Draft EIR for Contra Costa County 2045 General Plan and Contra Costa County Climate Action Plan 2024 Updates (aka Envision Contra Costa)

Draft EIR for Contra Costa County 2045 General Plan and Contra Costa County Climate Action Plan 2024 Updates (aka Envision Contra Costa)

Draft EIR for Contra Costa County 2045 General Plan and Contra Costa County Climate Action Plan 2024 Updates (aka Envision Contra Costa). Contra Costa County is one of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties (see Figure 1, Regional Location). The County has prepared comprehensive updates to its existing General Plan and Climate Action Plan (CAP), which are applicable to the county’s unincorporated areas. The Draft EIR study area coincides with the unincorporated areas covered by the General Plan and CAP (see Figure 2, EIR Study Boundaries). Contra Costa County’s existing General Plan was adopted in 1991, with minor revisions occurring in 1996 and 2005. The overarching purpose of the General Plan update is to create a modern General Plan that articulates a long-term vision for the county’s physical development, addresses challenges such as climate change and housing insecurity, and enhances quality of life for Contra Costa County residents. The updated General Plan includes broad community goals and hundreds of specific policies and implementing actions aimed at achieving those goals. The updated General Plan modernizes the County’s land use policy framework consistent with the requirements of State law, with emphasis on environmental justice, economic development, community health, and sustainability. The updated General Plan also includes numerous land use changes in unincorporated communities where change or enhancement of existing uses is desired through 2045. State law requires general plans to contain chapters, called “elements,” addressing the following topics: land use, circulation, housing, open space, noise, safety, and conservation. Environmental justice must also be addressed, either in its own element or throughout a general plan (Contra Costa County is taking a hybrid approach). The content of the elements is outlined in State law and local agencies may organize them as they see fit. Local agencies may also adopt additional elements pertaining to planning issues within their jurisdiction. The Draft Contra Costa County 2045 General Plan includes the following elements: -Stronger Communities -Conservation, Open Space, and Working Lands -Land Use -Public Facilities and Services -Transportation Health and Safety -Housing -Growth Management The Housing Element was updated in process parallel to the rest of the General Plan update. The updated Housing Element was adopted by the County Board of Supervisors on December 12, 2023, and certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development on January 22, 2024. The project also includes an update to the County’s 2015 CAP. The CAP is a separate document that supports the General Plan by establishing goals and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in unincorporated Contra Costa County, consistent with State targets.

Alamo, Antioch, Brentwood, Byron, Clayton, Concord, Danville, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pinole, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, San Pablo, San Ramon, Walnut Creek

Contra Costa

Countywide, Unincorporated

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Coastal Commission (CCC), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bay Delta Region 3 (CDFW), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), California Department of State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways, California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Energy Commission, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay Region 2 (RWQCB), California State Coastal Conservancy (SCC), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Delta Protection Commission, Delta Stewardship Council, Office of Historic Preservation, San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights, California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), California Department of Transportation, District 4 (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics (DOT)

California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), California Department of Transportation, District 4 (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics (DOT)

Other (All use types considered and discussed in DEIR)

General Plan Update, Climate Action Plan

Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Coastal Zone, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Drainage/Absorption, Economics/Jobs, Energy, Fiscal Impacts, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Growth Inducement, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Mandatory Findings of Significance, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Schools/Universities, Septic System, Sewer Capacity, Solid Waste, Transportation, Tribal Cultural Resources, Utilities/Service Systems, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian, Wildfire