What's happpening:




Why it's important:

What you can do to help:





More background:




Contacts:

A city's General Plan is its blueprint or "bible" for all growth, mapping out what chunks of land get used in what ways and how they're connected by roads, transit and bike and pedestrian pathways. It also helps determine how individual developments are designed and laid out.


The General Plan and its policies decide:

• Whether cities build outward – which can require residents to driver farther to work or to major amenities – or concentrate more on filling in unused or under-used land within their existing borders. The latter approach can reduce driving and thus air pollution. It can also help support transit operations and expansion;
• Whether jobs, housing and services are placed close enough together to allow residents to walk, bike, use transit or make shorter trips when they do drive;
• Whether developments are built in a grid or similar pattern that allows for easier walking and biking and shorter trips;
• Whether developments contain adequate facilities to allow walking, biking and easy use of transit, such as sidewalks, benches and other improvements, bike paths, signs and
• Whether the transportation system will allow for smooth movement and delivery of goods and freight, and whether these activities impact residents;
• And many more things!

At meetings or by mail, tell city planners and elected officials how important air quality is to you. Express your desire that air quality and smart growth principles – such as those outlined during the Regional Blueprint smart-growth planning process – be robustly considered in the city's development plans.


Examples of smart growth principles from Regional Blueprint plan

City of Sacramento: General Plan update website



City of Sacramento: Online questions/comments form

City of Sacramento: General Plan project team

Mayor and City Council contact info

Planning Commission contact info