San Mateo County General Plan

San Mateo County General Plan
Name	San Mateo County General Plan
Type	Policy document
Jurisdiction	San Mateo County, California
Adopted	Various (comprehensive update cycles)
Status	Active

San Mateo County General Plan is the principal comprehensive planning document guiding land use, conservation, transportation, and public services in San Mateo County, California. The plan integrates statutory requirements from California Environmental Quality Act and Government Code (California), aligns with regional programs such as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Association of Bay Area Governments, and informs decisions by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission (San Mateo County), and local special districts. It sits within the planning context shaped by neighboring jurisdictions including City of San Francisco, City of San Jose, County of Santa Clara, and County of Alameda.

Introduction

The plan establishes countywide goals, policies, and implementation measures drawing on precedents like the General Plan (United States) model, statewide mandates from the California State Legislature, and technical guidance from the California Department of Housing and Community Development. It addresses coordination with transit agencies such as SamTrans and Caltrain, environmental regulators including the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board and California Air Resources Board, and regional conservation entities like the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission. The document cross-references other planning tools used by agencies such as the United States Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

History and Development

Early iterations of the plan were informed by patterns of settlement tied to routes such as the El Camino Real, infrastructure projects like the Dumbarton Bridge, and growth catalyzed by industries including those represented by Stanford University and Silicon Valley. Postwar suburbanization influenced updates paralleling actions in Los Angeles County and Orange County, California. Significant revisions responded to landmark laws including the California Environmental Quality Act and court decisions from the California Supreme Court, while regional planning initiatives from the Association of Bay Area Governments and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District shaped subsequent amendments. Major events such as the Loma Prieta earthquake and policy shifts after the Dot-com bubble prompted hazard mitigation and economic resilience components.

Policy Framework and Elements

The plan is organized into statutory elements consistent with the California Government Code structure, addressing topics analogous to the State Housing Law (California) requirements, transportation frameworks used by the Bay Area Rapid Transit District, and open-space strategies employed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Elements reference programs from California Natural Resources Agency, hazard analyses drawing on United States Geological Survey mapping, and climate strategies aligned with the California Air Resources Board and California Energy Commission. The housing element coordinates with Regional Housing Needs Allocation processes, the circulation element integrates priorities from Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and the conservation element engages agencies like the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Key Land Use and Zoning Provisions

Land use designations in the plan reflect patterns found in jurisdictions such as the City of Palo Alto, City of Redwood City, and City of Daly City, distinguishing urban, suburban, agricultural, and open-space categories. Zoning implements plan policies through ordinance provisions comparable to those in the San Mateo County Code and interacts with permitting processes overseen by the Planning Commission (San Mateo County) and Building Department (San Mateo County). Specific provisions consider transit-oriented development near Caltrain stations, protections for agricultural lands akin to programs in Santa Clara County, and shoreline setbacks informed by work from San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Environmental and Climate Policies

The plan incorporates climate adaptation and mitigation measures consistent with California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and resilience recommendations from the California Office of Emergency Services. Sea level rise and shoreline resilience measures reference analyses by the Pacific Institute and NOAA, while habitat protection coordinates with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Air quality, greenhouse gas inventories, and vehicle miles traveled reduction strategies align with goals promulgated by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Natural hazards sections integrate mapping from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and seismic risk guidance from the United States Geological Survey.

Implementation and Administration

Implementation relies on tools such as zoning ordinances, capital improvement programs, and interagency agreements with organizations like Caltrans, SamTrans, and local water districts including San Francisco Public Utilities Commission for coordinated infrastructure delivery. Administration is conducted by county departments including the Planning and Building Department (San Mateo County), oversight by the Board of Supervisors (San Mateo County), and periodic review consistent with requirements from the California Department of Housing and Community Development. Funding mechanisms reference state programs like Proposition 1, federal grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and regional funding administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Public Participation and Review Processes

Public engagement follows practices used in major planning efforts such as the Bay Area Rapid Transit District expansion studies and regional plans by the Association of Bay Area Governments, employing community workshops, environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act, and advisory committees similar to those convened by San Mateo County Transit District and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Review processes include hearings before the Planning Commission (San Mateo County) and final actions by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, with collaborative input from local cities like City of Burlingame and community-based organizations modeled after 1000 Friends of California.

Category:Planning documents of California