Butte County General Plan Update and EIR

Butte County

Butte County, just 70 miles north of Sacramento, encompasses some 1,670 square miles with three distinct regions: the valley floor, the foothills and the mountains, each with its own land use and development issues. Today, the County is facing strong growth pressure, as the housing market in the Sacramento region becomes more constrained. Through the General Plan Update, DC&E will help the County develop creative policies that will safeguard the county’s quality of life and precious natural resources while accommodating development. The County’s General Plan process is also intended to work towards consensus with the county’s incorporated Cities on issues such as city-focused growth versus rural sprawl; provision of quality services and adequate infrastructure; forging physical links through regional transportation planning; and preservation of valued open space and agricultural resources. DC&E will also help the County identify design strategies to incorporate into the General Plan that can improve public health by encouraging walking and bicycling, enhancing pedestrian and bicycle safety, decreasing air pollution and enhancing public spaces to improve security. The General Plan Update will be based on extensive public input, drawn from a Citizens’ Advisory Committee, a series of eight public workshops and study sessions with the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.