City of San Bruno
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General Plan
The General Plan expresses in text and maps how the community intends to develop its lands for the next 20 years.  The land use designations, policies, and implementing actions expressed in the General Plan will guide city officials in making decisions on city expenditures for public facilities, in regulating development proposals and in maintaining and enhancing a city's social, environmental, and economic environment.  The City is currently preparing an update to its General Plan. 

By law (State Government Code Section 65300),  every City and County must prepare and adopt "a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development" of the community.  The General Plan is comprehensive in that it addresses all aspects of the community's environment.  Seven (7) General Plan elements are mandatory under State law:

The General Plan is long-term in that it projects population changes and responds to anticipated community needs for approximately twenty years. It is important to view the General Plan as a process for responding to anticipated and unanticipated events in a manner that reflects the citizens' desires for a productive, balanced community.  The plan must be flexible enough to allow adjustments for changes in technology, conditions and attitudes.  To be useful, the plan should be reviewed at least every five (5) to ten (10) years and revised when necessary to be kept current.

The General Plan expresses the objectives, principles, and standards for the City's development and regulates the use of land.  Development proposals must be consistent with the General Plan.  More detailed regulations occurs through zoning, subdivision, grading and other ordinances, and through the City's operating and capital budget.

The plan's level of detail may vary according to certainty of land use decisions.  In built-out areas where infill is anticipated, it is possible to be fairly specific about proposed uses.  In open areas where larger, planned developments may occur, it is desirable to be more general in recommendations to encourage appropriate site design and to avoid numerous General Plan amendments.

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires the identification and mitigation of environmental impacts resulting from the General Plan update.  CEQA requirements can be satisfied by incorporating the environmental analysis into the plan text.

Elements:

  1. Land Use Element designates the general distribution, location and extent of land uses, including housing, business, industry, open space, and agriculture, natural resources, recreation, scenic areas, public grounds, waste disposal facilities, and other areas.  It also includes standards of population density, and building intensity for the area covered by the plan.  It identifies areas subject to flooding. (Government Code Section 65302(a)). 

  2. Circulation Element consists of the general location and extent of existing and proposed major thoroughfares, transportation routes, terminals, and other local public facilities and utilities. (Government Code Section 65302(b)). 

  3. Housing Element consists of an identification and analysis of existing and projected housing needs and a statement of goals, policies, quantified objectives, and scheduled programs for the preservation, improvement, and development of housing.  The Housing Element shall identify adequate sites for housing, including rental housing, factory built housing, and mobile homes, and shall make adequate provision for existing and projected needs of all economic segments of the community.  (Government Code Section 65302(c) and 65580). 

  4. Conservation Element addresses the conservation development and utilization of natural resources including water, forests, soils, rivers, and other waters, fisheries, wildlife, minerals, and other natural resources.  Other local agencies responsible for water development, serving and planning should be involved in the Conservation Element preparation. (Government Code Section 65302(d)). 

  5. Open Space Element plans for the comprehensive and long-range preservation and conservation of open space lands.  Open space lands include unimproved land or water which is for the preservation of natural resources, for the managed production of resources, for outdoor recreation, or for public health and safety. (Article 10.5, Government Code Section 65302(e) and 65560). 

  6. Noise Element quantifies the community noise environment for the near and long term growth and traffic activities, and guides the land use element achieving noise compatible land uses.  State noise guidelines are followed in identifying noise sources and plotting noise levels. (Government Code Section 65302(f)). 

  7. Safety Elementrecommends measures to protect the community from fires and geologic hazards, including evacuation routes, water supply requirements, minimum road widths, and clearances around structures.  (Government Code Section 65302(g)).