Open Space Plan Needs an Update

September 22, 2025

Dear Editor,

The Calaveras County Open Space plan is comprised of the provisions in the general plan that deal with using open space for resource conservation, resource production, recreation, and public safety.

In 2022, the state added California Government Code Section 65565.5 indicating that, “(a) Every city and county shall review and update its local open-space plan by January 1, 2026” to address:
(1) Access to open space for all residents correlated with the environmental justice policies in the general plan;
(2) Climate resilience and other co-benefits of open space, correlated with the safety element; and
(3) Rewilding opportunities, correlated with the land use element. These “rewilding opportunities” may include opportunities to preserve, enhance, and expand an integrated network of open space to support beneficial uses, such as habitat, recreation, natural resources, historic and tribal resources, water management, and aesthetics.

According to a report from Planning Director Bret Sampson at the end of the August 14 Planning Commission meeting, staff will be bringing forward their proposed update to the County’s open space plan “sometime in October” in order to meet the statutory deadline. A pretty short window for an update which planning staff have been aware of for three years. Director Sampson let the commissioners know that they would have to work hard, but not for long. “We’re definitely doing a triage attempt.” He continued, “It won’t be a comprehensive update, obviously.”

Unfortunately, just meeting the requirements of this new law will not fix the many existing problems with the County’s open space plan that threaten public safety, risk declines in resource production, and impede the long-term conservation of open space lands. We at the CPC hope that this Planning Commission effort will be the first of many to bring the open space plan up to state standards and to implement the plan for public safety, public recreation, resource production, wildlife habitat and open space conservation.

Sincerely,

Tom Infusino, Facilitator

Calaveras Planning Coalition

San Andreas, California