Central California

Planning Commissioners’

WorkshopMay 13, 2011

Barbara Steck, AICP, Deputy DirectorFresno Council of Governments2035 Tulare Street, Suite 201

Fresno, CA 93721(559) 233-4148

www.fresnocog.org

Fresno COG Fresno Council of GovernmentsA Regional Planning Agency

A voluntary association of local governments; includes the 15 cities and the County of Fresno

Primary functions:

• Regional Transportation Plan

• Transportation Improvement Program

• Measure “C” Expenditure Plan

• Transportation Fund Administration

• Computerized transportation modeling

• Traffic monitoring program

and soon to come…• Sustainable Communities Strategies

• Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

• Sustainable development ties together concern for the carrying capacity of natural systems with the social challenges facing humanity.

What is “Sustainable

Development”?

How does the COG address it?

San Joaquin Valley

Includes: 8 Counties, 62 Cities and 8 COGs 2010 Population ~ 4 million Accounts for 10.6% of State’s population 2050 Population ~ projected to be 9.5 million (anticipated to absorb 25% of new growth to

2050)Imagine 10 additional Fresno-Clovis

MetropolitanAreas in the Valley by the Year 2050)

Why Blueprint? Changing Demographics

Eight individual COGs planning in unison.

Included both County level and Valley level

Phase 1: Values and Vision – gathered from extensive community inputPhase 2: Goals, Objectives and Performance Measures - developed from ValuesPhase 3: Evaluation of alternative “what if” growth scenarios in each county and selection of preferred county level scenarios for Valleywide analysis.

SJV Blueprint Planning Process

Four Scenarios for Valleywide Comparison

San Joaquin Valley Regional Policy

Council(2 elected officials from each of the 8 SJV COG

Boards)On April 1, 2009 the SJV Regional Policy Council reviewed the Valley COGs’ collaborative work on the Blueprint and took the following actions.

• Adopted a list of Smart Growth Principles to be used as the basis of Blueprint planning in the San Joaquin Valley.

•Adopted Growth Scenario B+ which represented the preferred scenario from each of the 8 SJV COGs

• A Range of housing opportunities and choices• Walkable neighborhoods• Community and stakeholder collaboration• Attractive communities with a sense of place• Predictable, fair and cost effective development regulations• Mixed land uses• Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty and critical environmental areas• A variety of transportation choices• Direct development towards existing communities• Compact building design• Enhance the economic vitality of the region• Environmental resource management

San Joaquin Valley Blueprint

Smart Growth Principles

Adopted Scenario B+ as the Preferred Blueprint Growth Scenario for the San Joaquin Valley to the year 2050.

This scenario promotes a more compact development pattern which will conserve land, reduce vehicle miles traveled and improve air quality. It is a step toward sustainable development.

The preferred scenario will serve as guidance for the Valley’s local jurisdictions with land use authority as they update their general plans.

SJV Blueprint ~ Comparison Average Dwelling Units per

Acreby County

A B+San Joaquin 4.5 7.7Stanislaus 3.8 5.6Merced 4.8 8.6Madera 4.1 4.7Fresno 3.8 8.0Kings 4.1 7.4Tulare 4.3 5.3Kern 3.9 6.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

Avera

ge D

wellin

g Unit

s/Acre

A B+

San Joaquin Stanislaus Merced Madera Fresno Kings Tulare Kern

~ Next Steps ~Integration…

The eight Valley Regional Planning Agencies are committed to working with their member agencies – the 62 cities and 8 counties in the Valley, as well as other regional partners such as Smart Valley Places, to integrate the Valley Blueprint principles and concepts into their general plans.

At the same time, the COGs will be addressing the requisites of SB 375 and the sustainable communities strategy…

The Blueprint

Roadmap