Plan Orinda

Plan Orinda

Plan Orinda is a long-range planning effort that includes updates to the Housing Element, the Land Use Element, and the Safety Element section of the Orinda General Plan. In addition, the project includes the Downtown Precise Plan (DPP), which includes new development standards for the area. On January 31, 2023, the City Council certified the Plan Orinda EIR, adopted a Statement of Overriding Considerations, adopted Findings under CEQA, and approved the 2023-2031 (6th Cycle) Housing Element Update, Safety Element Update, and DPP components of Plan Orinda. On March 3, 2023, a group called Orindans for Safe Emergency Evacuation or “OSEE” filed a lawsuit in the Contra Costa Superior Court (Case No. N23-0579) challenging the City’s actions under CEQA. On August 22, 2024, the Contra Costa Superior Court issued a writ of mandate ("Writ") ordering the City to set aside the certification of the Plan Orinda EIR, the adoption of the Statement of Overriding Considerations, and approval of the DPP. The Writ did not require the City to rescind the City’s approval of the 2023-2031 (6th Cycle) Housing Element Update or the Safety Element Update. On October 9, 2024, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 47-24, which timely complied with this portion of the Writ. In further compliance with the Writ, on October 23, 2024, the City circulated revised portions of EIR Section 4.14, addressing wildfire evacuation impacts, and Section 6, concerning evacuation impacts in the alternatives analysis. These revisions did not identify new or more severe impacts, but provided clarifications required by the court. To further comply with the Writ, on March 18, 2025, the Orinda City Council: • Certified the Revised Final EIR for Plan Orinda, which includes the Draft EIR (2022) and Response to Comments on the Draft EIR (2023), an Addendum dated March 21, 2023, the Partially Revised EIR (2024), and Response to Comments on the Partially Revised EIR (2025). • Considered whether to pursue revisions to the 2023-2031 (6th Cycle) Housing Element Update or Safety Element Update components of Plan Orinda, as approved in 2023, and opted not to do so. • Considered whether to pursue revisions to the DPP, which was adopted by Council Resolution No. 08-23 and later rescinded by Council Resolution No. 47-24. The Council opted to pursue potential revisions prior to any readoption of the DPP. Council directed staff to ensure any DPP revisions comply with state housing laws, reflect any changes to local, regional, and state policies, and also reflect wildfire evacuation concerns. The Council took no action at the meeting to readopt the DPP. Neither the DPP nor Resolution No. 08-23 has any force, effect or operation at this time. The City originally approved the project on January 31, 2023.

Orinda

Contra Costa

Citywide, Countywide, San Francisco Bay Area

Contra Costa