Sustainability Update
Project Information

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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

General Plan

• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Built Environment
• Chapter 3: Access and Mobility
• Chapter 5: Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Conservation
• Chapter 7: Parks, Recreation, and Public Facilities

General Plan Appendices

• Glossary
• Appendix A: Sources and References
• Appendix B: Land Use Designation Maps
• Appendix C: Community Profile
• Appendix D: Planning History 
• Appendix E: Environmental Justice Policies + Implementation Strategies 
• Appendix F: Natural Resource + Environmental Hazard Areas: Maps + Development Constraints 
• Appendix G: Coastal Priority Sites Use and Development Standards 
• Appendix H: Airport Land Use Compatibility 
• Appendix I: Transportation Demand Management Strategies
• Appendix J: Future Roadways and Intersection Improvements 
• Appendix K: Sensitive Habitat Plant and Animal Species 
• Appendix L: Public Service Providers to Unincorporated Santa Cruz County
• Appendix M: Santa Cruz County Park and Recreation Facilities
• Appendix N: MOU Regarding City of Watsonville LCP Amendment 1-99 

County Design Guidelines

• Full Document (Compressed PDF)
• Cover Page and Table of Contents
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Overarching Design Guidelines
• Chapter 3: Multi-Family Residential
• Chapter 4: Commercial Design Guidelines
• Chapter 5: Mixed Use Design Guidelines
• Chapter 6: Workplace Flex Guidelines
• Appendix A: Street Zone Standards
• Appendix B: Design Principles for the Pleasure Point Commercial Corridor

County Code

• Title 5 - Title 12
  • Trip Reduction: Chapter 5.52
  • Building Regulations: Chapter 12.01
  • Solar Access Protection: Chapter 12.28

• Title 13: Chapter 13.10
  • Authority and Purpose of Zoning Regulations: 13.10.110 – 185
  • Ordinance and Permit Administration: 13.10.210 – 280
  • Agricultural Districts: 13.10.311 – 318
  • Residential Districts: 13.10.321 – 326
  • Commercial Districts: 13.10.331 – 336
  • Industrial Districts: 13.10.341 – 346
  • Parks, Recreation and Open Space District: 13.10.351 – 356
  • Public and Community Facilities District: 13.10.361 – 366
  • Timber Production District: 13.10.371 – 377
  • Special Use District: 13.10.381 – 397
  • Combining Districts: 13.10.400
  • P Agricultural Preserve and Farmland Security Combining District: 13.10.471 – 473
  • General Site Standards: 13.10.510 – 587
  • Accessory, Temporary, and Secondary Structures and Uses: 13.10.611 – 616
  • Agricultural Uses: 13.10.631 – 644
  • Animal Regulations: 13.10.645 – 648
  • Commercial Uses: 13.10.650 – 670
  • Residential Uses: 13.10.681 – 13.10.686
  • Visitor Accommodations/Recreational Uses: 13.10.689 – 694
  • Definitions: 13.10.700

• Title 13: Chapter 13.11 - Chapter 13.20
  • Site Development and Design Review: Chapter 13.11
  • Parking and Circulation: Chapter 13.16
  • Coastal Zone Regulations: Chapter 13.20

• Title 15 - Title 18
  • Roadway and Roadside Improvements: Chapter 15.10
  • Agricultural Land Preservation and Protection: Chapter 16.50
  • Procedures: Title 18

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. 

NEW! 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. 

• List of Land Use Map and Zoning Map Amendments
• View Maps of Proposed Amendments

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.

NEW! 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

 No upcoming events scheduled at this time.

Past Events

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.

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.

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 Plan, County 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.

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

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.