City of Sonoma General Plan Update

The City of Sonoma is preparing a comprehensive update to its existing General Plan. The City of Sonoma’s current General Plan was comprehensively updated and adopted in 2006 and encompasses a time frame from 2006 - 2020. Since 2006, the Housing Element has been updated regularly as required by state law, with the current version having been adopted in early 2023. The City’s General Plan includes a broad goal policy framework that guides land use and planning decisions within the city. The overall purpose of the General Plan is to create a policy framework that articulates a vision for the City’s long-term physical form and development, while preserving and enhancing the quality of life for residents and increasing opportunities for high-quality local job growth and housing options. The City’s General Plan includes the following elements: Land Use, Economic Development, Conservation and Open Space, Circulation, Safety, Utilities and Public Services, Noise, Historical/Archaeological Resources, and Implementation. The updated General Plan will guide the City’s development and conservation through land use objectives and policy guidance. The City will implement the Plan by requiring development, infrastructure improvements, and other projects to be consistent with its policies and by implementing the actions included in the Plan, including subsequent project-level environmental review, as required under CEQA. State law requires the City to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of its planning area. The Plan must include land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, noise, and safety elements, as specified in Government Code Section 65302, to the extent that the issues identified by State law exist in the City’s planning area. The City of Sonoma General Plan includes a comprehensive set of goals, policies, and actions (implementation measures), as well as a revised Land Use Map (Figure 2). • A goal is a description of the general desired result that the City seeks to create through the implementation of the General Plan. • A policy is a specific statement that guides decision-making as the City works to achieve its goals. Once adopted, policies represent statements of City regulations. The General Plan’s policies set out the standards that will be used by City staff, the Planning Commission, and the City Council in their review of land development projects, resourceprotection activities, infrastructure improvements, and other City actions. Policies are on-going and don’t necessarily require specific action on behalf of the City. • An action is an implementation measure, procedure, technique, or specific program to be undertaken by the City to help achieve a specified goal or implement an adopted policy. The City must take additional steps to implement each action in the General Plan. An action is something that can and will be completed. The Plan has been prepared to address the requirements of State law and the relevant items addressed in Government Code Section 65300 et seq. The General Plan is intended to reflect the desires and vision of residents, businesses, and City Council. The following objectives are identified for the proposed update to the General Plan: • Foster a sense of community that celebrates the area’s history; • Support local businesses and provide opportunities for economic growth; • Provide a range of high-quality housing options; • Protect the City’s natural and cultural resources; • Maintain strong fiscal sustainability and continue to provide efficient and adequate public services; • Address new requirements of State law; and • Address emerging transportation, housing, and employment trends.