Land Use Element
Introduction
The most fundamental decisions in planning begin with land use: what to put where. Land use planning envisions the future of a city or county and interacts with all other elements of planning. At its best, the land use element will reflect the community’s vision; promote thoughtful, equitable, and accessible distribution of different land uses, including residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and open space; and align well with other general plan elements. Planners can also use the land use element as a tool to improve public health, reduce infrastructure costs, enhance local economies, and address long-term environmental issues such as climate change and water resources. In this way, the land use element functions as a guide to planners, the general public, and decision makers. Its objectives, policies, and programs relate directly to the other elements. In practice, the land use element is often the most visible and frequently used element in a general plan.
The Land Use Element can also help resolve conflicts and identify trade-offs in land use decisions. For example, increasing density may result in a higher population, but it can also help enhance water supply reliability, reduce long-term costs of infrastructure maintenance, improve water use efficiency, land conservation, housing and transit options, and equity. Designating “least-conflict” areas for solar development may increase energy independence and generate local economic benefits while also preserving valuable agricultural lands. Pursuing urban infill projects may require higher intensity development directed at a limited number of parcels varying in suitability, but infill may also allow for more accessible transit and walkability thus reducing vehicle miles traveled and subsequent greenhouse gas emissions. Identifying and resolving such issues in the land use element can result in development patterns that are predictable, coherent, and reflect community values (California Governor's Office of Planning and Research, 2020).
| Planning Commission July 11 2023 Reccommendation: Land Use Element (clean) Download version HERE | Planning Commission Reccommendation July 11, 2023: Land Use Element (tracked changes version) Download version HERE |
| Planning Commission July 11 2023 Reccommendation: Land Use Map | |
Proposed Land Use Modifications: Neighborhood Breakdowns
Please scroll down beyond land use tables to review maps of Neighborhoods. To learn more about the zoning designations, explore the current Land Use Element draft.
| Downtown/Uniontown (see map) | Valley West/North Arcata (see map) | Northtown (see map) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-H to C-C (Residential High Density to Central Commercial) | Change would permit commercial uses as well as residential with fewer development standard constraints (e.g. parking, site coverage). Emphasis on ground-floor commercial with residential on upper floors. | C-VS to C-G (Commercial-Visitor Serving to Commercial-General) | Change would permit expanded list of permitted commercial and office uses. | C-G to C-M (Commercial-General to Commercial-Mixed Use) | Change would permit greater residential densities (up to 50 dwelling units per acre) with fewer development constraints (e.g. parking standards). Emphasis on ground-floor commercial with residential on upper floors. |
| R-M to R-H (Residential Medium-Density to Residential-High Density) | Change would permit greater allowed residential densities (up to 50 dwelling units/acre) with fewer development constraints (e.g. greater height, site coverage/Floor Area ratio allowances). | C-G to C-M (Commercial-General to Commercial-Mixed Use) | Change would permit greater residential densities (up to 50 dwelling units per acre) with fewer development constraints (e.g. parking standards). Emphasis on ground-floor commercial with residential on upper floors. | ||
| C-G to C-M (Commercial-General to Commercial-Mixed Use) | Change would permit greater residential densities (up to 50 dwelling units per acre) with fewer development constraints (e.g. parking standards). Emphasis on ground-floor commercial with residential on upper floors. | I-L to C-M (Industrial-Limited to Commercial-Mixed Use) | Change would permit commercial uses as well as residential uses (up to 50 dwelling units per acre).Emphasis on ground-floor commercial with residential on upper floors. | ||
| Craftsman's Mall (see map) | Bayside/Sunny Brae (see map) | Aldergrove/West End (see map) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-M to R-H (Residential Medium-Density to Residential-High Density) | Change would permit greater allowed residential densities (up to 50 dwelling units/acre) with fewer development constraints (e.g. greater height, site coverage/Floor Area ratio allowances). | R-M to R-H (Residential Medium-Density to Residential-High Density) | Change would permit greater allowed residential densities (up to 50 dwelling units/acre) with fewer development constraints (e.g. greater height, site coverage/Floor Area ratio allowances). | I-G to I-L (General Industrial to Light Industrial) | Change would permit greater variety of commercial and limited residential uses in addition to lower-impact industrial (e.g. light manufacturing, and processing, warehousing). |
| I-L to R-H (Industrial-Limited to Residential-High Density) | Change would permit residential uses (up to 50 dwelling units per acre). | R-VL to R-L (Residential-Very Low Density to Residential-Low Density) | Change would permit same residential densities but would allow smaller lots (minimum 6,000 sf) with greater site coverage allowances (50%). | ||
| I-G to R-H (Industrial-Limited to Residential-High Density) | Change would permit residential uses (up to 50 dwelling units per acre). | P-F to R-VL (Public Facility to Residential-Very Low Density) | Change would permit residential uses (up to 2 dwelling units per acre). | ||
| R-L to R-H (Residential-Low Density to Residential-High Density) | Change would permit greater allowed residential densities (up to 50 dwelling units/acre) with fewer development constraints (e.g. greater height, site coverage/Floor Area ratio allowances). | ||||
| South of Samoa (see map) | South of Sunset/Foster (see map) | Westwood-Vaissade (see map) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C-G to C-M (Commercial-General to Commercial-Mixed Use) | Change would permit greater residential densities (up to 50 dwelling units per acre) with fewer development constraints (e.g. parking standards). Emphasis on ground-floor commercial with residential on upper floors. | I-L to R-H (Industrial-Limited to Residential-High Density) | Change would permit residential uses (up to 50 dwelling units per acre). | C-G to C-M (Commercial-General to Commercial-Mixed Use) | Change would permit greater residential densities (up to 50 dwelling units per acre) with fewer development constraints (e.g. parking standards). Emphasis on ground-floor commercial with residential on upper floors. |
| N-R to -I-L (Natural Resources to Industrial-Limited) | Change would permit Change would permit a variety of commercial and limited residential uses in addition to lower-impact industrial (e.g. light manufacturing, and processing, warehousing). | A-R to R-H (Agriculture-Residential to Residential-High Density) | Change would permit residential uses (up to 50 dwelling units per acre). | R-L to R-M (Residential-Low Density to Residential-Medium Density) | Change would permit residential uses (up to 25 dwelling units per acre). |
| R-VL to R-M (Residential Very Low Density to Residential Medium Density) | Change would permit residential uses (up to 25 dwelling units per acre).. | ||||
| Gateway Area (see map) or (see draft Gateway Area Plan) | |
|---|---|
| I-G to G-H (Industrial-General to Gateway-Hub) | Changes would permit a broad range of residential, retail, office, personal service, restaurant, entertainment, light industrial, and other similar uses intended to create a vibrant, high-intensity mixed use area. The G-C district allows building heights up to seven stories for development providing community benefits. Building and site design supports a welcoming, vibrant, and pedestrian-friendly public realm. |
| I-L to G-H (Industrial-General to Gateway-Hub) | Changes would permit a broad range of residential, retail, office, personal service, restaurant, entertainment, light industrial, and other similar uses intended to create a vibrant, high-intensity mixed use area. The G-C district allows building heights up to seven stories for development providing community benefits. Building and site design supports a welcoming, vibrant, and pedestrian-friendly public realm. |
| R-H to G-H (Residential-High Density to Gateway-Hub) | Changes would permit a broad range of residential, retail, office, personal service, restaurant, entertainment, light industrial, and other similar uses intended to create a vibrant, high-intensity mixed use area. The G-C district allows building heights up to seven stories for development providing community benefits. Building and site design supports a welcoming, vibrant, and pedestrian-friendly public realm. |
| N-R to G-H (Natural Resources to Gateway-Hub) | Changes would permit a broad range of residential, retail, office, personal service, restaurant, entertainment, light industrial, and other similar uses intended to create a vibrant, high-intensity mixed use area. The G-C district allows building heights up to seven stories for development providing community benefits. Building and site design supports a welcoming, vibrant, and pedestrian-friendly public realm. |
| I-L to G-C (Industrial-Limited to Gateway-Corridor) | Changes would permit residential, retail, office, personal service, restaurant, entertainment, light industrial, and other similar uses. The G-C district allows building heights up to six stories for development providing community benefits. This active, inviting, high-intensity, mixed-use designation requires a pedestrian-oriented ground floor design aesthetic intended to slow passing vehicular traffic and encourage drivers to park and walk. Emphasis on ground-floor commercial with residential on upper floors. |
| C-G to G-C (Commercial-General to Gateway-Corridor) | Changes would permit residential, retail, office, personal service, restaurant, entertainment, light industrial, and other similar uses. The G-C district allows building heights up to six stories for development providing community benefits. This active, inviting, high-intensity, mixed-use designation requires a pedestrian-oriented ground floor design aesthetic intended to slow passing vehicular traffic and encourage drivers to park and walk. Emphasis on ground-floor commercial with residential on upper floors. |
| I-L to G-B (Industrial-Limited to Gateway-Barrel) | Changes would permit retail, office, personal service, restaurant, and light industrial uses, with a focus on high-density residential. The G-B district allows building heights up to seven stories for development providing community benefits. Vehicular infrastructure is minimal, producing a campus-like district. Building and site design supports a pedestrian-friendly public realm compatible with the internal high-density residential character of the District. |
| I-G to G-B (Industrial-General to Gateway-Barrel) | Changes would permit retail, office, personal service, restaurant, and light industrial uses, with a focus on high-density residential. The G-B district allows building heights up to seven stories for development providing community benefits. Vehicular infrastructure is minimal, producing a campus-like district. Building and site design supports a pedestrian-friendly public realm compatible with the internal high-density residential character of the District. |
| I-G to G-N (Industrial-General to Gateway-Neighborhood) | Changes would permit residential, retail, office, personal service, restaurant, light industrial and other similar uses. The G-C district allows building heights up to five stories for development providing community benefits. Building and site design supports a pedestrian-friendly public realm compatible with the residential character of surrounding areas. |
| I-L to G-N (Industrial-Limited to Gateway-Neighborhood) | Changes would permit residential, retail, office, personal service, restaurant, light industrial and other similar uses. The G-C district allows building heights up to five stories for development providing community benefits. Building and site design supports a pedestrian-friendly public realm compatible with the residential character of surrounding areas. |
| C-G to G-N (Commercial-General to Gateway-Neighborhood) | Changes would permit residential, retail, office, personal service, restaurant, light industrial and other similar uses. The G-C district allows building heights up to five stories for development providing community benefits. Building and site design supports a pedestrian-friendly public realm compatible with the residential character of surrounding areas. |
| R-H to G-N (Residential High Density to Gateway-Neighborhood) | Changes would permit residential, retail, office, personal service, restaurant, light industrial and other similar uses. The G-C district allows building heights up to five stories for development providing community benefits. Building and site design supports a pedestrian-friendly public realm compatible with the residential character of surrounding areas. |
| R-M to G-N (Residential Medium Density to Gateway-Neighborhood) | Changes would permit residential, retail, office, personal service, restaurant, light industrial and other similar uses. The G-C district allows building heights up to five stories for development providing community benefits. Building and site design supports a pedestrian-friendly public realm compatible with the residential character of surrounding areas. |
| R-L to G-N (Residential Low Density to Gateway-Neighborhood) | Changes would permit residential, retail, office, personal service, restaurant, light industrial and other similar uses. The G-C district allows building heights up to five stories for development providing community benefits. Building and site design supports a pedestrian-friendly public realm compatible with the residential character of surrounding areas. |
| I-G to G-OS (Industrial-General to Gateway-Open Space) | Change would limit uses to the protection or limited use of natural resources ( e.g. open space restoration, coastal-dependent recreation, etc.). |
| N-R to G-OS (Natural Resources to Gateway-Open Space) | Change would not result in significant change in allowed uses. |