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Sustainability Update
Project Information

 

If you're having trouble accessing the Sustainability Update project website it may be because you're using an older or unsupported browser. Try opening the website using one of the supported browsers listed here: List of Supported Browsers.

If you're still having trouble, you can access key information on the Sustainability Update project on this page.

Project Documents

The Sustainability Policy and Regulatory Update (Sustainability Update) includes changes to the County's land use rules and regulations, in order to support sustainable development and meet the modern needs of the community. The Sustainability Update involves work on three County documents: 

        (1) Amendments to the General Plan/Local Coastal Program

        (2) Amendments to the County Code

        (3) Creation of Santa Cruz County Design Guidelines

You can also review the Sustainability Update Fact Sheets, which provide a summary of proposed changes by topic area: Fact Sheets        En Español

A more detailed summary of the project is also available in the EIR Project Description.

Board of Supervisors Adopted Drafts

On November 15, 2022, the Board of Supervisors certified the project Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and directed staff to return on December 6, 2022, with updates to select project documents (highlighted aqua).
 
At their public hearings on Tuesday, December 6 and December 13, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved the Sustainability Update project. These documents reflect the Planning Commission's recommended amendments (highlighted yellow) as well as additional updates from other County departments and agencies (highlighted green).
 
To view the complete Board direction and adopted ordinances, navigate to the Sustainability Update items on the Board of Supervisors Agenda.
 
Adopted documents will now head to the Coastal Commission for final certification. These documents will not be in effect until certified.

General Plan

General Plan Appendices

 

County Design Guidelines

 

County Code

 

Map Amendments

The Sustainability Update includes General Plan Land Use Map and Zoning Map amendments to selected parcels, including key opportunity sites and key parcels along transportation corridors. 

At their meeting on November 15, 2022, the Board of Supervisors directed the nine parcels along Portola Drive originally proposed for rezoning to Residential Flex (R-UHF/RF) be reduced to eight parcels redesignated/rezoned to Residential Urban High/Multifamily Residential (R-UH/RM-1.5) and approved these amendments on December 6 and December 13, 2022. 

 

Environmental Impact Report

The Sustainability Update was also evaluated for environmental impacts with an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The Sustainability Update Final EIR was released on August 12, 2022 and posted on the County's CEQA Documents page. The Final EIR addresses all public comments received on the Draft EIR and includes a mitigation monitoring and reporting program to track compliance with mitigation measures over time.

The Sustainability Update FEIR was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission at their September 14 meeting and certified by the Board of Supervisors at a public hearing held on November 15, 2022. More information on these meetings is available below.

FINAL EIR - COMPLETE DOCUMENT

Upcoming Events

 

Board of Supervisors Public Hearing

January 2024

The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing to consider the Coastal Commission's suggested modifications to the Sustainability Update. 

Public Hearing Meeting Information Date and
Time
Board of Supervisors

Meeting format: Hybrid Virtual and In-Person

Board Chambers, 5th Floor of the County Building,
701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz 

View Agenda

Join online:
 https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81732202363

Join by Phone: (669) 900-6833 

Webinar ID: 817 3220 2363

Tuesday
January 30
9:00 am

 

Past Events

 

California Coastal Commission Public Hearing

December 2023

At the December 15th public meeting, the California Coastal Commission approved the Sustainability Update Local Coastal Program (LCP) Amendment with suggested modifications.

Public Hearing Meeting Information Date and
Time

California Coastal Commission

Dream Inn, 175 W. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz CA 95060

View Meeting Agenda

View Staff Report

Friday
December 15
9:00 am

 

 

Board of Supervisors Public Hearings

November - December 2022

At the November 15th and December 6th meetings, the Board of Supervisors received a presentation on the Sustainability Update project and approved motions to certify the project EIR, adopt project documents, and send General Plan and County Code amendments to the Coastal Commission for certification. Review the information below to find past meeting recordings and materials.

Public Hearing

Meeting Information

Date and Time

Board of Supervisors

Public Hearing

Meeting format: Hybrid Virtual and In-Person

Board Chambers, 5th Floor of the County Building,
701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz 

Link to Board of Supervisors Agenda & Recording

Tuesday
November 15
1:30 pm

Board of Supervisors

Public Hearing

continued November 15 Public Hearing

Meeting format: Hybrid Virtual and In-Person

Board Chambers, 5th Floor of the County Building,
701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz 

Link to Board of Supervisors Agenda & Recording

Tuesday
December 6
1:30 pm

 

Planning Commission Public Hearings

August - September 2022

The County held public hearings at the Planning Commission to bring the Sustainability Update documents before decision-makers for review and recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. At the Special Meeting held on Wednesday, September 21, the Planning Commission recommended certification of the Final EIR and approval of the draft documents with amendments. Review the information below to find past meeting recordings and materials.

Public Hearing

Meeting Information

Date and Time

 

Planning Commission

Public Hearing


 

Meeting format: Virtual

View Agenda, Minutes & Audio Recording

PowerPoint Presentation

Wednesday
August 24
9:30 am

Planning Commission

Public Hearing

Special Meeting (CANCELLED)

continued August 24 Public Hearing

THIS MEETING WAS CANCELLED
DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. 

Meeting format: Virtual

View Agenda

(CANCELLED)

Thursday
September 1
9:30 am

Planning Commission

Public Hearing

continued August 24 Public Hearing

Meeting format: Virtual

View Agenda, Minutes & Audio Recording

Wednesday
September 14
9:30 am

Planning Commission Public Hearing

Special Meeting

continued September 14 Public Hearing

Meeting format: Virtual

View Agenda & Minutes

Wednesday
September 21
9:30 am

 

Commission Study Sessions

May - August 2022

The County conducted study sessions at County Commissions in May 2022. These meetings will review major updates provided in draft Sustainability Update documents, including the General PlanCounty Code, and Design Guidelines, as well as the Environmental Impact Report. Review the schedule below to view recordings and materials of past meetings and learn more about the Sustainability Update.

Commission Study Session

Meeting Information

Date and Time

Housing Advisory Commission Meeting format: Virtual
View Agenda & Minutes
Wednesday
May 5
1:00 pm
Elderly and Disabled Transportation Advisory Committee
to the Santa Cruz County
Regional Transportation Commission
Meeting format: Virtual 
View Agenda & Minutes 
Tuesday
May 10
1:30 pm
Agricultural Policy Advisory Commission Meeting format: Virtual 
View Agenda & Minutes
Thursday
May 19
9:30 am

Planning Commission Study Session #1 – 

Overview of the Sustainability Update

Meeting format: Virtual

View Agenda, Minutes & Audio Recording

Wednesday
May 25
9:30 am
Latino Affairs Commission Meeting format: Virtual with Spanish Translation
View Agenda & Minutes
Wednesday
June 1
6 to 7:30 PM

Planning Commission Study Session #2 –

Built Environment, Design Guidelines,

and Amendments to the General Plan Land Use
and Zoning Maps
Meeting format: Virtual
View Agenda, Minutes & Audio Recording
Wednesday
June 8
9:30 am
Interagency Technical Advisory Committee
to the Santa Cruz County
Regional Transportation Commission
Meeting format: Virtual 
View Agenda & Minutes 
Thursday
June 16
 1:30 pm
Planning Commission Study Session #3 –
Transportation, Parks, Recreation,
and Public Facilities
Meeting format: Virtual
View Agenda, Minutes & Audio Recording
Wednesday
June 22
9:30 am
Historic Resources Commission

Meeting format: Hybrid Virtual and In-Person
on 4th Floor of the County Building,
701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz 
View Agenda

View Meeting Recordings

Monday
July 11
9:30 am
Planning Commission Study Session #4 –
Code Modernization, Agriculture and Resources, and Draft Environmental Impact Report
Meeting format: Virtual 
View Agenda, Minutes & Audio Recording
Wednesday
August 10
9:30 am

 

Community Meetings

March - May 2022

The County held a series of community meetings in March - May 2022. These meetings reviewed major updates provided in draft Sustainability Update documents, including the General Plan, County Code, and Design Guidelines, as well as the Environmental Impact Report. Please review the Community Meeting list below to watch recordings of each meeting, view PDFs of the presentations, and learn more about the Sustainability Update.

MEETING FLIER

MEETING FLIER - EN ESPANOL

Community Meeting

Meeting Information

Date and Time

#1a –
Introduction and Overview

Meeting format: Hybrid Virtual and in-Person
at the Watsonville Civic Community Room
with Spanish Translation

VIEW MEETING RECORDING

PowerPoint Presentation - English
PowerPoint Presentation - Spanish

Wednesday,
March 16,
6:30 to 8 pm

#1b –
Introduction and Overview 

Meeting format: Virtual

VIEW MEETING RECORDING

PowerPoint Presentation

Monday,
March 21,
6:30 to 8 pm

#2 –
Built Environment
and Community Design

Meeting format: Virtual

VIEW MEETING RECORDING

PowerPoint Presentation

Monday,
March 28,
6:30 to 8 pm

#3 –
Transportation

Meeting format: Virtual

VIEW MEETING RECORDING

PowerPoint Presentation

Tuesday,
April 5,
6:30 to 8 pm

#4 –
Agriculture, Environmental Resources, and Public Facilities

Meeting format: Virtual

VIEW MEETING RECORDING

PowerPoint Presentation

Tuesday,
April 12,
6:30 to 8 pm

#5 –
Code Modernization
and Map Amendments

Meeting format: Virtual

VIEW MEETING RECORDING

PowerPoint Presentation

Wednesday,
April 20,
6:30 to 8 pm

#6 –
Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

Meeting format: Virtual

VIEW MEETING RECORDING 

PowerPoint Presentation

Monday,
May 9,
6 to 7:30 pm

 

 

Contact Us

Santa Cruz County Planning Department welcomes your feedback! Please contact us if you have any comments or questions about the Sustainability Update project:

Phone: 831-454-2580
Email: SustainabilityUpdate@santacruzcounty.us
Mail: 701 Ocean Street, 4th Floor,  Santa Cruz, CA 95060

 

PLEASE NOTE: Comments and questions about the Environmental Impact Report should be directed to CEQA-NEPA@santacruzcounty.us.