials of the City of Chico in order that this policy’s
purposes of accommodating planned population growth and of conserving agricultural
lands in the Chico Area are carried out.
•Nothing herein is intended to relieve the proponents of future urban land developments in
the Chico Area of all proper and reasonable assessments, fees or charges required in
order to fund the cost of providing public services to such urban land developments or
the residents thereof.
Definitions
For purposes of this policy, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings
respectively ascribed to them by this section:
• “Chico Area” means that geographic area shown on the Chico Area Land Use Diagram.
• “Official Chico Area Greenline Maps” means the Chico Area Land Use Diagram and
that large scale map certified by the Planning Director and on file in the Planning
Department office located at 7 County Center Drive, Oroville, California.
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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• “Chico Area Greenline” means the boundary line established by this policy and
delineated on the Official Chico Area Greenline Map which line separates
urban/suburban land uses from agricultural land uses in the Chico Area.
• “Butte County Land Use and Agricultural Element” shall refer to the Butte County
General Plan Land Use and Agricultural Element, which was originally adopted as the
Land Use Element by the Butte County Board of Supervisors on October 30, 1979,
amended from time to time, and recodified in the 2005 General Plan Technical Update
(GPTU).
• “Agricultural” land use designation and “Agricultural Uses” mean the “Primary Uses”
and the “Secondary Uses” set forth in the “Orchard and Field Crops” land use
designation of the Butte County Land Use Element as it existed on March 1, 1982, as
amended from time to time, and as recodified as the Land Use and Agricultural
Element in the 2005 GPTU General Plan Technical Update.
• “Agricultural Residential” land use designation means the “Agricultural Residential”
land use designation of the Butte County Land Use Element as it existed on March 1,
1982, as amended from time to time, and as recodified as the Land Use and
Agricultural Element in the 2005 GPTU General Plan Technical Update.
• “Urban/Suburban Land Uses” means all lawful uses of land (including agricultural and
agricultural residential land uses).
• “Agricultural Side of the Chico Area Greenline” shall refer to lands within the Chico
Area that are located westerly of the Chico Area Greenline.
• “Urban Side of the Chico Area Greenline” shall refer to lands within the Chico Area that
are located easterly of the Chico Area Greenline.
Establishment of Chico Area Greenline
The General Plan of the County of Butte is hereby amended as follows:
•There is hereby established the Chico Area Greenline that shall be located as shown on
the Official Chico Area Greenline Map. The Official Chico Area Greenline Map is
incorporated into this policy by this reference.
•Should a dispute arise or ambiguity appear as to the exact location of the Chico Area
Greenline, the following rules shall be applied in determining the exact location of such
line:
•The Greenline shall be identified in the Chico Area Plan with a bold dash line as
shown on the Chico Area Land Use Diagram. The Greenline is specific; large scale
maps certified by the Planning Director shall be consulted in the event of a dispute.
•Where the Greenline is indicated as approximately following street, alley, railroad
right-of-way, creek or channel lines; the centerline of such street, alley, railroad
right-of-way, creek or channel lines shall be construed to be the location of the
Greenline.
•Where the Greenline is indicated as approximately following a lot line, such lot line
shall be construed to be the location of the Greenline.
•With respect to property that is not subdivided, and where the Chico Area Greenline
bisects a lot or parcel, the location of the Greenline, unless the same is indicated by
dimensions shown upon the Official Chico Area Greenline Map, shall be
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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determined by the use of the scale appearing on the Official Chico Area Greenline
Map.
•The Chico Area Greenline shall constitute the boundary between the “Urban Side of the
Chico Area Greenline” and “Agricultural Side of the Chico Area Greenline”.
•Agricultural Residential land uses may occur on the Agricultural Side of the Chico Area
Greenline only within those areas designated for Agricultural Residential use on the
Official Chico Area Greenline Map.
•Except as provided for in subsection (d), of this section, all land use on the Agricultural
Side of the Chico Area Greenline shall consist solely of Agricultural land uses as
provided by the Orchard and Field Crop designation.
•Land uses on the Urban Side of the Chico Area Greenline shall be guided by the policies
of the Land Use and Agriculture Element and the applicable urban land use designation
as contained in the Land Use and Agriculture Element.
Establishment of Chico Area Land Use Policies
In order to minimize or eliminate the adverse effects that premature and inappropriate
conversion to urban/suburban land uses are likely to cause to the agricultural lands in the
Chico Area of Butte County, the following policies are hereby adopted as part of the Land
Use and Agriculture Element of the Butte County General Plan, applicable to the Chico Area
of Butte County:
•It shall be the policy of Butte County to conserve and protect for Agricultural Use the
lands in the Chico Area that are situated on the Agricultural Side of the Chico Area
Greenline.
•It shall be the policy of Butte County to accommodate future urban/suburban growth that
occurs in the Chico Area of Butte County on lands situated in the Urban Side of Chico
Area Greenline.
Zoning Regulations
In order to carry out the purposes of this policy, properties located on the Agricultural Side of
the Chico Area Greenline shall subsequently be zoned or rezoned in accordance with this
policy as follows:
•All areas that are zoned A-5, A-10 on the effective date of this policy are deemed
consistent with this policy.
•All areas that are shown as Agricultural Residential on the Chico Area Greenline Map
shall hereafter be rezoned to a consistent zone or a conditionally consistent zone, as the
same were listed as of March 1, 1982, in the Agricultural Residential land use
designation of the Butte County General Plan. Rezoning shall be accomplished by the
Butte County Board of Supervisors in the manner prescribed by law.
•After the effective date of this policy, except as specified in this subsection (a), no
property on the Agricultural Side of the Chico Area Greenline shall be rezoned to an A-
2, A-5, A-10 zoning district classification.
•All lands located on the Agricultural side of the Chico Area Greenline that are not
affected by the above (a) shall hereafter be zoned or rezoned, consistent with this
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
101
policy. Such zoning or rezoning shall be done by the Butte County Board of
Supervisors through the exercise of its discretion and in the manner prescribed by law.
•All references to A-2, A-5, A-10, A-20, A-40, and A-160 zoning districts, as well as
references to the consistent and conditionally consistent designations applicable to the
Agricultural Residential land use designation, shall be deemed to mean those same
zoning district designations and terms as defined in Chapter 24 of the Butte County
Code as the same read on March 1, 1982 and as amended from time to time.
•Any existing legal lot of record located on the Agricultural Side of the Chico Area
Greenline that, as a result of the adoption of this policy, does not conform with the
minimum size required by the zoning district designation assigned by this policy shall
be a nonconforming lot and shall be entitled to the benefits and the restrictions of
nonconforming lots as established by law.
•Nothing contained in this policy shall be deemed to prohibit the application of the
agricultural nuisance ordinance (Butte County Ordinance Number 2238) or the
agricultural segregation ordinance (Sections 24-285 and 24-290 Chapter 24 of the Butte
County Code), as the same may now exist or hereafter be amended.
Zoning Consistency and Timing
The Chico Area Plan establishes land use designations that depict desirable future land use
patterns. State law requires consistency between general plan policies and zoning. In order to
encourage an orderly transition of land use from the existing to the desired pattern, the
County shall undertake to rezone those lands consistently with the Chico Area Plan. Zoning
in these areas shall be upgraded through time with a commensurate showing of need,
adequate services, drainage, etc. as provided for in the Butte County Land Use and
Agricultural Element. Zoning in these areas to less than the maximum provided for in the
Plan’s designations shall be considered consistent with the Butte County’s General Plan by
virtue of policies directed at Oorderly Ddevelopment (Policies LU-1.7, LU-1.8, and LU-1.9),
and Rresidential Ddevelopment (policies under Goal LU-8). Priority shall be given to those
areas with infrastructure capacity.
Amendment and Review
The above Greenline policy may be amended as follows:
•By a majority vote of the Butte County Board of Supervisors provided, however, that if
any such amendment involves a change in the location of the Chico Area Greenline,
that the Board of Supervisors shall approve such amendment only after the adoption of
written findings of fact, supported by substantial evidence in the public record,
showing.
- That the public benefits of converting the agricultural land to urban land substantially
outweigh the public benefits of continued agricultural production; and
- There are no other urban or suburban lands reasonably available and suitable for the
proposed development.
•The Greenline is established for the period covered by the General Plan, 20 years. To
insure that the land use needs of the Chico Area are being met, the location of the
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
102
Greenline shall be reviewed and evaluated every five (5) years. For this purpose the
Board of Supervisors commits itself to initiate such a review at the time interval
specified above. Any changes or amendments shall be made only upon the findings
specified in subsection 1 above. Nothing in this policy shall prevent an individual at
any time from petitioning the Board of Supervisors for a general plan amendment
including a change in the location of the Greenline in accord with the applicable laws
and policies of the County of Butte and State of California.
Study Area No. 1: The area generally known as the Bell-Muir area located in northwest
Chico (bounded on the west by the Southern Pacific Railroad Tracks, on the south by
East Avenue and Henshaw Avenue, on the east by Alamo Avenue and on the north by
Bell Road and Muir Avenue) is designated as a “Study Area No. 1”. This designation
shall be in addition to that shown on the Chico Area Land Use Diagram. This area
designated as a Study Area No. 1 shall be subject to the specified policies of this
section.
- The Board of Supervisors, by simple majority vote, may revise the location of the
Chico Area Greenline so as to place the Study Area No. 1 on the Urban Side of the
Chico Area Greenline.
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
103
Figure 10
Chico Urban Reserve
[Placeholder]
S
a
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r
a
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9
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East Twenti eth S t
W e s t E a s t A v e
C o h a s
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R d
Nord Hwy
D e e r C r e e k H w y
Eas t Par k Av e
Nord Ave
Highwa y 32
D a y t o n R d
E a s t F i r s t A v e
V a l l o m b r o s a A v e
E a s t E i g h t h S t
Park Ave
S
k
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w
a
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S k y w a y
K e e f e r R d
H a m i l t o n -N o r d -C a n a
H w y
Esplanade
East Eat on Rd
M
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Oas is Dr
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C
C i t y o f C h i c oCity o f C h i c o
CHICO AREA LAND USE MAPFigure 11
0 1 20.5 Miles
Legend
Greenli ne
High wa ys
Majo r Road
Lakes
City Limits
General Plan Designation
Agricultural Re side ntia l
Commercial
Foo thill Area Resid ential
Grazing & O pen Land s
High Density Resid ential
Indu strial
Low Density Re sid ential
Med ium Density Resid ential
Orch ard & Field Crops
Public
Sports & Entertainment
Timber Mo untain
Highway 99
Esplanade
Bell Rd
S k y w a y
M e
r
i d i a
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R d
M
id
w
a
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C o h
a s
s e t
R d
River Rd
D a y t o n R d
H i c
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n
H u m b o l d t R d
Ke ef er Rd
Ea st Av e
H e g a n L n
B r
u c
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R d
Hig h way 32
Oak Way
D e e r C r e e k H w y
C h i c o R i v e r R d
M u
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G a
r n
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r
L n
Fair St
F o r e s t A v
e
West Sacramento Ave
U p p e r P a r k R d
C h i c o C a n y o n R d
Ea st Ea to n R d
Doe Mill Rd
Manzanita Ave
An ita Rd
Grap e W ay
F
l
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a
l
A
v
e
V a l l o m b r o s a A v e
C e r e s A v e
C r o u c h A v e
Fim
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Salem St
E a s t E i g h t h S t
Ivy St
Park Ave
Bidwell Ave
E a s t L a s s e n A v e
L o n e P i n e A v
e
S t i l s o n C a n y o n R d
N o t r e
D a
m e
B l v d
Nord Hwy
H o n e y R u n R d
Oroville Chico Hwy
Nance Canyon Dr
N
ord A
ve
Normal Ave
N o r t h
A v e
Wilson Landing Rd
S o u t h P a r k D r
W
a
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S
t
M
a
r
i
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A
v
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Elk Ave
W e s t E a s t A v e
H e n s h a w A v e
Bay Ave
S a n t a R i t a R d
E a s t F i r s t A v e
W e s t L i n d o A v e
Pine St
P
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L
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W i l d w o o d A v e
L o t t
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E d g a r A v e
P i e r c e R d
Entler Ave
W e s t E i g h t h A v e O
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A
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Marjac Way
L i b e r t y L n
O a k P a r k A v e
W e s t F i f t h S t
H
olly Ave
H u m b o l d t A v e
F
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P a l m e t t o A v e
W h i t e A v e
M o r e h e a d A v e
M
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H
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Willow Landing Dr
W h
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R y a n A v e
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S e
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L
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Kathy Ln
Sta n ley A ve
P i c h o l i n e W a y
Silverbell Rd
Ma ryb ill Ran ch Rd
L a k e w e s t D r
C
itru
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C a c t
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S t e v e n s A v e
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We st Ea to n RdAngelina W a y
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O r c h
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B
l o
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Otterso
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R i o L i n d o A v e
G a r d e n B r o o k D r
O c e a n D r
S y c a m o r e D r
Elm St
R u t h L n
Kiwi L n
S o n g b ir d
D i a s D r
Kilkare Ln
S h a r i L n
E a s t T e n t h A v e
M
ara
ud
er St
M c F a d d e n L n
C o y o t e W a y
R o t h S t
C a m a s C t
Tod d C t
Sega Dr
L e g i o n A v e
Airpo rt S e rv ic e Rd
O w e
n s
R d
S h i r e y C t
Juniper St
C
h
a
n
c
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L
n
H o r s e R u n L n
Nord Hwy
Nord Ave
F i l b e r t A v e
Jones Ave
Figure 12
Chico Ar ea Gre enlin e
´Legend
Roads
Greenline
City Limits
0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,0002,500 Feet
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
106
Gridley-Biggs Area Plan
[Note: On April 6, 2000, the Butte County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO)
approved a Sphere of Influence (SOI) Amendment for the City of Gridley to accommodate the
growth anticipated by the City’s 1999 General Plan. On May 8, 2001, the Butte County Board of
Supervisors approved a General Plan Amendment (GPA) and Rezone (Agenda Item 01-147) for
lands in and around the City of Gridley’s SOI to reflect the changes that LAFCO made to the
SOI. This amendment involved changes to the Gridley/Biggs Land Use Map (now called the
Gridley-Biggs Area Land Use Diagram), and policies in the Gridley-Biggs Area Land Use Plan
(now called the Gridley-Biggs Area Plan. Applicable lands were also rezoned to implement these
changes.
The changes shown highlighted (and with) below are based on the May 8, 2001 GPA. Further
changes to this text that were made for clarity and consistency are shown with double strike-outs
or underlines.]
Purpose and Intent
Situated on and surrounded by agricultural soil resources that provide no alternative to the
planned conversion of agricultural lands to accommodate future urban/rural development, the
Gridley-Biggs Area Plan provides for a relatively large amount of land designated Low,
Medium, and High Density Residential, and Agricultural Residential. These areas are located
adjacent to the City of Gridley. Currently devoted to a mixture of agricultural and rural
residential uses, these areas are designated for future urban expansion.
Goals and Policies
I. Goal: To preserve residential density options for the time frame of the City of Gridley’s
General Plan (2020) plan and to coordinate the County’s policies with those of the City of
Gridley, in a manner consistent with the Land Use and Agricultural Element’s policies regarding
orderly development (Policies LU-1.7, LU-1.8, and LU-1.9) and the Housing Element’s policy
regarding adequate facilities and services, by designating the area of the Gridley-Biggs Area Plan
within the adopted sphere of the City of Gridley as an “Urban Reserve” (see Figure 13).
Objective: [placeholder]
Policies:
•The County’s land use policy, zoning and subdivision shall be coordinated with the City of
Gridley.; and
•The urban residential designations adjacent to the City of Gridley’s current boundaries
shall be managed as an “Urban Reserve”, permitting rural residential development and
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
107
uses on parcels of not less than five acres until such time as they are needed for
development and adequate services are available to serve these areas; and
•The Urban Reserve (UR) policy shall be applied to ensure that orderly premature growth
and extension of urban services does not occur outside the City of Gridley boundaries.
Only until such time as necessary urban services are provided to the parcel targeted for
development shall The maximum density/intensity of the ultimate land use designation
shall be applied only when necessary urban services are provided to the parcel targeted
for development. Prior to urban services being provided, the minimum parcel size for
residential uses within the UR area shall be 5 acres; the permitted uses shall only include
those allowed in the AR land use designation.
•Properties planned for industrial or commercial development shall be managed as an
“Urban Reserve”, permitting industrial or commercial uses on parcels of not less than 10
acres until such time as they are needed for development and adequate services are
available; and
• The following shall apply to General Plan amendments, rezoning, or subdivision within the
UR area. Plans for necessary urban services (i.e., sewerage, water, circulation/roads,
storm water management, etc.) shall be completed and required finances shall be secured
concurrent with or prior to any proposal that ultimately involves the creation of parcels of
less than 5 acres for residential uses or 10 acres for commercial/industrial use. To ensure
long term efficiency in delivering services, these plans shall be coordinated with the City
of Gridley’s public facilities/infrastructure plans.
• Any proposal for a General Plan Amendment, rezoning or subdivision that would permit
parcels of less than five acres to be created for residential use or 10 acres for commercial
or industrial use shall be coordinated with the plans of the City of Gridley for extension
of sewer, water, circulation, drainage, and means to control down stream flooding, prior
to or concurrently with the adoption; and
•Any residential lot that is now less than 5 acres or commercial or industrial lot less than 10
acres that was legally created, pre-existing, and nonconforming may be developed
according to its zoning and the provisions of Butte County Code 24-35.
•Development standards compatible with the City of Gridley shall be utilized for urban
development projects within the city’s established sphere of influence.
•The area added to the Gridley Sphere of Influence by LAFCO Resolution 28 1999/00 shall
remain in an Orchard and Field Crop land use designation with an A-40 zone to preserve
continued agricultural uses until the land is annexed to the City of Gridley.
Implementation Program
[placeholder]
H i g
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9 9
Li tt le Av e
Syca mo re S t
H a z e l S t
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Sh eld on Av e
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For d Ave
Ye w S t
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H u m b
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Pa ra d ox Dr
P a
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D en i z B r oth e r s L n
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Hollis L n
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Ba yb erry W ay
Sca rlet Oa k Dr
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So cial Hall Rd
Jay Dr
O'Br i en Av e
Ash S t
S a
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Blu e Bir d Ln
La lovi Dr
C a l i f o
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Che rry St
A y e
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We d in W a y
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Che rry Blo sso m L n
M a g n o l i a T e r
H
a s k
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Vista del Rio
Eve lyn D r
F r e
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a
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Svensk Ct
P
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L
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Lone Star Ct
M a
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F a i r v i e w D r
O r e g
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S t
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Figure 13
Grid le y Ur ban Res erve
0 0.25 0.5 0.75 10.125 Miles
Legend
Roads
Parcels
City Limits
Urban Reserve
S T A T E H
I G
H W A Y 9
9
B ST
L A R K I N R
D
AFTO N RD
W
E S T B I G
G S G R
I D
L E Y R
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BI GG S H WY
EAST G RI DL EY R DCOLUSA H WY SYC AMOR E ST
C S T
D O S R I O S R D
8
T
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H W
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B A N N O C K S TB S T
H I
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W A Y
9 9
C i t y o f G r i d l e yCity o f G r i d l e y
C i t y o f B i g g sCity o f B i g g s
GRIDLEY/B IG GS AR EA LAND USE MAP
0 0.5 10.25 Miles
Figure 14
Legend
Highways
City Limits
General Plan Desig nation
Agricultural Residential
Commercial
Foothill Area Residential
Grazing & Open Lands
High Density Residential
Industrial
Low Density Resident ial
Medium Density Residential
Orchard & Field Crops
Public
Sports & Entertainment
Timber Mount ain
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
110
Paradise Urban Reserve Area Plan
Purpose and Intent
Paradise is situated on a mountain ridge top divided by canyon areas that restrict the
development opportunities and present many challenges for future urban/rural residential
development. The South Paradise area is located adjacent to the Town Limits of Paradise.
Currently devoted to a mixture of mountain recreation, open space, and rural residential uses,
this area is designated “Agricultural-Residential” by the Butte County General Plan and the
Paradise Urban Reserve Area Plan for future urban expansion.
Goals and Policies
I. Goal: To preserve residential density options for the time frame of the plan and to coordinate
the County’s policies with those of the Town of Paradise, in a manner consistent with the Land
Use and Agricultural Element’s policies regarding orderly development (Policies LU-1.7, LU-
1.8, and LU-1.9) and the Housing Element’s policy regarding adequate facilities and services, by
designating the County area within the South Paradise Area as an “Urban Reserve.”
Objective: [placeholder]
Policies:
•The County’s land use policy, zoning and subdivision shall be coordinated with the Town
of Paradise and any other service district within the Urban Reserve; and
•The Agricultural-Residential land use designations in the South Paradise Area as depicted
by Figure 15 shall be managed as an “URBAN RESERVE”, permitting rural residential
development and uses on parcels of not less than forty (40) acres in those areas
designated by the California Department of Fish and Game as NO DEVELOPMENT
ZONES for the protection of critical deer herd winter ranges and twenty (20) acres on all
other properties until such time as they are needed for development and adequate services
are available to serve this area; and
•Any proposal for a General Plan Amendment, Rezoning or Subdivision that would permit
parcels of less than twenty (20) acres to be created shall be coordinated with all public
agencies that provide utility and public services as well as the plans of the Town of
Paradise for extension of water, circulation, drainage, and shall be required to submit the
following plans prior to or concurrently with the adoption:
•A capital improvement plan or such other program that indicates where and when
physical improvements are to be made, the size of these improvements, standards,
phasing of treatment facilities and lines to service the area, and how they will be
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
111
financed. This plan should be based on the desired land pattern for future growth, the
costs of initial service, and the continued operation costs to the designated area.
•A park and open space plan that identifies locations and standards for park and
recreation areas to serve future growth, and natural open space areas that are to be
preserved.
•An environmental plan that identifies critical areas that should be protected from
development if applicable.
•A street and transportation plan that indicates the location, capacity, and nature of the
system and off-site transportation impacts.
•Health Department standards for control of septic systems, and water wells. Areas
where wells and septic systems are not permissible should be identified.
•A fiscal plan that identifies the proportion of costs of public facilities and services that
is to be reimbursed from new subdivisions.
•Any parcel that is now less than forty (40) acres that was legally created, pre-existing,
and nonconforming may be developed according to its zoning and the provisions of
Butte County Code Section 24-35.
•Development standards compatible with the Town of Paradise shall be utilized for
urban development projects with the Urban Reserve Area as depicted by Figure 15.
Implementation Program
[placeholder]
C l a
r
k R d
P
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z
R
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N e a l R d
Elliot t Rd
Hon ey Ru n Rd
F o s t
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Roe Rd
S k y w a y
S a
w m i l l
R d
Nunneley Rd
D r y
C r e e
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C e n t e r v i l l e R d
M
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L
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Pe arso n Rd
W a y l a n d R d
S c o
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R d
P r i v a t e D r
Stearns Rd
B e n n e t t R d
S a n d p i p e r L n
O
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R
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Bu sch man n Rd
S o
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L i b
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R d
R e d b u d D r
Y o
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Cast le D r
Ma l i bu D r
A l m o n d S t
S u n v i e w R d
Indian Springs Rd
Addys Ln
W h i t e S p r i n g s R d
Sutter Rd
N o r t h
L
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R d
T o y o n L n
H a r r i s o n
R d
O u
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O l d C l a r k R d
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Circle "J" Rd
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P u
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R d
Be lle Cre ek L n
R i c h B a r R d Yo u ng Ave
F i l b e r t
S
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Cha pp a ral Dr
F o l a
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R d
Ad ob e L n
Central Park Dr
Pacific Dr
F i c k e t t L n
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V
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D
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Elk L n
H a z e
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B r
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Wildernes s Way
Y o r k s h i r e D r
G l e n D r
C a n y o n V i e w D r
Pa ige L n
K i b l e r R d
A i r p o r t R d
Goa Way
R i p
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W o
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D r
I n g a l l s
R d
T a m i L
n
R i v e n d e l l L n
Am b er O a ks Ct
L o v e t t L n
X a
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S e n e c a D r
Like ns L n
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Lovely Ln
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L
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O
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V a l l e y R i d g e D r
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H o l l y L n
L o c u s t V a l e
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Heynen Rd
S
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Rim View Dr
Casa Dr
Leaf y Ln
S u
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Tob ie Ln
Louie Ln
Jade Ln
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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Durham–Dayton–Nelson Planning Area Plan
Purpose and Intent
[placeholder]
Goals and Policies
I. Goal: Provide a circulation and transportation system coordinated with land use to ensure
streets and roads are safe, efficient, and enhance the Planning Area’s overall design and
appearance.
Objective: Maintain highways and roads, with appropriate street patterns and designs.
1. Establish and design the street system to reflect more effectively the classification concept
(arterial, collector, local) and the desired land use objectives of the community.
2. The circulation system should support the collective mobility goals of the residents of the
Planning Area as identified in the Butte County Regional Transportation Plan.
Policies: The County shall:
1. Design local residential streets for access to properties and for discouraging through, non-
local traffic.
2. Utilize effective traffic control devices that would regulate flow, provide adequate turning
movements, and promote pedestrian and bicycle safety.
3. Develop subdivision street design strategies aimed at mitigating traffic hazards.
4. Minimize conflicts between vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic.
5. Restrict residential development from locating adjacent to streets carrying or expected to
carry 10,000 vehicles per day because of adverse noise levels.
6. Seek means to restrict the routes for hazardous toxic materials and fuel trucks by
restricting routes that go through populated areas.
7. Require traffic studies on any residential development that will have significant impacts on
transportation to evaluate the placement of traffic control devices.
8. Where possible, new development shall plan arterial roadways on all section lines and
collector roadways on all half-section lines to provide for efficient circulation.
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9. An east-west interlink between Durham-Dayton Highway and the Midway shall be
adopted prior to any subdivision approvals for property located north of the school. In
addition, a north-south route shall be considered as part of the circulation system to the
area north of the school.
Objective: Bicycle and pedestrian safety.
1. Provide policies and programs to ensure safer conditions for the bicyclist and pedestrian.
2. Promote and encourage bicycling for reasons of ecology, health, economy and enjoyment.
Policies: The County shall:
1. Develop a community-wide bicycle and pedestrian plan in accordance with the
Transportation Development Act
2. Encourage new residential subdivisions to implement bicycle and pedestrian facilities m
the subdivision design,
3. Conduct traffic safety studies in connection with residential development, and identify
pedestrian/traffic conflicts.
Objective: Aviation and railroad service.
1. Ensure the viability of private air strips within the area for their importance to agriculture.
2. Ensure that rail service continues to be provided through the Planning Area, and that rail
facilities are utilized for the best interest of the public.
Policies: The County shall:
1. Refer all developments that may impact upon any agricultural aviation operation to the
Butte County Airport Land Use Commission for review.
2. Develop policies to address the needs and problems related to agricultural aircraft
operation, particularly as they relate to the use and disposal of hazardous chemical
material.
3. Through the Butte County Airport Land Use Commission, develop comprehensive land
use recommendations to reduce potential conflicts between desired land uses and
agricultural aviation activity.
4. Recognize the importance of privately-owned restricted-use airstrips to the agricultural
needs of the county.
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5. Promote quality rail service while, at the same time, offering competitive intramodal rates
to the shipping public.
6. Improve rail grade crossings that have deteriorated to an unacceptable level.
7. Locate noise-sensitive uses a sufficient distance from railroads or provide appropriate
mitigation measures to avoid adverse effects from trains passing through the Planning
Area.
Objective: Public transit
1. Provide public transportation to that segment of the population within the community that
is transit dependent, and continue to support public transit for area residents.
Policies: The County shall:
1. Require new subdivisions to incorporate transit design characteristics in street designs.
2. Require large subdivisions to provide a transportation system management plan that
incorporates public transit as an element
3. Develop low-cost methods of providing transportation to as many transit-dependent
persons as possible.
4. Develop programs to help increase Ac farebox return of the transit system.
II. Goal: Provide affordable and adequate housing within the community to ensure the physical
health, mental health, privacy and security of Planning Area residents.
Objective: Housing supply.
1. Ensure an adequate supply of housing to meet the needs of all segments of the Planning
Area.
Policies: The County shall:
1. Establish policies to regulate, subsidize and service housing within the Planning Area.
2. Prepare a housing element for Butte County and revise and update every 5 years in
accordance with State law.
3. Provide an adequate amount of affordable multiple-family housing.
4. Extend public services to vacant areas ready for new housing starts by forming
improvement districts.
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Objective: Housing standards.
1. Ensure that housing for all segments of the community is safe, sanitary, and of the highest
possible quality.
Policies: The County shall:
1. Encourage the upgrading of existing dwelling units that require rehabilitation to meet
current standards of the Uniform Building Code.
2. Seek means and funds to improve the condition of dwellings found to be dilapidated or in
deteriorating condition.
3. Evoke the power of condemnation and nuisance abatement for the eradication of
dilapidated dwellings deemed no longer safe or sanitary.
III. Goal: Improve overall air quality within the Planning Area and Butte County.
Objective: Regulation for clean air.
1. Ensure development proposals adhere to the requirements of the Butte County Air
Pollution Control District.
Policies: The County shall:
1. Encourage clean industries to locate within the Planning Area to reduce stationary source
air pollution.
2. Require air pollution estimations be made on any large development.
IV. Goal: Locate, extend and phase community facilities and services to provide for orderly
development and economical utilization of resources. Ensure that growth is orderly and does not
result in a significant burden to existing levels of public services and facilities.
Objective: Provide public services.
1. Encourage a rate of growth that does not exceed the County’s ability to provide necessary
public services or the ability of the local economy to support such growth.
Policies: The County shall:
1. Encourage industrial, agricultural and commercial uses that provide tax revenues to help
support planned residential growth.
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2. Monitor various factors relating to the area’s growth rate and provision of public services,
including an inventory of land reserves and the costs and revenues associated with new
development.
3. Develop a program of growth phasing, wherein only those lands that are adjacent to
existing urban densities and have public facilities and services available will be able to
develop at urban densities and standards.
4. Foster a compact rather than a scattered development pattern in order to discourage urban
sprawl to reduce the extend and cost of public services, and to preserve open space within
the Planning Area.
5. Ensure the ongoing operation and funding of the Durham Fire Station and library services
provided by the County
6. Coordinate growth with the ability of the Durham Unified School District’s to service and
provide facilities.
7. Review the option of package treatment plants or sanitary sewer systems for the
communities of Durham, Dayton and Nelson.
8. Expand the recreational opportunities of the Planning Area.
9. Develop policies for park sitting and dedication within the Planning Area.
10. Improve overall police protection by seeking resident deputies and/or reserve deputies
and a future substation within the Planning Area.
Objective: Utilization of resources.
1. Plan the population growth within the Planning Area to a level consistent with retaining a
rural community lifestyle and recognizing environmental constraints.
2. Support the continued viability of agricultural production as the major source of income,
employment and economic viability of the Planning Area.
Policies: The County shall:
1. Improve linkages among organizations to address the defined needs of the Planning Area.
2. Review all development projects to ensure that they promote the responsible use and
stewardship of the natural resources to preserve the quality of rural life.
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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3. Plan, finance and develop facilities and services in the Planning Area that contribute to
making this area a desirable place in which to live and make private and business
investments.
V. Goal: Protect and maintain areas of native vegetation, including riparian forest, valley
freshwater marsh, valley oak woodland, vernal pools, annual grasslands and designated natural
areas. Such areas deserve protection as part of the heritage of the communities, for the way such
areas add to the aesthetic environment, and as important examples of the diversity of habitats and
the wildlife they support within the Planning Area and the State.
Objective: Protection of natural habitats.
1. Protect confirmed locations of sensitive plants and animals.
Policies: The County shall:
1. Review all projects in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act to ensure
no plant or animal species is endangered by the proposed development.
2. Encourage groups interested in the preservation of wildlife and plants to purchase the
development rights to sensitive areas.
3. Encourage the coordination with other community groups, governmental organization, and
private interests to avoid duplication of effort and, encourage innovation.
VI. Goal: Utilize and develop natural resources so as to protect those resources and eliminate
exposure of persons and property to environmental hazards.
Objective: Management of mineral resources.
1. Efficiently utilize mineral resources and ensure their continued supply.
Policies: The County shall:
1. Encourage proper development and management of sand and gravel.
2. Ensure that all commercial development of sand and gravel deposits is compatible with
nearby land uses.
3. Ensure that extraction operations of sand and gravel adhere to all environmental quality
regulations of the County and State.
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4. Locate commercial, industrial, open space and agricultural uses adjacent to prime mineral
resource areas to avoid conflicts between mineral production activities and present or
planned residential and institutional land uses.
Objective: Protection of soil resources.
1. To eliminate potential for soil erosion or degradation of its agricultural productivity.
Policies: The County shall:
1. Require standard erosion-control measures and construction practices to minimize soil
erosion.
2. Protect agricultural lands that currently produce, or have the potential to produce, from
encroaching urban uses.
Objectives: Protection of water resources.
1. Utilize surface water resources for multiple uses such as recreation, farming and industry.
2. Preserve the quality of all water resources through control of the intensity of use, the
density of population and the type and amount of development.
Policies: The County shall:
1. Identify and protect groundwater recharge areas within and outside of the Planning Area to
assure adequate groundwater supplies meeting the standards of the California Safe
Drinking Water Act.
2. Require subdivisions adjacent to existing water systems to connect to them.
Objective: Manage natural gas resources.
1. Ensure the safe and efficient extraction and use of the area’s natural energy resources.
Policies: The County shall:
1. Identify all natural gas resources and prepare an energy, natural resources and recreation
element of the Butte County General Plan.
2. Locate open space and agricultural land uses surrounding production areas to reduce
incompatible land uses.
3. Promote the exploration and production of natural gas.
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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VII. Goal: Limit potential threats to human health and property that may result from natural
environmental hazards.
Objective: Avoid geologic hazards.
1. Regulate the spatial relationships of land uses to reflect the geologic hazards of the area.
Policies: The County shall:
1. Identify areas subject to seismic activity and its secondary effects.
2. Require all new buildings comply with the provisions of me Uniform Building Code for
seismically active areas.
3. Identify the appropriate use of lands subject to erosion, subsidence, expansion of soils and
other geologic hazards or characteristics.
4. Designate for open space land uses those areas with high erosion potential or soil
instability that cannot be mitigated.
Objective: Avoid hydrologic hazards.
1. Promote urban development outside of existing floodplain, and contain the floodplain
within their current boundaries.
Policies: The County shall:
1. Protect the capacity of floodplain and prevent flood damage and associated public relief
expenditures created by construction of residential structures in the floodplain.
2. Identify areas subject to localized ponding and lacking adequate drainage facilities.
3. Require correction of local stormwater ponding conditions prior to development in such
areas, either through off-site improvements provided by land developers, or through
community storm drain facility capital improvements projects.
VIII. Goal: Ensure that the area’s growth is in accordance with the desires and needs of the
community, that future developments are safer and healthier as human habitats, more resilient to
deteriorating forces, and more consistent or harmonious with natural processes.
Objective: Manage existing and future land use.
1. Promote a growth rate that reflects a well-planned and controlled expansion of the area.
Policies: The County shall:
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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1. Concentrate future residential uses within or near the existing developed communities.
2. Control the direction and amount of growth through the planning and regulation of public
facilities.
3. Establish appropriate growth guidelines that will achieve a balance and relationship
between urban expansion and the natural environment.
4. Provide for community shopping needs by providing for a full range or retail commercial
services desired by the community.
5. Provide for industrial uses in locations and at a level of use compatible with adjacent uses,
recognizing the rural nature of the Planning Area.
6. Provide for public and quasi-public uses near residential and commercial areas.
7. Encourage and maintain agriculture as the predominant land use of the Planning Area.
8. Promote citizen participation in planning by establishing and forming planning
committees, special-purpose planning groups, and other outreach programs.
9. Review boundaries of Planning Area and revise, as necessary, to include lands that reflect
community identities, and exclude lands outside community boundaries and for which
land use plans have recently been adopted.
10. Support the adopted Greenline and policies for the areas located within the Chico Urban
Area north of the Durham Unified School District boundary.
11. Provide a separation between the Chico Urban Area and the northerly boundaries of the
communities of Durham and Dayton by recognizing the Durham Unified School District
boundary as a line of demarcation.
12. Adopt an urban boundary surrounding Durham-Dayton-Nelson to require infrastructure
improvements that meet the urban standards as established by the Butte County Public
Works Department.
13. All General Plan Amendments that allow densities of less than one acre per dwelling unit
shall be incorporated into the urban boundaries.
14. The Planning Department shall develop M-l development or performance standards that
include greater setbacks, landscape buffers and standards, screening, architectural
enhancements and review procedures within six (6) months of approval of the Durham-
Dayton-Nelson D2N Plan or prior to the development of any M-l zoned lands.
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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15. Existing Industrial uses that have been rezoned to commercial designations may continue
as pre-existing non-conforming uses. However, whenever a use change is industrial in
nature, a Use Permit shall be required to determine the appropriateness and public safety
issues that may occur. Public notice in a paper and posting in Durham shall be required.
IX. Goal: Maintain and preserve for future generations the Planning Area’s historical and
cultural resources and pioneer heritage.
Objective: Preserve historic and cultural resources.
1. Establish strict public policy for the preservation of historical, archaeological and cultural
resources that will safeguard the heritage of the past to provide the community a cultural
foundation for measuring change.
Policies: The County shall:
1. Seek historic designation for locally significant sites and structures in cooperation with
local groups and residents.
2. Protect the archaeological resources within the area and provide for the appropriate
reconnaissance and/or preservation of these significant resources.
3. Promote the use of historical properties, sites and districts for the education and recreation
of the citizens of the County;
4. Provide for the protection of visually appealing features of the community that enhance the
residents’ perception of the local environment and evoke community pride.
Implementation Program
Due to the planning and development interrelationships involved with the Durham-Dayton-
Nelson D2N Area and the balancing of competing land uses such as agricultural versus
residential, that General Plan Amendments, rezones, subdivision approvals and subsequent urban
development must include additional criteria of development. In addition, consideration of
various elements of the county’s policies, plans and standards must occur to ensure proper
development of the area. It is to this end that urban reserve policies have been recommended.
The plans and policies that are necessary in this context are the following:
1. A water plan for the area that establishes the service area and the size, standards, location,
and phasing of treatment facilities and lines to service the area. This plan should be based
on the desired land pattern for future growth, the costs of initial service, and the
continued operation costs to the south Paradise area.
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Butte County General Plan Policy Document
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2. A park and open space plan that identifies locations and standards for park and recreation
areas to serve future growth, and natural open space areas that are to be preserved.
3. An environmental plan that identifies critical areas that should be protected from
development if applicable.
4. A street and transportation plan that indicates the location, capacity, and nature of the
system and off-site transportation impacts.
5. Health department standards for control of septic systems, and water wells. Areas where
wells and septic systems are not permissible should be identified.
6. A fiscal plan that identifies the proportion of costs of public facilities and services that is to
be reimbursed from new subdivisions.
7. A capital improvements plan/program that indicates where and when physical
improvements are to be made. the size of these improvements, and how they will be
financed.
All of the above items are elements of the planning process that should be required by the county
of any given General Plan Amendment, rezone, or subdivision proposal in the Durham-Dayton-
Nelson D2N area to create a coherent community development Such a requirement would
prevent Ac marginal developments that cause conflicts between the residential and agricultural
land uses of the area from occurring. Currently, many subdivisions in the Durham-Dayton-
Nelson D2N area occur at the one plus acre size to circumvent the county subdivision ordinance
that requires paved roads, curbs, gutters, and sidewalks for developments of less than one acre.
Setting higher standards for development would also prevent premature developments from
taking place and preserving the ag-lands until such time the market place can support urban
residential development property. Therefore, following policies, shall apply to the entire
Planning Area:
A. The County’s land use policy, zoning and subdivision regulations shall be coordinated
with the Urban Reserve policies and regulations; and
B. All property located in the planning area shall be managed as an “URBAN RESERVE”,
not permitting rural residential development and uses on parcels less than three (3) acres
until such time as they are needed for development and adequate services are available to
serve this area; and
C. Any proposal for a General Plan Amendment, rezoning or subdivision that would permit
parcels of less than three (3) acres to be created for residential use shall be coordinated
with all public agencies that provide utility and public services for extension of water,
sewer, circulation, drainage, and shall be required to submit the following plans prior to
or concurrently with the adoption:
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1. A capital improvement plan/program that indicates where and when physical
improvements are to be made, the size of these improvements, standards, phasing of
treatment facilities and lines to service the area, and how they will be financed. This
plan should be based on the desired land pattern for future growth, the costs of initial
service, and the continued operation costs to the designated area.
2. A park and open space plan that identifies locations and standards for park and
recreation areas to serve furore future growth, and natural open space areas that are to
be preserved.
3. An environmental plan that identifies critical areas that should be protected from
development if applicable.
4. A street and transportation plan that indicates the location, capacity, and nature of the
system and off-site transportation impacts.
5. Health department standards for control of septic systems, and water wells. Areas
where wells and septic systems are not permissible should be identified.
6. A fiscal plan that identifies the proportion of costs of public facilities and services that
is to be reimbursed from new subdivisions.
D. Any parcel that is now less than twenty (20) acres that was legally created, pre-existing,
and non conforming may be developed according to its zoning and the provisions of
Butte County Code Section 24-35.
E. Development standards of the County utilized in other urban areas for developments less
than one (1) acre shall be utilized for all residential development projects within the
Urban Reserve Area.
F. The following policy applies only to the properties described:
All SR-1 zoned properties that are located (immediately) north, south, and west of the
Durham School can be considered for higher density (R-l standards) development
once the above mentioned services are adequately addressed. The County shall
support density transfers within this area to encourage more cost effective and
efficient developments as an interim measure until items such as regional sewage
disposal can be addressed. The remaining lands in such a proposal would have
planned roads and lot sizes, but shall remain undeveloped and/or in agricultural
production until a sewer system is established. Appropriate on-site sewage disposal
standards shall be the ultimate determining factor of the actual developed densities.
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Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood Plan
Purpose and Intent
The purpose and intent of the policies and implementation measures included in this section are
to preserve and enhance the single family residential character of the neighborhood core and
promote the revitalization of the Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood. This section includes a
summary description of the existing characteristics to be preserved while including policies and
implementation measures that are intended to help revitalize and stabilize these two
neighborhoods.
The 338-acre Chapman/Mulberry area is predominantly an unincorporated county island
surrounded by the City of Chico. Both are older, well-established neighborhoods in a mature
urban forest environment. According to 1998 County records, the area is comprised of
approximately 800 dwellings and a population of roughly 2,100 people. Portions of the area have
been annexed to the city in recent years as a prerequisite to obtaining sanitary sewer service from
the City.
Like most of the Chico Urban Area, the Chapman/Mulberry area is subject to the Nitrate
Compliance Plan, which prohibits creation of new residential parcels smaller than one acre in
size.
The majority of the homes are detached single family dwellings, and there are relatively few
multi-family dwellings. Groupings of dwellings are relatively common in the area. In the
Mulberry area, roughly 17 percent of the dwellings occur as groups of one or more structures. In
the Chapman area, approximately 10 percent of the dwellings occur in such groupings. Mobile
homes comprise roughly three percent of the housing stock in the Chapman/Mulberry area.
The area has a significant number of structures in need of repair and rehabilitation. According to
the County records only 13.6 percent of the dwellings were rated as meeting current minimum
building code requirements in the Chapman area. By contrast, over 28 percent of the dwellings in
the Mulberry area were classified as meeting the building code. Housing condition is also related
to the age of construction. Over 73 percent of the dwellings were built prior to 1950 in the
Chapman/Mulberry area. The County has and will continue to invest CDBG funds to rehabilitate
substandard homes.
As of 1998, nearly all of the parcels in the Chapman/Mulberry area have been built upon.
Roughly 6.8 percent of the parcels are undeveloped. While many of the existing parcels could be
further divided under County zoning, few are sufficiently large to meet the minimum one-acre
lot size requirement of the Nitrate Compliance Plan.
According to 1998 County records, a large percentage (41 percent in Chapman and 45 percent in
Mulberry) of the dwellings are renter-occupied. This statistic also reflects a larger majority of
home ownership in both neighborhoods, thereby providing considerable social stability.
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Infrastructure is lacking in much of the Chapman/Mulberry area. For example, street pavement
width varies, and sidewalks, curbs, and gutters are rare. However, the absence of sidewalks and
the rural streetscape is viewed by the community as a valuable amenity that should be retained.
The major infrastructure deficiency is primarily due to the lack of a sanitary sewer and storm
drainage system. This area is within the Nitrate Compliance Plan. The County is actively taking
the lead in bringing sewer service to the area. Due to an inadequate storm drainage system and
other factors, portions of the area are subject to seasonal ponding of runoff during peak storms.
With regard to non-residential uses, there are limited commercial and industrial uses
concentrated on the southern and northern edges of the area. Scattered commercial and light
industrial uses occur within the residential area, resulting in land use incompatibilities. Many of
these commercial and industrial uses preceded the zoning in the area and are inconsistent and
incompatible with the residential neighborhood character because these uses generate vehicle
traffic in an area that contains narrow streets, create noise that disturbs residents of the area,
generate hazardous materials that may be harmful to the residents of the area, and cause aesthetic
impacts.
In spite of problems with the area’s housing stock and infrastructure, residents enjoy a variety of
natural amenities, including the mature urban forest, neighborhood and regional parks, and the
riparian environment afforded by Little Chico Creek. The area is also served by several
community service centers, several churches, and the Chapman Elementary School. Also, the
Neighborhood is in close proximity to a wide range of commercial uses located on the perimeter
of the area.
Goals and Policies
I. Goal: [placeholder]
Objective: [placeholder]
Policies:
1. The County General Plan Land Use Diagram shall be amended to incorporate the land use
designations shown in Figure 18. The map shall include the following land use
designations, as specified:
•Industrial and Commercial (neighborhood-serving retail) - Along 20th Street in
recognition of existing long-term uses and where compatible with the residential
character.
•Commercial - Along Humboldt Avenue in recognition of existing, long-term uses and
where compatible with the residential character, and between 16th and 20th Streets,
west of Chapman Elementary School.
•Low Density Residential (LDR) - Mulberry area.
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
130
•Low Density Residential (LDR), with limited commercial, industrial, and public uses,
where specified - Chapman area.
•Medium Density Residential - In combination with the neighborhood commercial
center between 16th and 20th Streets.
2. The County Zoning Ordinance shall be revised to include a new overlay district entitled
“C/M” (Chapman/Mulberry) specifically applicable to the Chapman/Mulberry
Neighborhood. The new overlay district shall address the following issues:
•Amortization of Nonconforming uses. This section shall include provisions for an
active program to amortize existing commercial and industrial nonconforming uses.
The primary focus of the amortization program shall be incompatible industrial &
commercial uses within the residential portions of the Neighborhood area.
•Permitted Uses. All uses allowed in the base zoning district shall be permitted within
the C/M Combining district.
•Yard Area Requirements. Variable yard setbacks shall be adopted to accommodate
existing dwellings constructed in required yard areas before current requirements
were adopted and to foster a pedestrian orientation.
3. The County Zoning Map shall be amended to apply appropriate zoning districts to the
Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood Plan area consistent with Figure 18 and include the
C/M Combining district.
4. The County shall continue to promote and facilitate the rehabilitation of the existing
housing stock using a variety of applicable, viable programs.
5. Pre-1976 mobile homes shall be phased out and may not be replaced unless the new unit
meets HUD housing standards.
6. The City and County shall facilitate the relocation of the Chico Scrap Metal Yard to an
industrial zoned location that does not have conflicts with residentially zoned and used
lands.
7. The County and the City of Chico shall both adopt and implement this plan along with the
appropriate ordinances for all portions of the Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood.
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
131
II. Goal: [placeholder]
Objective: [placeholder]
Policies:
1. All new projects and building permits within the Neighborhood shall adhere to the
applicable Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood Design Standards contained in the C/M
(Chapman/Mulberry Combining) Zoning.
2. A landscaped solid wall shall be established between the industrial land uses along 20th
Street and the Chapman Elementary School.
3. The urban forest of the neighborhood shall be preserved and expanded.
4. The City of Chico and the County shall work to achieve community open space along the
north bank of Little Chico Creek between the Bruce Street and the Boucher Street
bridges.
5. The main entrances to the business located in the Community Commercial Center on East
16th Street shall be oriented to face East 16th Street.
III. Goal: [placeholder]
Objective: [placeholder]
Policies:
1. The special street sections contained in the Chapmantown-Mulberry Improvement Report
shall be incorporated into the County Improvement Standards and shall be specifically
applied to the Neighborhood.
2. High speed vehicle traffic occurs on some streets creating a serious safety hazard. Develop
and implement appropriate methods of reducing vehicle speed on the following streets:
Virginia Street, Bruce Street, Cleveland Street, Boucher Street, and Guill Street.
Particular consideration should be given to ensuring that the design of any speed-
reducing devices used on E. 16th Street are not in conflict with school bus operations.
3. The Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood Plan incorporates by reference the redesign of the
connecting street between E. 16th Street and Cleveland Avenue in front of Chapman
School, identified as “Scheme 1 - McKinney Acquisition Redevelopment Plan” in the
Chapman-Mulberry Improvement Report, dated April 1994.
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
132
4. A consistent streetscape design shall be created for the entire Chapman/Mulberry
Neighborhood that specifies street trees and street lighting fixtures. In keeping with the
residents’ stated desire to adhere to less urban standards, lighting shall be the minimum
necessary for safety. As such, new fixtures shall be placed at street intersections and at
acceptable locations in the center of long blocks.
5. A pedestrian/bicycle circulation plan shall be implemented that provides for the
construction of sidewalks and off-road bicycle/pedestrian pathways within the
Neighborhood, where possible. Particular attention shall be given to ensuring access to
the regional park. The pedestrian/bicycle circulation plan shall be developed within the
community park and shall provide for both internal and external linkages.
6. County Transit and Chico Area Transit shall cooperate to ensure that public transit routes
and stops are available to and within the Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood. Where
possible, stops shall be designed with turn-outs that minimize disruption of traffic flow.
7. Vehicle access to the Community Commercial Center located between East 16th Street
and East 20th Street shall be from East 16th Street only.
IV. Goal: [placeholder]
Objective: [placeholder]
Policies:
1. Public investment in infrastructure upgrades shall occur to the maximum extent possible as
a means of stimulating private investment in the Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood.
2. Septic leachfield systems shall be phased out in compliance with the Nitrate Compliance
Plan.
3. The County shall continue to support public service organizations operating within and
serving the Neighborhood.
4. The Sheriff’s Department shall continue to maintain its presence within the Neighborhood
with appropriate staffing levels.
5. The Sheriff’s Department shall encourage creation and operation of an active
Neighborhood Watch program.
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
133
Implementation Programs
Zoning and Land Use Consistency
Consistency with County General Plan. The County shall initiate re-zoning of the
Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood in accordance with the C/M (Chapman/Mulberry)
Combining District described in this section.
Time Frame: FY 2000-2001
Amortization of Nonconforming Uses. Legal commercial and industrial nonconforming
land uses in the residential neighborhood core areas shall be amortized and phased out
within ten years of the adoption of this Plan. The owners of the legal nonconforming uses
shall be notified of their status and amortization period. The City and County shall work
together to facilitate the relocation in the least disruptive manor.
Time Frame: FY 2000-2010
Neighborhood Rehabilitation
Neighborhood Clean-Up. The County shall assist community based organizations in their
efforts to organize a neighborhood clean-up program.
Time Frame: On-Going
Relocate Chico Scrap Metal Yard. The City and County shall cooperatively take the
necessary steps to relocate the Chico Scrap Metal Yard to a more appropriate location.
Time Frame: Five years
Community Design
Neighborhood Design Guidelines. The County Development Services Department,
Planning Division and the Building Division shall institute procedures that will ensure
that all development proposals and building permits approved in the Chapman/Mulberry
Neighborhood are consistent with the Chapman/Mulberry Design Standards contained in
the C/M (Chapman/Mulberry Combining) Zoning.
Time Frame: On-Going
Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood Streets. The County Development Services
Department, Planning Division and the Public Works Department shall ensure that all
new discretionary development proposals include street designs that are consistent with
the Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood Road Improvements contained in Appendix II of
the Butte County Improvement Standards.
Time Frame: On-Going
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
134
Chapman Elementary School Buffer. A landscaped solid masonry wall shall be installed
on the industrial land along the common boundary of the Chapman Elementary School
and the industrial uses to the south along 20th Street.
Time Frame: Two years
Preserve and Enhance the Urban Forest. The design guidelines shall require the planting
of new trees in front yard areas for all new building permits. Grants shall also be pursued
to plant new trees to replace those previously removed.
Time Frame: On-Going
Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities. The County Development Services Department, Planning
Division and the Public Works Department shall ensure that all discretionary
development proposals include bicycle and pedestrian facilities in the locations shown in
Figure 18 Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood Plan Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation.
Time Frame: On-Going
Capital Improvement Program
Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood Streets/Storm Drainage. The County shall include the
Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood Road Improvements contained in Appendix II of the
Butte County Improvement Standards in its Capital Improvement Program. Priority
attention shall be given to street reconstruction projects that will provide maximum storm
drainage improvements in areas most affected by seasonal flooding.
Time Frame: FY 2000-2001
Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities. The County shall include construction of bicycle and
pedestrian facilities shown in Figure 18 Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood Plan
Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation in its Capital Improvement Program.
Time Frame: FY 2000-2001
Sewer Facilities. Individual septic systems shall be phased out and a sanitary sewer system
shall be installed to the Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood in accordance with the Nitrate
Compliance Plan.
Time Frame: As specified in the Nitrate Compliance Plan, yet to be adopted.
Vehicle Speed Controls. The County shall evaluate and include in the design appropriate
vehicle speed control measures on the following streets: Virginia Street, Bruce Street,
Cleveland Street, Boucher Street, and Guill Street.
Time Frame: FY 2000-2001
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
135
Coordination with City of Chico. Portions of the Chapman/Mulberry Neighborhood are
within the Chico city limits. Achieving consistency between City and County general
plan, zoning, design guidelines, and improvement standards is critical to the success of
the revitalization programs envisioned in this section. The County shall initiate
communication with the City of Chico relative to achieving consistency between the city
and county in all of the above areas. Both agencies shall adopt the Plan along with
appropriate implementing ordinances.
Time Frame: FY 2000-2001
Community Open Space. The City and County shall seek funding to acquire and provide
community open space along the north bank of Little Chico Creek between Bruce Street
and Boucher Street bridges.
Time Frame: Five years
H
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Park Ave
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Mulberry St
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Salem St
H u m b o l d t R d
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Figure 18Chapman/M ulbe rr y Neig hbo rh ood Plan
0 550 1,100 1,650275Feet
General Plan Designations
Legend
Chapman/M ulberry Ar ea
Gen eral Plan Design ati ons
Com merci al
Industri al
Low Densi ty R esi dential
Medium D ensity Residential
Publ ic
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
137
10. IMPLEMENTATION STANDARDS: LAND USE
DESIGNATIONS AND ZONING COMPATIBILITY
The Butte County’s Zoning Ordinance is the principal tool for implementing the Butte County
General Plan. Both the Zoning and the General Plan contain maps portraying the distribution of
land uses throughout the county, and both contain descriptions of and development standards for
the various land use categories appearing on the maps. The Zoning Ordinance, which must by
State law be consistent with the General Plan, is more detailed in its standards and procedures
than the General Plan. While the General Plan is long-term in perspective, the Zoning Ordinance
is immediate in its application.
As stated in the General Plan Guidelines (2003), “Counties, general law cities, and charter cities
with populations of more than two million are required to maintain consistency between their
zoning ordinance and their adopted general plan (§65860).” According to Government Code
Section 65860, a local zoning ordinance and adopted general plan are consistent only if: “The
various land uses authorized by the ordinance are compatible with the objectives, policies,
general land uses and programs specified in such a plan.” The General Plan Guidelines state that
zoning consistency has three main components: uses and standards, spatial patterns, and timing.
Development standards (density, lot size, height, etc.) and uses specified for all of the land use
categories in the zoning ordinance must be consistent with the development standards and uses
specified in the general plan’s text and land use diagram. Both the general plan land use diagram
and the zoning map should set forth similar distribution of land uses. And finally, the general
plan, having a longer-term focus, may require a phased approach to zoning, because of the
shorter-term focus of the zoning ordinance.
Many communities use a compatibility matrix comparing the general plan’s land use categories
and associated development standards with the zoning districts. However, as the General Plan
Guidelines state, a compatibility matrix cannot by itself “answer questions about the zoning’s
compatibility with the objectives, policies, and programs of the general plan, nor can it answer
questions about timing.”
Table 2 shows the County zoning classifications which could be consistent with each land use
designation. This consistency determination, however, is insufficient as it only relates zoning
regulations to land use designation provisions and not to the application of policies and
implementation measures to specific proposals. The consistent zones listed in each category,
therefore, relate to the intended primary and secondary uses only and not to other policy or
implementation considerations. The consistency of zoning regulations is further considered in the
policies and programs listed under the “Zoning” topic (under Goal LU-4) in the Land Use and
Agricultural Element.
The zoning factors listed in Table 2 are subjects which are to be considered in the evaluation of
consistent zones and the choice of the most appropriate zoning classification. Like site
designation criteria for the land use designations, the use of these factors requires extensive
analysis of site characteristics and evaluation of individual situations. These factors should guide
Final Draft August 8, 2005
Butte County General Plan Policy Document
138
decisions on residential densities and intensity of use for rezonings, use permits and all
development proposals.
Consistency: The zoning ordinance is a set of districts with different regulations on permitted
uses, residential densities, lot sizes, signs, parking, and the intensity and placement of structures.
The written text of the ordinance must be accompanied by maps dividing the entire jurisdiction
into zoning districts. The immediate effect, detailed regulations and precise boundaries of the
zoning ordinance make it the most effective tool available for controlling physical development
according to county policies.
State law had always recommended zoning to reflect adopted general plans, but it was not until
1974 that local zoning ordinances and general plans were required to be consistent. The
remaining inconsistencies between the County zoning ordinance and the land use diagram
reflects several distinct types of planning problems:
There are a number of minor inconsistencies between existing zones and the existing land use
categories which could be remedied through rather simple changes in the zoning regulations. A
few obvious examples would be; deleting intense residential uses from the list of conditional
uses in the “A-R” and “T-M” zones; requiring use permits for residential uses in the commercial
zones; increasing the minimum lot sizes of the “S-H” and “M-R” zones; and setting maximum
densities for the “R-2”, “R-3” and “R-4” zones.
It is important to note that urban categories (Residential, Commercial and Industrial) require
zoning which allows urban uses and densities immediately. The greater range of consistent
zoning classifications allowed in the rural categories (Orchard and Field Crops, Grazing and
Open Land, Timber-Mountain and Rural Residential), places more attention and emphasis on
zoning to determine densities.
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1
6
0
,
A
-
4
0
th
r
u
A
-
1
6
0
,
F
R
-
4
0
t
h
r
u
F
R
-
16
0
,
R
-
C
,
C
-
F
,
T
P
-
1
6
0
,
a
n
d
PU
D
.
-
-
1.
E
x
i
s
t
i
n
g
p
a
r
c
e
l
s
i
z
e
s
a
n
d
d
w
e
l
l
i
n
g
d
e
n
s
i
t
i
e
s
.
2.
S
l
o
p
e
.
3.
E
l
e
v
a
t
i
o
n
.
4.
R
o
a
d
a
c
c
e
s
s
.
5.
E
f
f
e
c
t
s
o
n
a
d
j
a
c
e
n
t
u
s
e
s
.
6.
L
o
c
a
l
d
e
s
i
r
e
s
.
Ag
r
i
c
u
l
t
u
r
a
l
Re
s
i
d
e
n
t
i
a
l
A-
2
0
,
A
-
4
0
,
T
M
-
2
0
,
T
M
-
4
0
,
FR
-
2
0
,
F
R
-
4
0
,
&
C
-
F
.
A-
5
,
A
-
1
0
,
T
M
-
1
t
h
r
u
TM
-
1
0
,
F
R
-
2
t
h
r
u
F
R
-
10
,
S
R
-
1
,
R
T
-
1
A
,
&
PU
D
,
s
u
b
j
e
c
t
t
o
f
i
n
d
i
n
g
s
of
c
o
n
f
o
r
m
i
t
y
w
i
t
h
t
h
e
Co
n
d
i
t
i
o
n
a
l
Z
o
n
i
n
g
a
n
d
De
v
e
l
o
p
m
e
n
t
C
r
i
t
e
r
i
a
.
1.
C
o
m
p
a
t
i
b
l
e
w
i
t
h
n
e
i
g
h
b
o
r
i
n
g
ag
r
i
c
u
l
t
u
r
a
l
a
c
t
i
v
i
t
i
e
s
.
2.
E
v
i
d
e
n
c
e
o
f
a
d
e
q
u
a
t
e
w
a
t
e
r
a
n
d
se
w
a
g
e
d
i
s
p
o
s
a
l
c
a
p
a
c
i
t
y
.
3.
A
v
a
i
l
a
b
i
l
i
t
y
o
f
a
d
e
q
u
a
t
e
f
i
r
e
pr
o
t
e
c
t
i
o
n
f
a
c
i
l
i
t
i
e
s
.
4.
A
d
e
q
u
a
t
e
l
y
m
a
i
n
t
a
i
n
e
d
a
p
p
r
o
v
e
d
ro
a
d
a
c
c
e
s
s
w
i
t
h
s
u
f
f
i
c
i
e
n
t
ca
p
a
c
i
t
y
t
o
s
e
r
v
i
c
e
a
r
e
a
.
5.
R
e
a
s
o
n
a
b
l
e
a
c
c
e
s
s
i
b
i
l
i
t
y
t
o
co
m
m
e
r
c
i
a
l
s
e
r
v
i
c
e
s
a
n
d
sc
h
o
o
l
s
.
1.
E
x
i
s
t
i
n
g
p
a
r
c
e
l
s
i
z
e
s
a
n
d
r
e
s
i
d
e
n
t
i
a
l
d
e
n
s
i
t
i
e
s
.
2.
S
l
o
p
e
.
3.
S
o
i
l
c
o
n
d
i
t
i
o
n
s
a
n
d
w
a
t
e
r
a
v
a
i
l
a
b
i
l
i
t
y
.
4.
E
f
f
e
c
t
s
o
n
a
d
j
a
c
e
n
t
u
s
e
s
,
c
r
o
p
p
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n
,
l
i
v
e
s
t
o
c
k
gr
a
z
i
n
g
,
f
o
r
e
s
t
r
y
,
r
e
s
o
u
r
c
e
s
e
x
t
r
a
c
t
i
o
n
a
n
d
w
i
l
d
l
i
f
e
ha
b
i
t
a
t
.
5.
P
r
o
x
i
m
i
t
y
t
o
p
u
b
l
i
c
r
o
a
d
s
a
n
d
o
t
h
e
r
p
u
b
l
i
c
f
a
c
i
l
i
t
i
e
s
.
6.
D
i
s
t
a
n
c
e
f
r
o
m
a
i
r
p
o
r
t
s
,
r
a
i
l
r
o
a
d
s
a
n
d
i
n
d
u
s
t
r
i
a
l
u
s
e
s
.
7.
E
x
i
s
t
i
n
g
u
t
i
l
i
t
i
e
s
a
n
d
d
r
a
i
n
a
g
e
f
a
c
i
l
i
t
i
e
s
.
8.
P
o
t
e
n
t
i
a
l
f
o
r
s
u
r
f
a
c
e
c
r
a
c
k
i
n
g
,
l
a
n
d
s
l
i
d
e
s
a
n
d
e
r
o
s
i
o
n
.
9.
E
f
f
e
c
t
s
o
n
n
o
i
s
e
,
t
r
a
f
f
i
c
f
l
ow and safety, water quality,
ai
r
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
,
w
i
l
d
l
i
f
e
h
a
b
i
t
a
t
a
n
d
g
e
n
e
r
a
l
en
v
i
r
o
n
m
e
n
t
a
l
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
.
10
.
L
o
c
a
l
d
e
s
i
r
e
s
.
11
.
P
o
t
e
n
t
i
a
l
f
o
r
p
e
st
i
n
s
e
c
t
b
r
e
e
d
i
n
g
.
Fo
o
t
h
i
l
l
A
r
e
a
Re
s
i
d
e
n
t
i
a
l
FR
-
5
,
F
R
-
1
0
,
F
R
-
2
0
,
F
R
-
4
0
,
FR
-
1
6
0
,
A
-
5
,
A
-
1
0
,
A
-
2
0
,
A
-
40
,
A
-
1
6
0
,
A
R
-
5
,
S
R
-
5
,
T
M
-
5,
T
M
-
1
0
,
T
M
-
2
0
,
T
M
-
4
0
,
FR
-
2
,
S
R
-
1
,
S
R
-
3
,
T
M
-
1
,
TM
-
2
,
T
M
-
2
1
/
2
,
R
T
-
1
A
,
P-
Q
,
F
R
-
5
,
A
R
-
5
,
S
R
-
5
,
TM
-
5
,
A
-
5
,
P
U
D
,
s
u
b
j
e
c
t
1.
C
o
m
p
a
t
i
b
l
e
w
i
t
h
n
e
i
g
h
b
o
r
i
n
g
de
v
e
l
o
p
m
e
n
t
a
c
t
i
v
i
t
i
e
s
.
2.
E
v
i
d
e
n
c
e
s
o
f
a
d
e
q
u
a
t
e
w
a
t
e
r
a
n
d
se
w
a
g
e
d
i
s
p
o
s
a
l
c
a
p
a
c
i
t
y
.
1
.
S
l
o
p
e
.
2.
S
o
i
l
c
o
n
d
i
t
i
o
n
s
a
n
d
w
a
t
e
r
a
v
a
i
l
a
b
i
l
i
t
y
.
3.
E
f
f
e
c
t
s
o
n
a
d
j
a
c
e
n
t
u
s
e
s
.
4.
P
r
o
x
i
m
i
t
y
t
o
p
u
b
l
i
c
r
o
a
d
s
a
n
d
o
t
h
e
r
p
u
b
l
i
c
f
a
c
i
l
i
t
i
e
s
a
n
d
Fi
n
a
l
D
r
a
f
t
August 8, 2005
Bu
t
t
e
C
o
u
n
t
y
G
e
n
e
r
a
l
P
l
a
n
P
o
l
i
c
y
D
o
c
u
m
e
n
t
14
0
La
n
d
U
s
e
De
s
i
g
n
a
t
i
o
n
Co
n
s
i
s
t
e
n
t
Z
o
n
e
s
Co
n
d
i
t
i
o
n
a
l
l
y
Co
n
s
i
s
t
e
n
t
Z
o
n
e
s
Co
n
d
i
t
i
o
n
a
l
Z
o
n
i
n
g
a
n
d
De
v
e
l
o
p
m
e
n
t
C
r
i
t
e
r
i
a
Zo
n
i
n
g
F
a
c
t
o
r
s
TM
-
1
6
0
,
C
-
F
,
R
-
C
,
P
-
Q
,
a
n
d
PU
D
(
5
a
c
r
e
m
i
n
i
m
u
m
)
.
to
f
i
n
d
i
n
g
s
o
f
c
o
n
f
o
r
m
i
t
y
wi
t
h
t
h
e
C
o
n
d
i
t
i
o
n
a
l
Zo
n
i
n
g
a
n
d
D
e
v
e
l
o
p
m
e
n
t
Cr
i
t
e
r
i
a
.
3.
A
v
a
i
l
a
b
i
l
i
t
y
o
f
a
d
e
q
u
a
t
e
f
i
r
e
pr
o
t
e
c
t
i
o
n
f
a
c
i
l
i
t
i
e
s
a
n
d
l
a
w
en
f
o
r
c
e
m
e
n
t
p
r
o
t
e
c
t
i
o
n
.
4.
A
d
e
q
u
a
t
e
l
y
m
a
i
n
t
a
i
n
e
d
a
p
p
r
o
v
e
d
ro
a
d
a
c
c
e
s
s
w
i
t
h
s
u
f
f
i
c
i
e
n
t
ca
p
a
c
i
t
y
t
o
s
e
r
v
i
c
e
a
r
e
a
.
5.
R
e
a
s
o
n
a
b
l
e
a
c
c
e
s
s
i
b
i
l
i
t
y
t
o
co
m
m
e
r
c
i
a
l
s
e
r
v
i
c
e
s
a
n
d
sc
h
o
o
l
s
.
pu
b
l
i
c
u
t
i
l
i
t
i
e
s
.
5.
P
o
t
e
n
t
i
a
l
f
o
r
s
u
r
f
a
c
e
c
r
a
c
k
i
n
g
,
l
a
n
d
s
l
i
d
e
s
,
a
n
d
e
r
o
s
i
o
n
.
6.
E
f
f
e
c
t
s
o
n
n
o
i
s
e
,
t
r
a
f
f
i
c
f
l
ow and safety, water quality,
ai
r
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
,
w
i
l
d
l
i
f
e
h
a
b
i
t
a
t
a
n
d
g
e
n
e
r
a
l
en
v
i
r
o
n
m
e
n
t
a
l
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
.
7.
L
o
c
a
l
d
e
s
i
r
e
s
.
Lo
w
D
e
n
s
i
t
y
Re
s
i
d
e
n
t
i
a
l
R-
1
,
R
-
1
A
&
C
,
R
T
-
1
,
R
T
-
1A
,
A
-
S
R
,
M
-
R
,
S
-
R
,
S
R
-
5
,
SR
-
1
,
T
M
-
1
,
R
-
M
H
,
P
U
D
.
-
-
1.
E
x
i
s
t
i
n
g
p
a
r
c
e
l
s
i
z
e
s
a
n
d
r
e
s
i
d
e
n
t
i
a
l
d
e
n
s
i
t
i
e
s
.
2.
A
v
a
i
l
a
b
i
l
i
t
y
o
f
s
e
w
e
r
s
o
r
s
u
i
t
a
b
i
l
i
t
y
f
o
r
s
e
p
t
i
c
t
a
n
k
s
.
3.
E
f
f
e
c
t
s
o
n
a
d
j
a
c
e
n
t
u
s
e
s
,
w
a
t
e
r
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
,
a
i
r
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
,
no
i
s
e
,
t
r
a
f
f
i
c
f
l
o
w
a
nd
s
a
f
e
t
y
,
a
n
d
g
e
n
e
r
a
l
en
v
i
r
o
n
m
e
n
t
a
l
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
.
4.
P
r
o
x
i
m
i
t
y
t
o
m
a
j
o
r
s
t
r
e
e
t
s
,
c
o
m
m
e
r
c
i
a
l
s
e
r
v
i
c
e
s
a
n
d
a
l
l
pu
b
l
i
c
f
a
c
i
l
i
t
i
e
s
.
5.
D
i
s
t
a
n
c
e
f
r
o
m
a
i
r
p
o
r
t
s
,
r
a
i
l
r
o
a
d
s
a
n
d
i
n
d
u
s
t
r
i
a
l
u
s
e
s
.
6.
E
x
i
s
t
i
n
g
u
t
i
l
i
t
i
e
s
,
w
a
l
k
w
a
y
s
a
n
d
d
r
a
i
n
a
g
e
f
a
c
i
l
i
t
i
e
s
.
7.
L
o
c
a
l
d
e
s
i
r
e
s
.
Me
d
i
u
m
De
n
s
i
t
y
Re
s
i
d
e
n
t
i
a
l
R-
1
,
R
-
1
A
&
C
,
R
T
-
1
,
A
-
S
R
,
S-
R
,
S
R
-
5
,
R
-
M
H
,
A
-
R
,
R
-
2
,
R-
3
,
R
-
4
,
M
H
P
,
P
U
D
.
-
-
1.
E
x
i
s
t
i
n
g
p
a
r
c
e
l
s
i
z
e
s
a
n
d
r
e
s
i
d
e
n
t
i
a
l
d
e
n
s
i
t
i
e
s
.
2.
M
e
t
h
o
d
a
n
d
c
a
p
a
b
i
l
i
t
y
o
f
s
e
w
a
g
e
d
i
s
p
o
s
a
l
.
3.
E
f
f
e
c
t
s
o
n
a
d
j
a
c
e
n
t
u
s
e
s
,
w
a
t
e
r
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
,
a
i
r
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
,
no
i
s
e
,
t
r
a
f
f
i
c
f
l
o
w
a
nd
s
a
f
e
t
y
,
a
n
d
g
e
n
e
r
a
l
en
v
i
r
o
n
m
e
n
t
a
l
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
.
4.
P
r
o
x
i
m
i
t
y
t
o
m
a
j
o
r
s
t
r
e
e
t
s
,
c
o
m
m
e
r
c
i
a
l
s
e
r
v
i
c
e
s
a
n
d
a
l
l
pu
b
l
i
c
f
a
c
i
l
i
t
i
e
s
.
5.
D
i
s
t
a
n
c
e
f
r
o
m
a
i
r
p
o
r
t
s
,
r
a
i
l
r
o
a
d
s
a
n
d
i
n
d
u
s
t
r
i
a
l
u
s
e
s
.
6.
E
x
i
s
t
i
n
g
u
t
i
l
i
t
i
e
s
,
w
a
l
k
w
a
y
s
a
n
d
d
r
a
i
n
a
g
e
f
a
c
i
l
i
t
i
e
s
.
7.
L
o
c
a
l
d
e
s
i
r
e
s
.
Hi
g
h
D
e
n
s
i
t
y
Re
s
i
d
e
n
t
i
a
l
A-
R
,
R
-
2
,
R
-
3
,
R
-
4
,
M
H
-
P
,
PU
D
.
-
-
1.
E
x
i
s
t
i
n
g
p
a
r
c
e
l
s
i
z
e
s
a
n
d
r
e
s
i
d
e
n
t
i
a
l
d
e
n
s
i
t
i
e
s
.
2.
M
e
t
h
o
d
a
n
d
c
a
p
a
b
i
l
i
t
y
o
f
s
e
w
a
g
e
d
i
s
p
o
s
a
l
.
3.
E
f
f
e
c
t
s
o
n
a
d
j
a
c
e
n
t
u
s
e
s
,
w
a
t
e
r
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
,
a
i
r
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
,
no
i
s
e
,
t
r
a
f
f
i
c
f
l
o
w
a
nd
s
a
f
e
t
y
,
a
n
d
g
e
n
e
r
a
l
en
v
i
r
o
n
m
e
n
t
a
l
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
.
4.
P
r
o
x
i
m
i
t
y
t
o
m
a
j
o
r
s
t
r
e
e
t
s
,
c
o
m
m
e
r
c
i
a
l
s
e
r
v
i
c
e
s
a
n
d
pu
b
l
i
c
f
a
c
i
l
i
t
i
e
s
.
5.
D
i
s
t
a
n
c
e
f
r
o
m
a
i
r
p
o
r
t
s
,
r
a
i
l
r
o
a
d
s
a
n
d
i
n
d
u
s
t
r
i
a
l
u
s
e
s
.
6.
E
x
i
s
t
i
n
g
u
t
i
l
i
t
i
e
s
,
w
a
l
k
w
a
y
s
a
n
d
d
r
a
i
n
a
g
e
f
a
c
i
l
i
t
i
e
s
.
7.
L
o
c
a
l
d
e
s
i
r
e
s
.
Co
m
m
e
r
c
i
a
l
C-
1
,
C
-
2
,
C
-
C
,
H
-
C
,
N
-
C
,
PU
D
,
R
-
4
,
S
-
H
-
-
1.
E
x
i
s
t
i
n
g
t
y
p
e
s
o
f
c
o
m
m
e
r
c
ial and non-commercial uses
in
a
r
e
a
.
2.
T
r
a
f
f
i
c
v
o
l
u
m
e
s
o
n
n
e
a
r
b
y
s
t
r
e
e
t
s
.
Fi
n
a
l
D
r
a
f
t
August 8, 2005
Bu
t
t
e
C
o
u
n
t
y
G
e
n
e
r
a
l
P
l
a
n
P
o
l
i
c
y
D
o
c
u
m
e
n
t
14
1
La
n
d
U
s
e
De
s
i
g
n
a
t
i
o
n
Co
n
s
i
s
t
e
n
t
Z
o
n
e
s
Co
n
d
i
t
i
o
n
a
l
l
y
Co
n
s
i
s
t
e
n
t
Z
o
n
e
s
Co
n
d
i
t
i
o
n
a
l
Z
o
n
i
n
g
a
n
d
De
v
e
l
o
p
m
e
n
t
C
r
i
t
e
r
i
a
Zo
n
i
n
g
F
a
c
t
o
r
s
3.
N
u
m
b
e
r
o
f
r
e
s
i
d
e
n
t
s
i
n
s
e
r
v
i
c
e
a
r
e
a
.
4.
P
a
r
c
e
l
s
i
z
e
s
.
5.
E
f
f
e
c
t
s
o
n
a
d
j
a
c
e
n
t
u
s
e
s
,
w
a
t
e
r
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
,
a
i
r
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
,
no
i
s
e
,
t
r
a
f
f
i
c
f
l
o
w
a
nd
s
a
f
e
t
y
,
a
n
d
g
e
n
e
r
a
l
en
v
i
r
o
n
m
e
n
t
a
l
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
.
6.
L
o
c
a
l
d
e
s
i
r
e
s
.
In
d
u
s
t
r
i
a
l
M-
1
,
M
-
2
-
-
1.
E
x
i
s
t
i
n
g
t
y
p
e
s
o
f
i
n
d
u
s
t
r
i
a
l
u
s
e
i
n
a
r
e
a
.
2.
P
a
r
c
e
l
s
i
z
e
s
.
3.
E
f
f
e
c
t
s
o
n
a
d
j
a
c
e
n
t
u
s
e
s
,
w
a
t
e
r
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
,
a
i
r
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
,
no
i
s
e
,
t
r
a
f
f
i
c
f
l
o
w
a
nd
s
a
f
e
t
y
,
a
n
d
g
e
n
e
r
a
l
en
v
i
r
o
n
m
e
n
t
a
l
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
.
4.
L
o
c
a
l
d
e
s
i
r
e
s
.
Re
s
e
a
r
c
h
&
Bu
s
i
n
e
s
s
P
a
r
k
-
-
-
1.
C
o
n
s
i
s
t
e
n
c
y
w
i
t
h
S
i
t
e
D
e
s
i
g
n
a
t
i
o
n
C
r
i
t
e
r
i
a
.
2.
S
i
t
e
s
l
a
r
g
e
e
n
o
u
g
h
t
o
r
e
t
a
in open space character.
3.
M
i
n
i
m
a
l
e
f
f
e
c
t
s
o
n
a
d
j
a
c
e
n
t
l
a
n
d
u
s
e
s
(
i
n
c
l
u
d
i
n
g
re
s
i
d
e
n
t
i
a
l
)
,
w
a
t
e
r
a
n
d
a
i
r
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
,
t
r
a
f
f
i
c
f
l
o
w
a
n
d
sa
f
e
t
y
a
n
d
g
e
n
e
r
a
l
e
nv
i
r
o
n
m
e
n
t
a
l
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
.
4.
M
i
n
i
m
a
l
i
m
p
a
c
t
o
n
s
e
n
s
i
t
i
v
e
e
n
v
i
r
o
n
m
e
n
t
a
l
f
e
a
t
u
r
e
s
.
Pu
b
l
i
c
P-
Q
a
n
d
a
n
y
z
o
n
e
w
h
i
c
h
al
l
o
w
s
p
r
o
p
o
s
e
d
u
s
e
a
n
d
pu
b
l
i
c
a
n
d
q
u
a
s
i
-
p
u
b
l
i
c
u
s
e
s
.
-
-
1.
S
i
z
e
o
f
p
a
r
c
e
l
a
n
d
p
r
o
p
o
s
e
d
u
s
e
.
2.
P
e
r
m
a
n
e
n
c
y
o
f
f
a
c
i
l
i
t
y
.
3.
P
r
o
t
e
c
t
i
o
n
o
f
s
u
r
r
o
u
n
d
i
n
g
r
e
s
i
d
e
n
c
e
s
a
n
d
o
t
h
e
r
u
s
e
s
.
4.
S
u
i
t
a
b
i
l
i
t
y
o
f
s
i
t
e
f
o
r
p
r
o
p
o
s
e
d
u
s
e
.
5.
E
f
f
e
c
t
s
o
n
w
a
t
e
r
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
,
a
i
r quality, noise, traffic flow
an
d
s
a
f
e
t
y
,
a
n
d
g
e
n
e
r
a
l
e
n
v
i
r
o
n
m
e
n
t
a
l
q
u
a
l
i
t
y
.
6.
L
o
c
a
l
d
e
s
i
r
e
s
.
So
l
i
d
W
a
s
t
e
Ma
n
a
g
e
m
e
n
t
Fa
c
i
l
i
t
y
Co
m
b
i
n
i
n
g
De
s
i
g
n
a
t
i
o
n
-
-
-
-
Sp
o
r
t
s
A
n
d
En
t
e
r
t
a
i
n
m
e
n
t
-
-
-
-