October 2025

TO: County of Calaveras

FROM: Tom Infusino, Facilitator, Calaveras Planning Coalition

RE: Amendments to the Open Space Plan

DATE: October 8, 2025

I. Recommendations

A. Review these proposed amendments to the Open Space Plan for this year.

B. Include these amendments when you update the Open Space Plan to conform to the requirements of SB 1425: Government Code Section 65565.5.

C. In 2026 and 2027 work on amendments to the Open Space Plan to timely comply with AB 1889 and AB 2684, to meet the requirements of the Housing Accountability Act, and address CEQA exemptions.

II. Background

Historically the Government Code has required a general plan to include an open space plan that addresses the use of open space for the preservation of natural resources (e.g. wildlife habitat and rivers), the production of resources (e.g. food, fiber, and minerals), outdoor recreation, public safety (e.g. flood safety and wildfire safety), and the protection of cultural resources (e.g. Native American cultural sites). The 2019 Calaveras County General Plan Updated includes and Open Space and Conservation Element that addresses these traditional open space issues in coordination with other general plan elements.

Since adoption of the 2019 Calaveras County General Plan Update, California has added new requirements regarding the open space and conservation elements of a general plan.

Senate Bill 1425 (Stern, 2022) added Section 65565.5 to the Government Code on September 30, 2022. This law requires all cities and counties to review and update the open space element of their general plans by January 1, 2026, to address three specific topics:

  • Equitable access to open space for all residents, correlated with the environmental justice (EJ) element
  • Climate resilience and other co-benefits of open space, correlated with the safety element
  • Rewilding opportunities, as defined, correlated with the land use element

Assembly Bill 1889 (Friedman, 2024), also known as the “Room to Roam Act” amended Section 65302 of the Government Code to require cities and counties to review and update the conservation element of their general plans in the next adoption or revision of one or more elements on or after January 1, 2028, to:

  • identify and analyze connectivity areas, permeability, and natural landscape areas within the jurisdiction;
  • identify and analyze existing or planned wildlife passage featuresto ensure that planned development does not undermine their effectiveness;
  • consider the impacts of development and the barriers caused by development to wildlife and habitat connectivity;
  • avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts and barriers to wildlife movement to the extent feasible; and
  • analyze and consider opportunities to remediate existing barriers to wildlife connectivity and restore degraded habitat and open space.

Finally, AB 2684 (2024) requires the safety element to address extreme heat hazards upon the next update of one or more elements on or after January 1, 2028.

We understand that during this first step of the process, the County is working to meet the requirements of SB 1425 by the end of the year. We are aware of the County’s desire to quickly make as few policy changes to the general plan as possible to meet new and existing open space plan requirements.

We believe that the County can meet the deadline of SB 1425, and also include some general plan amendments to meet at least some of the requirements of AB 1889. Much of this work can be completed efficiently by modifying and adding introductory text to better identify the content of existing open space plan, to better explain the functioning of its parts, and to better clarify its implementation. Because this would not make additional substantive changes to policies or implementation measures, it would not trigger additional CEQA review, and therefore is feasible to do in the next few months. What these improvements would do is help our local land owners to better compete against landowners from other counties for the state’s open space conservation funding. The quality of the local open space plan is an important factor in those funding competitions.

Below we make our recommendations to amend the general plan. We provide the portion of the general plan or supporting document to be changed, the change we recommend, and a footnote to explain the need for the change. We hope that the Planning Department and the Planning Commission will consider these recommendations.

In step two of this process, the County will need to make substantive amendments to policies and implementation measures in the open space plan to meet the terms of AB 1889 and AB 2684 by January 1, 2028. That may trigger amendments to the general plan environmental review documents. At that time, we encourage the County to also make additional substantive improvements to the open space plan to address provisions that have been weakened by the Housing Crisis Act, the Housing Accountability Act and by amendments to CEQA.

Understand that we believe the County can and should do much more. Climate change poses serious threats to open space resources in Calaveras County. Climate change adversely impacts the habitats for fish, game, and special status wildlife species. Climate change threatens the productivity of farm lands, range lands, and timber lands. Climate change degrades recreational experiences. Climate change increases the already high and very high risks of wildfire across the developed and undeveloped landscape. In addition, Calaveras County has a vast landscape suitable for the carbon sequestration needed to restore the world’s climate and to sustain the prosperity of California industries relying on the cap-and-trade program. For these reasons, we encourage the Planning Department, the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors to move beyond minimal compliance with the new open space plan requirements. In the footnotes below we note some opportunities to do so. We are available to meet with Planning Department staff and individual Planning Commissioners at your convenience to discuss these matters in more detail.

Proposed Amendments to Update the Open Space Plan

Below we identify the page of the current general plan provisions, the text of the current provisions, and the changes we propose to the provisions. In footnotes we explain the rationale for each change. 

  1. Changes to Conservation & Open Space Element

Page – COS 1:

Other general plan elements addressing conservation and open space-related issues are:

  • Public Facilities and Services Element: Land accommodating floodwater and for groundwater recharge; Areas required for groundwater basin recharge; Water supply
  • Resource Production Element: Land and water reclamation; Location, quantity and quality of the rock, sand, and gravel resources; Areas containing mineral deposits, including those in short supply; Land used for the managed production of resources, including forest lands, rangeland, agricultural lands and areas of economic importance for the production of food or fiber
  • Safety Element: Open areas for public health and safety; soil conservation (e.g., protecting soil productivity through erosion prevention, control, and correction); Land accommodating floodwater for stormwater management
  • Land Use Element: Open space lands classified as Resource Management (pubic and quasi-public land), and lands classified as Resource Production (agriculture and timberland) as shown on the Land Use Map; Goals, policies and implementation programs intending to maintain open space, conserve and promote effective use of natural resources, and preserve the rural character of the county through encouraging clustering, infill, and designing new development to conserve natural, scenic, and cultural resources

Addition:

  • “Circulation Element: Network of pedestrian and cycling paths for recreation.
  • “Community Planning Element: Resource protection, resource production and recreation.

“A list of the specific goals, policies, implementation measures and objectives that comprise the open space plan are provided in Table COS-1.” [1]

 

Page – COS 1

Background and Setting, Associated Plans and Documents

Addition:

“Vision and Guiding Principles

“The general plan’s vision and guiding and principles influence the County’s approaches to open space conservation.

“The County’s vision states,

‘The historical character of the county’s communities, the value of its productive resources, the distinction of its physical beauty, and growing economic opportunities will create a high quality of life for residents and a remarkable and memorable experience for visitors to the county.’

“This vision acknowledges the importance of open space values including historical character, resource production, and the physical beauty of the landscape.

“Calaveras County covers approximately 663,000 acres of land and water. Approximately 519,000 acres are privately owned. The vast majority of this land is a network of open space used for resource production, resource conservation, and recreation. (See Land Use Designation Map and Table LU-1; Technical Background Report, Figure 18 Calaveras County Open Space Inventory.) Thus, the general plan guiding principles emphasize the leadership role that private property owners and residents play in open space management, and the supporting role played by government agencies.

‘Maintenance of open space, wildlife habitat, agricultural lands and forests will be accomplished by the continued ability to maintain the productive resources in the county by those who own, operate, or manage them.

‘County government will respect and protect the property rights of people in their efforts to maintain or develop productive resources.

‘Community Plans, as developed by the local residents, will help preserve the character of historic communities.

‘The County understands that its economy relies heavily on agriculture, forestry, mineral industries, recreation, and tourism, and desires to support those endeavors where practical.’

“As a result, the open space plan focusses on creating a broad spectrum of opportunities to allow private land owners to manage their open space lands as they wish. Thus, some private land may remain open space in the long-term simply by the ongoing profitable management of timber, farming, grazing and mining operations. Other lands will remain open space in the long-term through supplemental revenues from agricultural tourism, energy production, and/or carbon sequestration. Other lands will remain open space in the long-term with the help of private conservation initiatives and government programs. Meanwhile, the County supports these efforts by planning for the integrated conservation of these diverse private open space lands in conjunction with large blocks of public lands and waterways across the vast landscape. The County also assists land owners as they participate in new economic endeavors and government conservation programs. Only in limited circumstances, usually associated with the conversion of open space to other uses, are open space values preserved by local government regulations.”

“Because of the dispersed nature of Calaveras County’s 22 unincorporated  communities, connectivity and coordination are key guiding principle when it comes to planning for open space resources.    

‘Roads and streets will be well-maintained and well-connected and other modes of transportation will be encouraged.

‘The General Plan promotes coordination among agencies to provide effective and efficient water, wastewater disposal, fire protection, and other essential services.

Through service connectivity and inter-government coordination the County helps to maintain and protect a vast network of open space lands. [2]

 

Page – COS 2

Surface Water

Calaveras County topography varies from about 200 feet above sea level in the western County to 8,100± feet in the mountainous eastern county resulting in highly variable average levels of precipitation (20 inches per year in the west and 60 inches annually in the northeast) which comes in the form of both snow and rain generally between October and May.

Addition:

“Climate change is altering traditional precipitation amounts and patterns. Studies depict that precipitation is generally trending downward. In addition, the decline in the snowpack reduces its seasonal surface water storage capacity. The larger variability in storms alters flood intensity and frequency. These factors in turn trigger the need for additional water storage and distribution facilities, improved water use efficiency, upgraded flood controls, and the conservation of aquatic and riparian habitats. At the same time, the hotter climate increases the water needs of plants and animals, including livestock and crops.

“The County employs many general plan provisions to address surface water management for climate change resilience. The County cooperates with water agencies in protecting local surface water rights. (Policies PF 2.6, PF 2.9, Implementation PF-2K.) Through Integrated Regional Water Management Planning, Calaveras County works with water agencies and other stakeholders to plan for the water management needs associated with climate change. (See Policy COS 2.1, Implementations COS-2A, COS-2D, COS-3D, PF-2F, PF-2G.) During the review and approval of new discretionary development proposals, the County makes efforts to ensure the new development will have a sustainable water supply. (See Polices PF 2.1, PF 2.7 to 2.10, Implementations PF-1B, PF-2B, PF-2C, PF-2D.) The County encourages water conservation and recycling. (Policy PF 2.2, PF-2H, PF-2I.) By stretching these surface water supplies for developed land uses, the County helps to ensure that future open space land uses dependent on the county-wide network of streams, springs and recharged groundwater supplies will have sufficient water to remain productive. (See Technical Background Report, Figure 20 Water – Major Rivers and Drainages, Figure 13 Agriculture – Distribution of Williamson Act Lands, Figure 14 Timber – Distribution of TPZ lands.  

The County also protects the wildlife habitat values of its waterways. The County employs development setbacks to protect riparian and aquatic habitats. (See Policy COS 2.2, Implementation COS-3C.) The County intends to complete a Habitat Conservation Plan for special status amphibian species. (See Implementation COS-4C.) The County applies mitigation protocols for impacts to wetlands and riparian corridors when completing the environmental reviews of project applications. (See Policy COS-3.3, Implementation COS-4L, COS-4N.)

“The County employs some general plan provisions to address flooding. When reviewing some applications for new discretionary development the County assess and remediates unreasonable risks of harm from flooding and dam failure. (See Safety Element Policy S 2.1, S 2.2, S 2.4; Implementation S-2A and S-2D.) The County has identified substandard culverts along likely evacuation routes, and hopes to develop a program to replace these. (Safety Element Policies S 2.2 and S 2.3; Implementation, S-2E.) The County intends to update stormwater run-off standards and hopes to find funding to prepare a stormwater management strategy to address regional flood management needs. (Safety Element Policy 2.3, Implementations S-2B and S-2C.)” [3]

 

Page – COS 3

Groundwater

Addition:

“Because climate change reduces precipitation, it reduces the rate of recharge of groundwater resources subject to recharge. In addition, since climate change reduces rain and snow amounts, streams flows tend to decline earlier in the dry season. This in turn limits the amount of water that feeds shallow gravel deposits and springs fed by these streams. These shallow gravel deposits and springs are key sources of water for some grazing operations in Calaveras County.

“The general plan includes many provisions to address groundwater management for climate change resilience. The County participates in regional efforts to address groundwater management challenges in the face of climate change. Through Integrated Regional Water Management Planning, Calaveras County works with water agencies and other stakeholders to plan for the water management needs associated with climate change. (See Policy COS-2.1, Implementations COS-2A, COS-2D and COS-3D.) In addition, the County works with stakeholders on a groundwater management plan for the Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Basin. (See Policies PF 2.6, PF 2.7, Implementation PF-2L.) The County continues groundwater monitoring efforts. (See Policies PF-2.6, PF-2.7, ImplementationPF-2M. Also, the County carefully scrutinizes additional demands on existing groundwater resource associated with new residential development. (See Policy PF 2.8, PF-2D.) Finally, the County intends to adopt review standards for new discretionary development applications to ensure that they do not compromise groundwater recharge. PF 2.4, Implementation PF-2J.)” [4]

 

Page – COS 3

Associated Plans and Documents 

Additions:

RMC, November 2006. Mokelumne/Amador/Calaveras Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (M/A/C IRWMP). The study is available at both CCWD and online through the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority at: http://www.umrwa.org/

Woodard & Curran, November 2018, Mokelumne/Amador/Calaveras Integrated Regional Water Management Plan Update (M/A/C IRWMP Update). The study is available online through the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority at: http://www.umrwa.org/

RMC, June 2015, The Mokelumne Watershed Interregional Sustainability Evaluation (MokeWISE). The study is available online through the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority at: : http://www.umrwa.org/  [5]

 

Page COS-5

Vegetation

Additions:

“Climate change affects vegetation patterns on the landscape. With reduced precipitation comes shifts in the boundaries of vegetation types on the land. Plants and trees adapted to drier conditions slowly spread up in elevation. Oak woodlands give way to oak savannas. Mixed conifers give way to oak woodlands. Red fir give way to mixed conifers. At the highest elevations, white bark pines just die off and give way to granite.

“As this process continues at a fast pace, dead plants and trees build up on the landscape. These fuel loads occur in concert with hotter and drier conditions and higher winds associated with climate change. Together these factors combine to create increased wildfire fire hazards in areas already categorized as having high or very high wildfire risks.

“Each subsection of Calaveras County has its own wildfire challenges.

“On opens space lands, private and public land managers are clearing fuel breaks and using livestock to graze range lands. On public and private forest lands managers are thinning forests, reducing fuel loads, and completing prescribed burns.    

“Because open space wildfires can spread to developed lands, local businesses and residents must also respond to these increased wildfire risks. Some able residents are redoubling their exhausting and expensive efforts to maintain defensible space, to harden structures against wildfire, and to prepare for emergency evacuation. Nevertheless, there remains great need to assist others who are unable to take on these tasks without assistance. In addition, the increased risks of wildfire have led private fire insurance companies to no longer offer coverage in many parts of Calaveras County. Residents and businesses are increasingly relying on California Fair Plan to provide fire coverage, and paying much more for insurance. 

“The Conservation and Open Space Element is correlated with the Safety Element to improve wildfire safety for climate change resilience.

“First, the general plan addresses County efforts to reduce wildfire risks and to respond to wildfires in open space areas. The County supports maintaining healthy forests and oak woodlands across the landscape through fuel reduction projects. (See Policies COS 1.1 and COS 1.2, Implementations COS-2A through COS-2F) The County implements the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, the Emergency Operating Plan, and the Tuolumne – Calaveras Unit Strategic Fire Plan in concert with CalFire, the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies to stay prepared for, and to respond to, wildfire emergencies. (See Safety Element, Page S-2, S-4, S-5, S-6.) This integrated network of mutual assistance provides wildfire safety across the landscape despite the challenges of climate change. (See Technical Background Report, Figure 42 Safety – Federal Responsibility Area, Figure 43 Safety – CALFIRE Battalions & Stations; Figure 44 Safety – Local Fire District Boundaries.)   

“Second, the general plan addresses County efforts to assist current residents to prepare for and respond to wildfires that threaten their homes and businesses. The County provides information on fire safe building techniques, defensible space, and fire-safe communities to assist residents. (Safety Element Implementation S-1F, S-3O.) The County assess the fire safety of affordable housing and seeks funding to rehabilitate that housing to remediate fire safety deficiencies. (Safety Element Implementation S-3P.)  The County seeks funding for land owners seeking to remove dead trees. (Safety Element Implementation S-3Q.) The Calaveras County Council of Governments has completed an emergency evacuation preparedness plan, and the County hopes to adopt the plan’s integrated network of evacuation routes and implement that plan over time. (See Safety Element Implementation S-1C, S-3G, S-3V.)

“Finally, the County carefully reviews applications for new discretionary development and, when necessary, includes conditions to provide for fire safety. (See Safety Element, Policies 3.1 to 3.5, 3.9; Implementations S-3A, S-3B, S-3C, S-3D, S-3E, S-3I, S-3L, S-3O, S-3Q, S-3S, S-3W.)” [6]

 

Page COS-5

Species

Additions:

“As noted under the discussion of vegetation above, the boundaries of vegetation types are changing as a result of climate change. In addition, climate change is altering the timing of migration as habitat blocks dry up earlier in the season. The cumulative impacts of other wildlife habitat degradation and climate change present serious challenges to the local survival of sensitive species. A key tool in relieving some of this stress on habitat connectivity is to plan open space conservation to provide blocks of suitable wildlife habitat and corridors connecting those blocks to facilitate wildlife migration.

“The Conservation and Open Space Element includes some provisions to address wildlife habitat connectivity. The County will require safe wildlife passage for new discretionary developments on wildlife corridors. (See Policies COS 3.4, COS 3.9; Implementations COS-4E,  COS-4O.) The County has adopted zoning code provisions that require setbacks for new development from riparian corridors and wetlands to implement the general plan. (See Policies COS 3.2, COS 3.3, and COS 3.6; Implementations COS-4L, COS-4N.) The County reviews applications for discretionary development for impacts to special status species, sensitive habitats, and oak woodlands and requires mitigation for potentially significant impacts. (See Implementations COS-4D, COS-4H, COS-4I.) The County hopes to someday establish written guidelines listing mitigation options for impacts to biological resources, and to complete a natural communities conservation plan for amphibians. (See Implementations COS-4B, COS-4C.)”

“In addition, the general plan provides some opportunities for rewilding degraded wildlife habitat. Rewilding may happen in the context of surface mine reclamation that may leave behind wildlife habitat including new lakes and landscaped hills. (See Policy RP 5.1, Implementation RP-4H.) Rewilding may also happen in the context of wildfire recovery plans. (See Policy S 3.7, Implementations S-3J, S-3K.)” [7]  

Page COS-6

Air Quality/Greenhouse Gases  

Additions:

“The Conservation Element includes provisions for inventorying local GHG emissions, for preparing a plan to reduce those emissions in the long-erm, and for reducing GHG emissions pending completion of the plan. (See Policy COS 4.4, Implementations COS-5B, COS-5C, COS-5M.) The County has completed the emissions inventory and a draft plan for both reducing GHG emissions and sequestering carbon on open space lands. The County hopes to use federal funding and state cap-and -trade revenues to hire local businesses to implement many of the provisions of the GHG reduction plan. These provisions call for installing water and energy conservation devices, converting from fossil fuels to green electricity, and reducing forest fuels.

These provisions also call for establishing a carbon sequestration program on resource production lands. In turn, carbon sequestration will provide additional revenue for resource production operations and thereby help them to continue to conserve open space. Thus, by implementing the GHG reduction plan, the County will help to diversify our local economy and to strengthen our efforts to fight climate change using our open space lands. This is just one of the many ways we are using open space lands to improve climate change resilience in Calaveras County.” [8]

 

Page COS-7

Scenic Resources

Addition:

“The State of California granted Wild and Scenic designation to 37 miles of the Mokelumne River in 2018.”

Add study to references:

“California Natural Resources Agency, Mokelumne River Wild and Scenic River Study Report, 2018.”

 

Page COS-8

Recreation Resources

Addition:

The open space plan includes many policies and implementation measures to provide for outdoor recreation. Provisions in the Circulation Element call for the creation of an integrated network pedestrian and bicycle paths. (C-5, C 5.1, C 5.2, C-1A, C-5A.)  Provisions of the Resource Production Element recognizes that agricultural lands, forest lands and mineral resource lands can be conserved and managed for multiple beneficial uses including recreation. (RP 1.5, RP 2.3, RP-5, RP 5.1, RP 5.3, RP-2C.) The Conservation and Open Space Element includes provisions to maintain the quality of recreational waters, to preserve scenic resources, to develop recreational facilities, and to protect cultural resources. (COS-1, COS 2.2, COS-6, COS 6.1, COS 6.2, COS 6.3, COS 6.4, COS 6.5, COS 6.6, COS-3D, COS-5M, COS-7A through COS-7I.)      

“Recreational resources are equitably available throughout Calaveras County. Just access to the higher elevation forestlands in the easternmost reaches of the county is managed by the United States Forest Service. (See Resource Management designation on the Land Use Map, Table LU-1, and Table LU-2.) There people have free or inexpensive access to thousands of acres of these forestlands for hiking, swimming, picnicking, fishing, hunting, rock climbing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and other outdoor recreational activities. Additional free access to tens of thousands of acres for forest recreation is generously provided on private lands owned by Sierra Pacific Industries. (See Technical Background Report, Figure 14 Timber – Distribution of TPZ land in Calaveras County.)

Just access to recreation is provided at federally managed facilities in other parts of the county as well. Inexpensive outdoor recreational opportunities can be found in the western part of the county at New Hogan Reservoir on the Calaveras River near Valley Springs and in the southern part of the county at New Melones Reservoir on the Stanislaus River. In addition, reasonably priced outdoor recreation in the northwestern part of the county is provided at Comanche Reservoir on the Mokelumne River where just access is managed by the East Bay Municipal Utility District. (See Technical Background Report, Figure 31 Recreation – Recreation Resources.) 

In many community centers, free outdoor recreational facilities are available in local parks and in conjunction with schools. (Many local community plans call for the careful management of existing parks, the addition of new parks, and for bicycle and pedestrian paths for outdoor recreation. (CPC 3.1, CPC 5.4, CPC 5.5, CPC 5.6, CPG-2.1, CPF 2.2, CPG 2.3, CPMH 1.1, CPMH 3.1, CPMR 1.6, CPPA 1.1, CPPA 1.3, CPRF 1.2, CPRF 2.1, CPRC 2.1, CPSA 2.1, CPSA 4.1, CPSR 2.1, CPVS 1.2, CPVS 1.11, CPVS 1.3, CPVS 3.4, CPVS 4.1, CPVS 4.2, CPVW 1.5.)

 

Page COS-9

Cultural Resources

Addition:

“The open space plan includes policies and implementation measures to protect cultural resources that might be otherwise be harmed by discretionary development. (COS 7.1, COS 7.2, COS 7.3, COS-8A through COS 8-H.)”

 

New Section:

“Open Space Plan Implementation

“An open space plan needs an action component that identifies how the County achieves its goals by following the numerous open space policies and performing the many implementation measures.

“A review of the County’s annual general plan implementation report indicates that there are two kinds of general plan implementation measures. On the one hand, County planning staff members perform many of the implementation measures in the open space plan on an ongoing basis during the discretionary review of proposed projects. On the other hand, many implementation measures await the County’s approval of new County Code provisions, or the creation, staffing and funding of new programs. “Table COS-2 provides the County’s tentative schedule for implementing these measures. The table is flexible, allowing the County to move measures earlier to take advantages of funding opportunities or later to recognize staff and funding limitations without formal general plan amendments. The table does not create a cause of action against the county for any failure to timely implement any measure by any date. The County remains dedicated to implementing the open space plan.  

Additional Tables:

Table COS-2: Calendar for Open Space Plan Implementation 2025

                        Topic                                                  Measure                   

From 2026 to 2027: Biological Resources & Objective Housing Standards

Convert to Objective Housing Standards

Mitigation Options for Biological Resources        COS-4B        

Wildlife Corridors                                                      COS-4E        

Riparian Corridors (Ordinance)                              COS-4N        

Grading, Drainage, and Erosion Control              COS-3B, S-4B

Project Specific Run-off Management Standards S-2B            

Begin HCP/NCCP Process                                    COS-4C        

 

From 2028 to 2029: Agricultural Resource Production

Innovative Techniques (Clustering Standards)    LU-2E            

Min. Parcel Sizes Adjacent to RP Lands              RP-1A           

Solar Use Easement on Ag. Land                         RP-2A           

Right to Farm Ordinance                                        RP-2B           

Williamson Act Implementation                              RP-2C           

Protect Groundwater Recharge Areas                 PF-2J            

 

From 2030 to 2031: Fire Safety

Air Quality Regulations – Prescribed Burns        COS-2C        

Post-Fire Assessment and Rehabilitation S-3J               

Fuel Management New Development                  S-3S              

Visitor High Occupancy Uses (fire safety)            S-3R              

Evacuation Routes, Sites and Centers                 S-3V              

Level of Service Thresholds                                   PF-1A            

Woody Biomass                                                       COS-5L         

Green Waste Collection                                          COS-5D        

 

From 2032 to 2033: Mining Resources

Amend County Code (Mining)                               RP-1A, 1B    

Mineral Resource Information                                RP-4C           

Mining Advisory Committee                                    RP-4D           

Water Impacts from Mining                                    RP-4F           

 

From 2034 to 2035: Recreation and Scenic Resources

Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan                                  C-4D

Hillside and Hilltop Construction Standards        COS-6B        

Recreation Facilities                                    COS-7A        

Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities                          COS-7B        

Parks and Recreation Funding                              COS-7I          

Local and Regional Trail System                           COS-7E        

 

From 2036-2037: Native American Cultural Resources

Identify Native American Resource Sensitive Areas COS-8A 

Professional Qualifications/Cultural Resources  COS-8C        

Subsurface/Unanticipated Cultural Resources   COS-8D        

Treatment of Archaeological Resources              COS-8F        

 

From 2038-2039

Complete implementation for any measure listed above that remain incomplete.

Table COS-1: General Plan Provisions in the Open Space Plan

Statutory Requirements for an Open Space Plan in Calaveras County

General Plan Text and Graphics in the Calaveras County Open Space Plan

Resource Preservation: including, but not limited to, areas required for the preservation of plant and animal life, including habitat for fish and wildlife species; areas required for ecologic and other scientific study purposes; rivers, streams, beaches, lakeshores, banks of rivers and streams, and watershed lands.

Vision, Principles, Table LU-1, Land Use Map, Table LU-2, LU-2, LU-4, LU 4.1, LU 4.4, LU 4.10, LU-2E, LU-4B, C-1B, H-1.4, RP 1.5, RP-2, RP 2.3, RP-3, RP 3.1, RP 3.3, RP 3.4, RP 4.3, RP 4.4, RP-5, RP 5.1, RP 5.3, RP-1C, RP-1D, RP-1E, RP-1F, RP-2C, RP-2D, RP-2F, RP-2G,  RP-3B, RP-4E, RP-4F, RP-4H, COS-1, COS 1.2, COS 1.3, COS-2, COS 2.1, COS 2.2, COS-3, COS 3.1, COS 3.2, COS 3.3, COS 3.4, COS 3.5, COS 3.6, COS 3.7, COS 3.8, COS 3.9, COS-4A, COS-4B, COS 4.1, COS 4.2, COS 4.3, COS 4.4, COS 4.5, COS 4.6, COS 4.7, COS 4.8, COS 4.9, COS 5.1, COS 5.2, COS 5.3, COS 6.5, COS 6.6, COS-1A, COS-2A, COS-2B, COS-2C, COS-2D, COS-2F, COS-3B, COS-3C, COS-3D, COS-4A, COS-4B, COS-4C, COS-4D, COS-4E, COS-4F, COS-4G, COS-4H, COS-4I, COS-4J, COS-4K, COS-4L, COS-4M, COS-4N, COS-4O, COS-4P, COS-5A, COS-5B, COS-5C, COS-5D, COS-5F, COS-5G, COS-5H, COS-5I, COS-5J, COS-5K, COS-5M, COS-5N, COS-6A, COS-6B, COS-6C, PF 1.8, PF 2.11, PF-2A, CPC 3, CPC 3.3, CPC 3.4, CPC 3.5, CPMH 1.1, CPMH 1.4, CPSR 1.7, CPVS 1.1, CPVS 1.2, CPVS 1.3, CPVS 1.6, CPVS 5.1, CPVS 5.3

Resource Production: including, but not limited to, forest lands, rangeland, agricultural lands, and areas of economic importance for the production of food or fiber; areas required for recharge of groundwater basins; marshes, rivers, and streams that are important for the management of commercial fisheries; and areas containing major mineral deposits, including those in short supply.

Vision, Principles, Table LU-1, Land Use Map, Table LU-2, LU-2, LU 2.1, LU 2.2, LU-5, LU 5.3, LU 5.7, LU 2E, RP-1, RP 1.1, RP 1.2, RP 1.3, RP 1.4, RP 1.5, RP 1.6, RP 1.7, RP 1.8, RP-2, RP 2.1, RP 2.2, RP 2.3, RP 2.4, RP 2.5, RP 2.6, RP 2.7, RP-3, RP-3.1, RP 3.2, RP 3.3, RP 3.4, RP-4, RP 4.1, RP 4.2 RP 4.3, RP-5, RP 5.2, RP 5.2, RP 5.3, RP-6, RP 6.1, RP-1A, RP-1B, RP-1C, RP-1G, RP-2A, RP-2B, RP-2C, RP-2D, RP-2E, RP-2F, RP-3A, RP-3B, RP-4A, RP-4C, RP-4D, RP-4G, RP-5A, COS-1, COS 1.2, COS 1.3, COS-2, COS 2.1, COS 2.2, COS 2.3, COS-2A, COS-2B, COS-2C, COS-3D, COS-5E, COS-5J M COS-5L, PF 2.3, PF-2A, PF-2I, CPC 3, CPC 3.5, CPMH 1.1, CPMH 1.9, CPPA 1.3, CPRC 2.2, CPSR 1.3, CPSR 1.8

Recreation: including, but not limited to, areas of outstanding scenic, historic, and cultural value; areas particularly suited for park and recreation purposes, including access to lakeshores, beaches, and rivers and streams; and areas that serve as links between major recreation and open-space reservations, including utility easements, banks of rivers and streams, trails, and scenic highway corridors.

Principles, Table LU-1, Land Use Map, Table LU-2, LU 5.3, LU 5.7, C-5, C 5.1, C 5.2, C-1A, C-1C, C-5A, RP 1.5, RP 2.3, RP-3, RP 3.3, RP 3.4, RP-5, RP 5.1, RP 5.3, RP-2C, COS-1, COS 2.2, COS-6, COS 6.1, COS 6.2, COS 6.3, COS 6.4, COS 6.5, COS 6.6, COS-3D, COS-5M, COS-7A, COS-7B, COS-7C, C0S-7D, COS-7E, COS-7F, COS-7G, C0S-7H, COS-7I, CPC 3.1, CPC 5.4, CPC 5.5, CPC 5.6, CPG 2.1, CPG 2.2, CPG 2.3, CPMH 1.1, CPMH 3.1,  CPMR 1.6, CPPA 1.1, CPPA 1.3, CPRF 1.2, CPRF 2.1, CPRC 2.1, CPSA 2.1, CPSA 4.1, CPSR 2.1,  CPVS 1.2, CPVS 1.11, CPVS 1.3, CPVS 3.4, CPVS 4.1, CPVS 4.2, CPWV 1.5

Safety: including, but not limited to, areas that require special management or regulation because of hazardous or special conditions such as earthquake fault zones, unstable soil areas, flood plains, watersheds, areas presenting high fire risks, areas required for the protection of water quality and water reservoirs, and areas required for the protection and enhancement of air quality.

RP 2.3, RP 3.3, RP 3.4, RP 6.1, COS-1, COS 1.1, COS 1.2, COS 3.9, COS 4.5, COS 4.6, COS-2B, COS-2C, COS-2F, COS-3A, COS-3B, COS-3D, COS-5I, COS-5J, COS-5L

Cultural Resources: open space for the protection of places, features, and objects including a Native American sanctified cemetery, place of worship, religious or ceremonial site, or sacred shrine.

RP-2, RP-2.5, RP-3, RP-3.4, COS-7, COS 7.1, COS 7.2, COS 7.3, COS-8A, C0S-8B, COS-8C, COS-8D, COS-8E, COS-8F, COS-8G, COS-8H, CPC 3.2, CPMH 1.1

Just Access: Access to open space for all residents in a manner that considers social, economic, and racial equity, correlated with the environmental justice element or environmental justice policies in the general plan, as applicable.

Table LU-1, Land Use Map, Table LU-2, C-1A, C-5A, RP 3.4, RP-5, RP 5.1, RP 5.3, COS 6.4, COS-1A, COS-5M, CPC 5.4, CPC 5.5, CPC 5.6, CPG 2.1, CPG 2.2, CPG 2.3, CPMH 3.1, CPMR 1.6, CPPA 1.1, CPRF-1.2, CPRF-2.1, CPRC 2.1, CPSA 2.1, CPSA 4.1, CPSR 2.1, CPVS 1.2, CPVS 1.11, CPVS 2.3, CPVS 3.4, CPVS 4.1, CPVS 4.2,  CPWV 1.5   

Climate Resilience: Climate resilience and other co-benefits of open space, correlated with the safety element.

C-1B, RP 1.4, RP 2.2, RP 2.3, RP 3.3, RP 3.4, RP-2A, COS-1, COS 1.1, COS 1.2, COS 4B, COS 4.4, COS 4.5, COS 4.6, COS 4.7, COS 4.8,  COS-2A, COS-2B, COS-2C, COS-2D, COS-2E, COS-2F, COS-3A, COS-3B, COS-3D, COS-4E, COS-4G, COS-4J, COS-4K, COS-4L, COS-4M, COS-4N, COS-4O, COS-5B, CPS-5C, COS-5D, COS-5E, COS-5L, PF 2.3, PF-2I, CPC 3.4 , CPC 3.5 

Rewilding Opportunities: correlated with the land use element,

“rewilding opportunities” may include, but are not limited to, 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; and establishing a natural communities conservation plan to provide for coordinated mitigation of the impacts of new development.

RP 1.5, RP-2, RP 2.3, RP-3, RP-3.1, RP 3.3, RP 3.4, RP-5, RP 5.1, RP 5.3 , COS-1, COS-3, COS-3.1, COS 3.2, COS 3.3, COS 3.4, COS 3.5, COS 3.6, COS 3.8, COS 3.9, COS-3C, COS-3D, COS-4A, COS-4B, COS-4C, COS-4D, COS-4E, COS-4F, COS-4H, COS-4I, COS-4L, COS-4M, COS-4N, COS-4O, COS-5M

Habitat Connectivity: Avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts and barriers to wildlife movement to the extent feasible; and consider opportunities to remediate existing barriers to wildlife connectivity and restore degraded habitat and open space.

RP 1.5, RP-2, RP-2.3, RP-3, RP-3.1, RP 3.3, RP 3.4, RP-5, RP 5.1, RP 5.3, COS-1, COS-3, COS 3.1, COS-3.2, COS 3.3, COS 3.4, COS 3.5, COS 3.6, COS 3.8, COS 3.9, COS-3C, COS-3D, COS-4A, COS-4B, COS-4C, COS-4D, COS-4E, COS-4F, COS-4H, COS-4I, COS-4L, COS-4M, COS-4N, COS-4O.

 

[1] While the general plan text currently includes a nice general summary of the open space plan as it exists in 5 elements of the general plan, there is no specific list of each goal, policy, implementation measure and objective that comprise the open space plan. Without this list it is difficult to discern which provisions of each general plan element comprise the open space plan. In addition, a list would demonstrate that the general plan includes multiple provisions to address the statutorily required topics of an open space element. The CPC encourages the County to make a such a list available in the general plan or in a background document incorporated by reference into the general plan. We have included a sample table of what we believe to be the comprehensive list of provisions currently in the open space plan. You are free to modify this table as you see fit. This is reminiscent of the table in the Plumas County General Plan.      

A review of this table indicates that the current general plan includes some relevant policies and implementation measures to address safety, climate resilience, and habitat connectivity as required by SB 1425 and AB 1889. With some refinements, these could fully meet the statutory requirements.

The issue areas in most need of attention to meet the new statutory requirements are equitable access to outdoor recreation lands, extreme heat, and rewilding. The recreation issues could be addressed by making a commitment to seek funding for new outdoor recreation areas, and to give a priority to park projects in disadvantaged communities when implementing the Parks and Recreation Plan and community plans. The rewilding issue could be addressed with regard to mine reclamation lands, wildfire burn areas, eroded lands, and lands degraded by other past human activities or neglect. The extreme heat issue could be addressed in the Safety Element.  

[2] The Calaveras County open space plan has a different approach than those of other cities and counties. A short introduction explaining the general plan vision and principles goes a long way toward helping a reader make sense of the open space plan. When seeking open space conservation funding from private foundations or government agencies unfamiliar with Calaveras County, it helps to have this kind of clarity in the open space plan.   

[3] Under the category “Surface Water,” after the first paragraph we add a paragraph regarding changes in precipitation due to climate change as this is a key issue regarding climate change resilience. We explain the County’s roles relative to other agencies involved, the County’s approaches to address this challenge and the provisions of the Open Space Plan that do so. The County may wish to further amend the general plan to more comprehensively address this challenge. For example, some effort should be made to allocate, divert and deliver surface water supplies to some ranchers who enter into Williamson Act contracts, permanent conservation easements, or programs to sequester carbon. This would demonstrate that the County is managing open space lands to improve climate change resilience as required by SB 1425. For another example, the County may wish to include measurable and time-specific surface water management objectives. Regarding flood control, objectives are absolutely required by statute (Government Code, Section 65302, subd. (g)(2)(B) and completely missing from the Safety Element. Without these objectives there is no way to know when the County expects to establish the new stormwater run-off standards, or when the County expects to complete and implement a stormwater management strategy to address regional flooding problems, or when and where the County intends to replace substandard culverts.

[4] Under the Category of “Groundwater,” we add a paragraph explaining the changes in groundwater recharge due to changes in precipitation resulting from climate change, as this is a key issue regarding climate change resilience. We go on to explain the County’s roles relative to other agencies involved, to identify the County’s approaches to address climate change resilience for groundwater, and to list the provisions of the Open Space Plan that apply. The County may wish to amend the general plan to more comprehensively address this challenge. For example, the County may wish to include a policy reflecting that groundwater resources are to be conserved for agricultural use and are not sufficiently plentiful or reliable for residential development in the area west of Highway 49. The County may wish to include measurable and time-specific groundwater management objectives. In addition, the County may wish to schedule implementation to more promptly achieve water security objectives. We provide a sample implementation schedule in our action plan.

[5] In this section listing important water planning documents, we add updated references and deleted an obsolete reference to reflect that the County is actually participating and paying attention to these planning processes. In addition, these new plans inform prospective residents and investors about upcoming changes to water management in the county to deal with climate change resilience. This is especially important with regard to IRWMPs, as they specifically include a chapter on managing water to address climate change challenges. In the near future, when the Eastern San Joquin Groundwater Basin’s groundwater sustainability plan is complete and approved, please add that to this list of important water planning documents.

[6] Under the category of “Vegetation,” we add paragraphs explaining the effects of climate change shifting the boundaries of vegetation types and the increase in wildfire fuels on the landscape. These are two key challenges that must be addressed to provide for climate change resilience. We explain the County’s roles relative to other agencies involved, the County’s approaches to address these challenges, and the correlated  provisions of the Open Space Plan and Safety Element that do so. This correlation is required by SB 1425.

The County may want to amend the general plan to more comprehensively address these challenges. For example, the County may wish to revisit its policy that every agricultural parcel is suitable for residential development regardless of how dry, fuel laden, windswept, steep, or distant from firefighting resources it may be. This would demonstrate that the County is managing open space lands to improve climate change resilience as required by SB 1425. The County may wish to include measurable and time-specific fire safety objectives. Fire safety objectives are absolutely required by statute (Government Code, Section 65302, subd. (g)(3)(B)) and completely missing from the Safety Element. Without these objectives there is no way to know when the County will adopt evacuation routes (Implementation S-3V), when the County will gather together its comprehensive fire safety standards (Implementation S-3C), when and where the County will treat fuels along county road rights-of-way (Implementation S-3E), when the County will evaluate its affordable housing stock for fire safety deficiencies and seek funding for housing rehabilitation (Implementations S-3N and S-3P), and when and where the County will prepare evacuation plans for high occupancy uses (Implementation S-3R).     

[7] Under the category of “Species”, we add a paragraph explaining the need for habitat connectivity to allow fish, game and other species to migrate to meet their needs during climate change. This addition helps to meet the requirements of SB 1889. Also, we note rewilding opportunities to meet the requirements of SB 1425. We explain the County’s approaches to address these challenges and the provisions of the general plan that do so. The County may want to amend the general plan as needed to comprehensively address this challenge. For example, the County could acknowledge the local network of habitat blocks and corridors identified in the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s habitat connectivity studies. (See the Terrestrial Habitat Connectivity webpage at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Data/Analysis/Connectivity#projects .) The County could reduce the impacts on these blocks and corridors during discretionary development reviews. The County could identify these blocks and corridors as priority lands for long-term conservation. This would demonstrate another way that the County is using open space lands to improve climate change resilience in accord with SB 1425.  

[8] Under the category of “Air Quality/Greenhouse Gases”, we explain the County’s approaches to address greenhouse gases and the provisions of the Open Space Plan that do so to promote climate change resilience. Amend the general plan as needed to comprehensively address this challenge.

August 2025

Event Ordinance

April 2025

General Plan Implementation Priorities

December 2024

Long-term Problems Calaveras County Did Not Address in a Timely Manner, and Some Suggestions to Help Ourselves as We Advocate for Change

November 2024

November 2024 Public TAC Process

 

September 2024

San Andreas Fairfield Marriot Hotel Proposal

Short Term Vacation Rental Ordinance (STVRO)

June 2024

CPC memo to agencies with public lands in Calaveras re: ZOU & Map Update

CPC Comments on the Zoning Code Update

Attachment 1: Special Events Instructions

Attachment 2: Special Events Application

Attachment 3: Nevada County Special Events Application

Attachment 4: Placer County Special Events Application

Attachment 5: Safe Outdoor Event Production

May 2024

CPC Member Muriel Zeller’s Comments on Conservation Easements and the Zoning Code Update

April 2024

CPC Comments on Flint Trail Road extension

MVS.Com Comments on the EOT for CV-Saddle Creek

CPC Member Muriel Zeller’s Comments on the Zoning Code Update 4/8/24

Attachment: Rural Clustered Development

MyValleySprings.com Comments for PC Review of Telecommunications Facilities in Draft Zoning Code

CPC Comments on the Zoning Ordinance Update April 2, 2024

Housing & Community Development Housing Accountability Technical Assistance Advisory

March 2024

CPC Comments on Group Homes in the TPZ

February 2024

CPC Member Muriel Zeller’s comments on the draft Oak Woodland Ordinance

January 2024

CPC Member Muriel Zeller’s comments on the draft Oak Woodland Ordinance

CPC Member Muriel Zeller’s comments to RCD and LAFCO re:Open Space, Oaks and Carbon sequestration

2024 GPU Implementation letter to Director

November 2023

CPC Member Muriel Zeller’s Comments on GHG Reduction Plan

October 2023

Funding is available for the HCP/NCCP needed for development

CPC Member Muriel Zeller Comments on ZOU and Open Space

20231010 CPC Letter to PC re ZOU District Rules Final

Attachment 1 – General Plan Update Code Amendment Checklist October 9 2023

Attachment 2 – State and Federal Zoning Code Requirements

Attachment 3 – STARS Project

September 2023

CPC Member Muriel Zeller’s Comments on Draft Oak Woodlands Ordinance

Supplemental information on In Lieu Fees

August 2023

CPC Member Muriel Zeller’s Comments on the Calaveras County Draft Oak Woodlands Ordinance

CPC Member Muriel Zeller’s Comments on Draft Copperopolis Community Plan

Attachment 1: Copperopolis Appraisal Report

CPC Support for MVS.com Comments on Copperopolis Community Plan

MyValleySprings.com Comments on Draft Copperopolis Community Plan

Attachment 1: Copperopolis Planning Area Map_OC-CV Ranches not within boundary

Attachment 2: BOS Ariola Agenda Submittal 23 GPA_Dec 4_Snapshot-19475

Attachment 3: Copper Valley Ranch Parcel Map appr_PC_080306m

Attachment 4: DEED 2020-000515-1 CA Rangeland Trust_Airola

Attachment 5: PC Resolution 2018-060 Oak Canyon Ranch_Attachment-7013

CPC Comments on Calaveras Evacuation and Access Needs Assessment and Preparedness Plan

CPC Comments on GHG Reduction Plan

Copperopolis Community Plan Comments 

June 2023

CPC Member Ralph Copeland Comments on Copperopolis Community Plan 

CPC Member Janet Sterling Comments on Copperopolis Community Plan

CPC Member Muriel Zeller Comments on Copperopolis Community Plan 

CPC Comments on Copperopolis Community Plan

March 2023

MVS.com comments on Flint Trail MND

Attachments:

January 2023

2023 GPU Implementation letter to Director

December 2022

Thoughts on Rural Clustered Development

November 2022

Letter to Planning Commission re:GHG Reduction Measures

Letter to County re: Conservation Education in Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan

October 2022

Email to Director Elliot re:General Plan

CPC Comments on Economic Development

CPC Comments on Oak Woodland Ordinance

May 2022

CPC Facilitator Comments on Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Reduction Plan

Attachment 1 – Attachment 2 – Attachment 3 – Attachment 4

CPC Member Comments on Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Reduction Plan

April 2022

CPC Facilitator Comments on Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Reduction Plan

CPC Member Comments on Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Reduction Plan

February 2022

CPC Comments on General Plan Update Implementation Priorities

November 2021

CPC Comments on Draft Climate Adaptation Strategy

September 2021

30 by 2030 Coalition Letter

August 2021

Project Consistency with Valley Springs Community Plan – MyValleySprings.com

June 2021

It is time to try something new when it comes to implementing plans in Calaveras County

May 2021

CPC Comments on CCWD UWMP

Empty Promises – a 13 year General Plan Process

Green House Gas Implementation in Calaveras County

April 2021

CCWD Must Be Transparent in the Sale of this Acreage

February 2021

Diverse Communities Deserve Their Own Plans

January 2021

July 2020

April 2020

Related Documents for Reference

RESOURCE PRODUCTION LAND CONVERSION GUIDELINES 

RESOURCE PRODUCTION LANDS MITIGATION PROGRAM GUIDELINES

CALIFORNIA SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL LANDS CONSERVATION PROGRAM GUIDELINES FOR GRANT APPLICATION

Ecosystem Categories and Rangeland – UCANR

Benefits of Rangeland

December 2019

November 2019

August 2019

July 2019

June 2019

April 2019

January 2019

August 2018

July 2018

  • Calaveras Enterprise “My Turn” : PG&E seeks agreement for the new safety program PG&E My Turn in CE

June 2018

March 2018

October 2017

  • Eleventh Hour consideration of Medical Cannabis Cultivation and Commerce Ordinance Project. A review and opinion letter of a report submitted to Board of Supervisors by County Supervisor Dennis Mills. By CAP’s Muriel Zeller –

  • The Draft 2017 RTP provisions represent good steps to improve safety, aid the economy, and protect the environment. We strongly encourage Calaveras County to achieve consistency with the 2017 Draft RTP by including similar policies and implementation measures in its Circulation Element. The County must be an active partner in these endeavors if people are to reap the benefits of these particular 2017 Draft RTP policies. In addition, if the County adopted such implementation measures with sufficient commitment to achieve measurable standards, then the County could mitigate impacts of development under the Draft General Plan.
  • Below is  the CPC comments on the Draft 2017 RTP:

          2017 RTP Letter from CPC_final

June 2017

Press Release” CPC Releases comments on Medical Cannabis Cultivation and Commerce Ordinance DEIR: Press release for Commercial Cannabis Cultivation June 2017 (1)

Planning Coalition Releases  Comments on the Medical Cannabis Cultivation and Commerce Ordinance DEIR: 0 CPC – Cannabis DEIR Comments Combined in pdf

February 2017

Scoping Comments in response to the Notice of Preparation for the Calaveras County General Plan Update Environmental Impact Report:

1 Scoping Comments Cover

2 Dedication

3 Cover Letter 2-16-17

4 Table of Contents & List of Contributors

5 CEQA Guide to CAL GP EIR

6 Chapter 2 title page

7 Agriculture_Scoping_

8 GHG Emissions Scoping

9 Land Use and Plannind Scoping Comment

10 Noise scoping comments

11 Recreation

12 Traffic and Circulation scoping comments

13 Growth inducement scoping

Docume14 Guide to Attachments to assist the County in evaluating and mitigating the impacts of the General Plan Update:

AGRICULTURE:

2004_Crop_Report

2012_Crop_Report

2014_0225_marin-county-agricultural-land-conservation-program_final

Amador Draft Ag Element 2006

Calaveras Draft Ag element October 2008

Davis Ag Land Mitigation.doc

Eldo Ag Element

F.C. Ag preservation principles

farmlenad protection toolbox_02-2008

Marin CWP_CD2

Mariposa Ag Element

Monterey Agriculture Element Placer CGPPart5 Sacramento Agricultural-Element

Napa Ag Land Use Element 06-04-08

Placer CGPPart5

Sacramento Agricultural-Element

Sanoma Ag Element

Sokolow Ag POLICIES

Stanislaus County Ag Element

Yolo County FinalAgChpt4[1]

AIR QUALITY:

2004AQMDCEQAGuidelines

Air_Quality_-_Land_Use_handbook

asbestos_advisory

BAAQMD_CEQA_Guide

BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES:

Cal_Wildlife_Action_Plan_final

GP_Bio_resources_goals_and_policies_FC

Tuolumne_Wildlife_Handbook

CHILD CARE FACILITIES:

including_child_care_in_local_planning

CONSERVATION AND OPEN SPACE:

Mono_ConservationOpenSpaceElement

Open_Space_Tools

DATA ANALYSIS:

Data Analysis Letter 2010

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

InvestingforProsperity Workforce_Development_Piece_FINAL_10-08-03

Workforce_Development_Piece_FINAL_10-08-03

FIRE HAZARD PLANNING:

Fire_Hazard_Planning-Final_Report

Rural_dev_std

GENERAL PLAN GUIDELINES:

DRAFT_General_Plan_Guidelines_for_public_comment_2015(2)

General_Plan_Guidelines_2003

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE:

CAPCOA_White_Paper_Climate_Change

GHG_Attch_1_ARB_Plan

Global_Warming_mitigation_measures

HISTORIC PRESERVATION:

Hist._Pres._ordinances

LAND USE:

Calaveras Cannabis Cultivation EIS_2017

General Plan Update Community Planning Element Valley Springs Community Plan 1-26-17

PUBLIC SERVICES:

adoptedcalaveras_fire_msr_final_no_mhfpd_downsized

final_calaveras_water_wastewater_msr_2012

jbfinal_csd__csa_report_adopted_copy

jbpublic_health_care_final

TRAFFIC:

493_FinalRTP_2012CalaverasRTP_wExecAppend(2)

 494_2012-Calaveras-County-RTP_PublicReviewDraft_Released-July-27-2012

BIKE TRAILS:

Amador Bike Survey Implications

Calaveras County Baseline Report Omissions

CalaverasAlpineTrailInventory

EBMUD_IndependenceFlTr

Making roads safe

Response to Draft General Plan Baseline

WATER PLANNING:

LGC_Water_Planning_Ch_3_Sect_3_4

Suggested_GP_water_policies

Water_&_Land_Use_SNA_pdf

December 2016

8-17-16 letter to pc in pdf final8-31-16

Letter to Cal. PC re Copperopolis

October 2016

CPC Comments for BOS re. General Plan Draft & Map, BOS meeting 10/4/16:

Joyce Techel speaking on behalf of MyValleySprings.com & the Calaveras Planning Coalition:

September 2016

Calaveras Planning Coalition Position Paper – September 2016:  (AN EIR IS NEEDED ON COMMERCIAL CANNABIS CULTIVATION AND ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES)

an-eir-is-needed-on-commercial-cannabis-cpc-position

August 2015

General Plan Update:

  1. Letter to County Counsel 1-25-16.fin (1)
  2. to Calaveras County BOS – 3-22-16

Asphalt Plant Update:

  1. Letter to BOS Re Asphalt Appeal 2-8-16
  2. Testimony of Thomas P Infusino v2
  3. Valley Springs advocacy group submits asphalt plant issues to county
  4. Full impact of asphalt plant to be examined

 

June 2015

Good Planning can enhance Property Rights, Property Values & Property Interests – Presented by Tom Infusino on June 8, 2015 at CPC’s Let’s Talk About: How good planning protects property rights and how planning for economic development increases local self-sufficiency and quality of life.

Good Planning can enhance Property Rights posting

Tell the Board of Supervisors what you want in the General Plan 

Last year Calaveras County released the text of the Draft General Plan for public comment.  That text did not include the Community Plans.  That text did not include the vision and principles developed in 2008 after two years of public workshops. The CPC drafted and distributed a petition for the Earth Day Celebration in 2015.

Earth Day Petition 2015

June 2014

Muriel Zeller – Calaveras Enterprise Columnist

Take a Lode off:

June 2014

  1. Items for discussion at Planning Commission on 6-12-14,
    including the Saddle Creek Development Agreement Extension:

(Ward has video posted on CAP: https://calaverascap.com/june-26-2014-calaveras-county-planning-commission/)1) At first Public Comment, I followed up on Tom’s presentation at 6/12 meeting.  I thanked the commissioners for being receptive to his suggestions for mitigation and development project monitoring and establishing protocols for review of old environmental docs for extensions, and for requesting future study sessions.2) At second Public Comment, I thanked them for bringing up their desire to address the problem of residential outdoor lighting, which is not addressed in code and has come before them over and over for 5+ years, has been dealt with inconsistently, and I suggested they include language in the GPU to address and bring back in SS.3) Peter Maurer’s then made a report/ comments which are worth listening to.  He seemed receptive to this idea of language in the GPU (and other ideas), and to having a study session late July or August as an annual planning project update along with addressing suggestions from Mr. Infusino.  He also talked about trying to get history/background of GPU, meeting with interest groups, “working in a vacuum”, “no continuity of staff”, “bookshelves of documents” but “what’s pertinent today?”  It’s worth listening to for a few minutes to get a sense of where the Director is coming from.4) Autozone filed an appeal to the BOS yesterday.  They are also requesting modification of the road standards.  PC Karen Sisk said “I can see problems developing there” (which I asked about afterwards and she doesn’t like the idea of a lot of access driveways and congestion in that area).

April 2014

  1. Written comments to DWR on the MAC IRWMP Update (April 18, 2014)

March 2014

 Articles of Interest:

CAP and CPC member Bob Dean talks about Water and Land Use in an article for the Calaveras Enterprise:

  1. WATER AND LAND USE – Part 1

CPC member and Foothill Conservancy Executive Director Cecily Smith writes about the historic Calaveras Supervisors vote for Mokelumne River Wild & Scenic Designation:

  1. Wild and Scenic vote was historic

 

February 2014

Presentation to public by Tom Infusion at CAP/CPC public meeting Feb. 3, 2014:

  1. Who What Why Planning CPC 2-3-14

Articles of  interest to CAP/CPC:

  1. Community plans are of utmost importance_CE-Opinon_02_07_14  (A guest opinion to the Calaveras Enterprise by CAP and CPC member Mickey Williamson
  2. Planners tea party find selves on common ground_SR_02_04_14

January 2014

Articles of interest to CAP/CPC:

CAP Governing Committee Co-chair and CPC member Joyce Techel letter to the Calaveras Enterprise:

  1. “The Importance of Community Involvement”

 

Planning Updates for 2013

October 2013

Planning Updates

  1. Please amend the IRWMP Draft Plan Review Procedures (DPRPs)

2. Testimony of Tom Infusino, On behalf of the Calaveras Planning Coalition,

          At the EBMUD Hearing in San Andreas, CA, on October 21, 2013,

          Regarding the Camanche Water Permit Deadline Extension Draft EIR

September 2013

Planning Updates

  1. General Plan Update

August 2013

Planning Updates

  1. General Plan Update

June 2013

Planning Updates

  1. General Plan Update

May 2013

Planning Updates

  1. General Plan Update

April 2013

Planning Updates

  1. General Plan Update

March 2013

Planning Updates

  1. General Plan Update

Download Here:  Draft Setting

February 2013

Planning Updates

  1. General Plan Update

  • Re: Comments on Sawmill Project:
  • Testimony of Thomas P. Infusino, Calaveras Planning Coalition: To Calaveras County Board of Supervisors, 2-26-13:Download Here:  to BOS on Sawmill 2-26-13 2 final

January 2013

Planning Updates

  1. RE: The Calaveras Planning Coalition recommends continuing to improve the MAC IRWMP over the next two years:

December 2012

 

October 2012

  1. Draft MAC IRWMP. (Mokelumne-Amador-Calaveras (MAC) Regional Water Management Plan Update)

September 2012

Planning Updates

  1. RE: Agreement with Staff Report Recommendations for the Sawmill Project on your Agenda for 9-13-12.  Download here: Sawmill to P C 9-12-12 fin

April 2011 through April 2012

  1. 2011 TALK2 fin
  2. Amador GP comments June of 11.fin
  3. BOS email CSC
  4. Comments on UWMP June 6
  5. CPC on UWMP Final
  6. EBMUD Hearing 1-11-12
  7. EBMUD Scoping Testimony 7-14-11
  8. Exhaustion of Remedies (2)v fin
  9. Parable of the King 7-14-11
  10. Shooting Range Finding Add-ons_CP fin
  11. Testimony Before the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors on 11
  12. Testimony of Tom Infusino 3-13-12

Comment Letters

Testimony at County Hearings & Meetings

Op-Ed Pieces

Trinitas News

2006

Original CPC Land Use Principles