Title
Planning and Building Department, Planning Division, Long Range Planning Unit, and Department of Transportation recommending the Board:
1) Receive and file the General Plan 2016-2020 Five-Year Review;
2) Find that the basic General Plan assumptions and findings are still valid, or have not changed so drastically that the County would need to consider amending them at this time;
3) Direct Long Range Planning Unit to return to the Board in 2026 with the 2021-2025 Five-Year Review; and
4) Direct Department of Transportation to prepare an environmental document, and return to the Board for certification of the environmental document and adoption of the Active Transportation Plan.
FUNDING: General Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
General Plan Policy 2.9.1.2 requires monitoring of El Dorado County’s (County) General Plan every five years. The prior Five-Year Review was conducted in 2016 for the 2011-2015 period.
The County is delayed in bringing the 2016-2020 Five Year Review item forward. Staff has been working on the current 2016-2020 Five-Year Review over the last several years. The delay is due to previous staff shortages within the Long Range Planning Unit, and the identified need of hiring a consultant with expertise to ensure accuracy on current and projected population data gathering and analysis. The Planning Division, Long Range Planning Unit hired BAE Urban Economics, Inc. (BAE), to assist staff in compiling the necessary data and conducting analysis on the long-term growth and population trends and forecasts in the County. Population growth, employment, and housing data collection and analysis are necessary to support the 2016-2020 Five-Year Review for the General Plan.
In February 2020, the El Dorado County Transportation Commission (EDCTC) adopted its ATP following a process that provided opportunities for stakeholders and the public to participate during development of the ATP. The ATP updates the 2010 El Dorado County Bicycle Master Plan, establishes a long-term vision for improving walking and bicycling in the County, serves as a critical tool in guiding a balanced transportation system, and will ensure the County’s eligibility when applying for State and Federal active transportation grant opportunities. Since the ATP would possibly result in projects being constructed, a programmatic-level environmental document will need to be prepared to analyze the potential impacts of implementing the ATP. DOT staff is seeking direction from the Board to move forward with the preparation of an environmental document that would analyze the potential impacts of adopting the ATP.
Attached to this item is the completed 2016-2020 Five-Year Review of the General Plan (Attachment A) and ATP (Attachment B).
ALTERNATIVES
N/A
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Chief Administrative Office, Parks Division
Department of Agriculture
Department of Transportation
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The consultant costs for the General Plan Five Year Review will total approximately $80,000. The Board is not obligating any funds for the environmental document for the ATP with this item, but with Board direction staff will return to the Board at a later date for approval of a new agreement with an environmental consultant, including a scope of work and cost.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance - Achieving the best possible process for making and implementing decisions in accordance with the County's core values, legal requirements, and industry best practices.
CONTACT
Rob Peters, Deputy Director of Planning
Planning and Building Department
Rafael Martinez, Director
Department of Transportation