Butte County General Plan 2030 Community Meeting Summary

The Butte County General Plan 2030 Community Workshop for the Durham, Dayton and Nelson Area was held on Wednesday, April 25^th, 2007 at 6:00 pm at the Durham Memorial Hall.  This meeting is one of 20 community meetings scheduled to take place in locations covering all of the unincorporated parts of Butte County.  The meetings are designed to take input directly from community members about their area’s assets, issues, and consideration of land use changes during the General Plan 2030 process.

About 65 people attended the Central Buttes meeting.  Also in attendance were five members of Butte County's Citizens Advisory Committee.  David Early, Founding Principal of Design, Community & Environment (DC&E), the lead General Plan consultant, introduced the workshop and gave an overview of the meeting content and format.  Butte County Department of Development Services Principal Planner Dan Breedon then provided an overview of the Butte County General Plan 2030 process and General Plan 2030’s Guiding Principles, which were approved by the Butte County Board of Supervisors on February 13, 2007.  Tanya Higgins, Project Planner of DC&E then presented a summary of existing conditions in the Durham, Dayton and Nelson Area and of issues that were raised during prior public workshops and meetings.  For the next 45 minutes, County and DC&E staff facilitated seven breakout discussion groups about the area's assets, issues, and areas for potential future change.  The following summarizes the assets and issues discussed at this meeting:

Workshop participants emphasized that they like the small town and rural character of the communities, including its neighborliness, slower pace of life and families.  They praised the Durham Park and Recreation District and the local schools, although they were concerned about declining school enrollment.  They also appreciate the proximity of their communities to the services of Chico and the open space of the countryside.  Many people expressed appreciation for the open space characteristics of the area and the wildlife and recreational opportunities it supports.  The agricultural base of these communities was highlighted as an asset, although some were concerned that the towns were transitioning to bedroom communities and losing their agricultural connections and downtown cores.  Some specifically called out the need for redevelopment, new commercial uses, and parking requirements in downtown Durham.  Other participants already think of Durham, Dayton and Nelson as bedroom communities and would like to maintain that role with limited commercial and industrial development.

When discussing the future of the area, many workshop participants praised the County’s Durham-Dayton-Nelson Area Plan.  In general, participants would like to contain growth in the area to the existing communities in order to protect agricultural and open space lands, and several growth boundary locations were suggested.  Several people emphasized the need for master planning for new growth, in part to ensure adequate services and infrastructure are provided.  Others focused on maintaining low density development, with some disagreement over whether 5- to 10-acre ranchettes are appropriate.  There were also several comments about lot size inconsistencies between the County’s General Plan and Zoning Code, and some felt that additional representation for the towns is needed.  Several participants were also concerned about rising housing costs and the lack of affordable housing in proximity to employment.

To maintain an agricultural identity into the future, participants discussed several agricultural preservation techniques, including a possible extension of the greenline into Durham, large-lot zoning, and right-to-farm ordinances.  Extra attention was given to the agriculture/urban interface, where it was noted that trespassing, dumping and theft harm agriculture, and spray drift, dust, smoke and noise harm urban uses.

A common concern raised by the workshop participants was a lack of adequate police, fire and rescue services in the area.  In particular, residents are concerned about crime, drugs, vandalism and drag racing, as well as unpredictable emergency response.  These concerns were also related to a need to improve road safety and emergency access.  There were some suggestions for road improvements and extensions, in part to address traffic congestion, which was noted along the Midway and Durham-Dayton Highway, and around the Durham school and railroad.  It was noted that there is a lack of adequate public transit options in the area.  Although several people appreciated the existing bicycle facilities, many suggested expansions and improvements to these facilities.

Many participants also focused on flooding issues with Butte Creek, and called out the need to address drainage issues, impeded water flow, brush removal, gravel migration, floodplain development and floodplain mapping.  Other water quality and supply issues were raised, including nitrate contamination and issues surrounding wastewater, water supply for irrigation, opposition to groundwater export, and protection of recharge areas. 

Several people expressed opposition to specific development proposals, including a gravel mine west of Dayton, which participants felt should remain open space, and the Mechoopda casino, which participants felt would adversely affect County services, Native American artifacts, water supply for agriculture, and flooding issues.

Provide the detailed list of Community Assets, Issues and Change Areas
 

Asset or Issue Identified at meeting (sorted in order of Guiding Principle)	Guiding Principle		Sub Topic
Asset: Durham Park & Recreation District	1	Cooperative Planning	Relationships with unincorporated communities
Durham is unincorporated	1	Cooperative Planning	Relationships with unincorporated communities
Formation of Municipal Advisory Committee (Advisory Council) needed	1	Cooperative Planning	Relationships with unincorporated communities
Additional town representation needed	1	Cooperative Planning	Relationships with unincorporated communities
Need committee specific to Durham (e.g. Town Council) to represent town	1	Cooperative Planning	Relationships with unincorporated communities
Expand bike lanes on River Road, Jones Avenue, and downtown Durham	2	Circulation	Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
Potential for bike path along Ord Ferry Road west of Dayton?	2	Circulation	Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
Midway bike path needs extension into Durham	2	Circulation	Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
Walking to school: high traffic, fee for bus	2	Circulation	Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
Poor bike facilities: narrow bike lanes, especially on the Durham/Dayton Highway	2	Circulation	Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
Need east-west bike lane to college	2	Circulation	Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
Bike lane down Lott Road needed	2	Circulation	Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
Asset: existing bike paths	2	Circulation	Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
Multiple access routes	2	Circulation	Circulation
Railway overpass needed	2	Circulation	Circulation
Roads near Durham School	2	Circulation	Circulation
Need east-west bypass of downtown Durham	2	Circulation	Circulation
Extend road: new connector of Durham/Dayton Highway north of Durham	2	Circulation	Circulation
No stop light	2	Circulation	Circulation
Asset: no stop light	2	Circulation	Circulation
Railroad safety/hazardous material transport	2	Circulation	Public safety
Need traffic safety improvements around school, in particular on Dayton Highway north of the school	2	Circulation	Public safety
Lott Road is dangerous	2	Circulation	Public safety
Lack of public transit and B-line frequency	2	Circulation	Public transit
Traffic congestion: along the Midway between Chico and Durham; along the Durham/Dayton Highway between Durham and Butte College; and along Highways 99 and 149 south of Chico.	2	Circulation	Road capacity and quality
Traffic in the Durham school area and Stanford at the Durham/Dayton Highway	2	Circulation	Road capacity and quality
Railroad creates traffic congestion	2	Circulation	Road capacity and quality
Trucks and industrial traffic	2	Circulation	Road capacity and quality
Peak hour school traffic	2	Circulation	Road capacity and quality
Asset: beautiful Midway lined with mature trees	2	Circulation	Road capacity and quality
Asset: two lanes are sufficient, little traffic	2	Circulation	Road capacity and quality
Railroad divides community	2	Circulation	Transportation planning
If growth occurs, it should be limited to existing town areas with master planning at densities appropriate for services - high quality yet reasonable affordability (cluster, PD)	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	Direct growth to urban areas
Concentrate residential development in Durham	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	General growth management
Growth will happen; need planning to ensure agriculture is not broken up	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	General growth management
Consider clustering, especially in the area bordered by the Midway, Chico city limits, Highway 99, and just south of the Durham/Dayton Highway	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	General growth management
Durham should stay contained	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	General growth management
Growth or planned development	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	General growth management
Master Planning near existing town centers for any new growth	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	General growth management
No building west of Durham	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	General growth management
Core growth/redevelopment: Jones grow - yes/no	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	General growth management
Contain growth around Durham	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	General growth management
Possible growth area (2-acre zoning) in region bordered by Butte Creek to the west, Chico SOI to the northeast, and the Durham/Dayton Highway to the south	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	General growth management
Extend downtown housing core; keep it central	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	Housing
Affordable housing is not located in proximity to jobs	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	Housing
When permit business development, need to consider proximity to housing; if this is not done, the communities will transition to bedroom communities. This is an issue especially in the Chico area.	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	Housing
Need to consider the impact of new residents who move here from the Bay Area on housing prices	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	Housing
No affordable housing exists	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	Housing
Unsightly mobile homes visible from road/community character	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	Housing
Housing costs have gone up preventing families with an average income to move to the area. Schools may impacted by lowering attendance.	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	Housing
Need adequate services for higher densities	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	Impacts to infrastructure and quality of life
Need to preserve community character and identity while accommodating growth	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	Impacts to infrastructure and quality of life
Need to get fees on 1- to 5-acre subdivisions	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	Impacts to infrastructure and quality of life
Impacts of future development on traffic and water supply/quality	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	Impacts to infrastructure and quality of life
1/2 and 1/4 acre lots inconsistent zoning	3	Growth, Urban Development and Housing	Land use policies
Should not allow gravel pit west of Dayton near Dubock Slough	5	Natural Resources and Environment	Agriculture, timber and mining
Proposed gravel mine should be open space	5	Natural Resources and Environment	Agriculture, timber and mining
Asset: good soil	5	Natural Resources and Environment	Agriculture, timber and mining
Air quality -- part of problem is traffic congestion	5	Natural Resources and Environment	Air quality
Natural resources	5	Natural Resources and Environment	General environment
Protect wildlife west of Seven Mile Road	5	Natural Resources and Environment	Habitat preservation
Asset: Sacramento river wildlife area/Llano Seco	5	Natural Resources and Environment	Habitat preservation
Asset: quiet	5	Natural Resources and Environment	Noise
Protect open space west of Dayton	5	Natural Resources and Environment	Open space preservation
Asset: open space	5	Natural Resources and Environment	Open space preservation
Asset: safe	6	Public Health and Safety	Community character
Emergency access	6	Public Health and Safety	Fire and emergency access
Butte Creek exit routes and evacuation	6	Public Health and Safety	Fire and emergency access
Emergency services response times are too long	6	Public Health and Safety	Fire and emergency access
Railroad safety/hazardous material transport	6	Public Health and Safety	Hazardous materials
Drag racing/gang-related activities	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
Lack of law enforcement	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
Community-based deputy as resident; lack of resources for auto theft, peeping toms, prevelence of drugs (e.g. methamphetamines), and vandalism/theft on agricultural lands.	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
Drag racing and vandalism along Seven Mile Road	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
Asset: Durham Fire/Calfire/Volunteers	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
Additional law enforcement needed	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
With population growth (especially in Durham), need increased police services	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
Police already stretched very thin	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
High speeds on Durham/Dayton Highway	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
Pot growing in apartments	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
No law enforcement	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
Poor CHP response on Durham/Dayton Highway	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
Poor Sheriff response (but new Deputy hired)	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
Emergency response is hit and miss	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
Asset: fire department	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
Lack of law enforcement	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
Drug manufacturing	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
Limited fire and police services, long response time	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
Need permanent police services	6	Public Health and Safety	Police and fire services
Mosquitoes	6	Public Health and Safety	Vector control
Little mix of income levels	7	Economic Development	Employment
Chico is an economic drain	7	Economic Development	General economy
5-acre lots: bad because not a farming unit; good because smallest density to preserve character	8	Agriculture	Agricultural land use policies
Possible extension of greenline to Durham	8	Agriculture	Agricultural land use policies
Preserve agricultural land: no 5-acre lots; should be 20 acres or more	8	Agriculture	Agricultural land use policies
Growth should be more dense to protect agriculture	8	Agriculture	Agricultural preservation
Right-to-farm ordinance needed	8	Agriculture	Agricultural preservation
Protect agricultural lands south of Dayton - no leap frog development patterns	8	Agriculture	Agricultural preservation
Growth will happen; need planning to ensure agriculture is not broken up	8	Agriculture	Agricultural preservation
Protect agriculture as an industry	8	Agriculture	Agricultural preservation
Orchards chopped up into subdivisions	8	Agriculture	Agricultural preservation
Proposed casino: located in floodplain and Indian artifact area; services are expensive (county residents would have to pay); and affects water supply for agriculture.	8	Agriculture	Agricultural water supply
Avoid urban encroachment on agricultural lands	8	Agriculture	Agriculture/urban interface
Protect agriculture at the urban interface	8	Agriculture	Agriculture/urban interface
Urban influence on agriculture, including trespassing, dumping, theft, incompatibility with residential uses	8	Agriculture	Agriculture/urban interface
Agriculture/urban conflicts, including spray drift, dust, smoke and noise	8	Agriculture	Agriculture/urban interface
Agriculture and residential compatibility	8	Agriculture	Conflicts with other uses
Asset: agriculture	8	Agriculture	General agriculture
Asset: orchards	8	Agriculture	General agriculture
Asset: can have animals/livestock	8	Agriculture	General agriculture
Asset: community is agriculturally-based	8	Agriculture	Support for agriculture industry
5-acre lots: bad because not a farming unit; good because smallest density to preserve character	9	Rural Development	Community character
Durham changed from agricultural community to bedroom community; downtown dying because people shop elsewhere	9	Rural Development	Community character
Durham, Dayton and Nelson should stay bedroom communities	9	Rural Development	Community character
Don’t grow commercial or residential in Durham -- it’s a bedroom community to Chico	9	Rural Development	Community character
Rebuild existing communities in Durham	9	Rural Development	Community character
Many like it the way it is	9	Rural Development	Community character
Need to remain a small town	9	Rural Development	Community character
Asset: small town	9	Rural Development	Community character
Asset: rural community	9	Rural Development	Community character
Asset: Midway serves as gateway to community, and it has mature landscaping	9	Rural Development	Development/design standards
Need downtown development standards in Durham	9	Rural Development	Development/design standards
Parking requirements for downtown business development	9	Rural Development	Development/design standards
Asset: Proximity to urban amenities in Chico, such as education, healthcare and shopping	9	Rural Development	Public services
Address downtown parking lot	9	Rural Development	Public services
County should require any developers who don't follow its vision to pay 100% of their own services	9	Rural Development	Public services
Asset: close to Chico and the country	9	Rural Development	Public services
Asset: good location, short trip to services outside of area, such as shopping and recreation	9	Rural Development	Public services
Don't allow the casino at the intersection of Highway 99 and 149	9	Rural Development	Rural commercial/industrial development
The propenents of the casino don't talk about the resources that it will affect	9	Rural Development	Rural commercial/industrial development
Asset: new industry at Durham Pentz Highway and Highway 99	9	Rural Development	Rural commercial/industrial development
Need for future commercial development (mall type)	9	Rural Development	Rural commercial/industrial development
Need to redevelop the downtown	9	Rural Development	Rural commercial/industrial development
Need for consolidated area for shopping	9	Rural Development	Rural commercial/industrial development
Asset: little commercial	9	Rural Development	Rural commercial/industrial development
Larger parcels needed in area south of Chico	9	Rural Development	Rural land use policies
Development patterns should work from center out	9	Rural Development	Rural land use policies
Urban densities do not belong in unincorporated County (countywide issue)	9	Rural Development	Rural land use policies
Avoid 1-acre lots	9	Rural Development	Rural land use policies
5- to 10-acre ranchettes (some liked, some didn't like)	9	Rural Development	Rural land use policies
Don’t want large communities on Durham Dayton Highway	9	Rural Development	Rural residential development
Asset: recreation, including Butte Creek, cycling, and Sacramento River	10	Recreational Opportunities and Protection of Cultural Resources	Access to recreational opportunities
Parks and recreation -- no parks in outlying areas (aside from Durham Park)	10	Recreational Opportunities and Protection of Cultural Resources	Access to recreational opportunities
Asset: beautiful recreation	10	Recreational Opportunities and Protection of Cultural Resources	Access to recreational opportunities
Asset: recreational facilities	10	Recreational Opportunities and Protection of Cultural Resources	Access to recreational opportunities
Proposed casino: located in floodplain and Indian artifact area; services are expensive (county residents would have to pay); and affects water supply for agriculture.	10	Recreational Opportunities and Protection of Cultural Resources	Cultural resources
Need clear building criteria and/or incentives for solar on individual homes	11	Sustainability	Green building
Asset: D2N Plan preserved rural character	12	Public Services	County government
Asset: Durham, Dayton, Nelson Plan	12	Public Services	County government
General Plan and Zoning inconsistency	12	Public Services	County government
General Plan and Zoning is inconsistent along Durham Dayton Highway between the Midway and Highway 99	12	Public Services	County government
Asset: Community identity and great schools	12	Public Services	Educational facilities
Need additional land for schools if significant growth occurs	12	Public Services	Educational facilities
Durham school enrollment is declining because mostly retirement-age people are moving here	12	Public Services	Educational facilities
Asset: school system	12	Public Services	Educational facilities
Asset: close to services, including Chico, Butte College, CSU Chico	12	Public Services	Educational facilities
Declining enrollment in schools	12	Public Services	Educational facilities
Asset: good schools	12	Public Services	Educational facilities
Asset: schools - the single campus and school grounds	12	Public Services	Educational facilities
Street sweeping/maintenance needed	12	Public Services	General public services
Proposed new town in Central Buttes area: would have used Durham services and illustrates the issues with housing and the community here	12	Public Services	General public services
Proposed casino: located in floodplain and Indian artifact area; services are expensive (county residents would have to pay); and affects water supply for agriculture.	12	Public Services	General public services
Lack of sewers: maintains rural atmosphere but affects water quality	12	Public Services	Infrastructure
Possible sewer services around Durham	12	Public Services	Infrastructure
New development should be designed to connect to sewer plan/septic alternatives	12	Public Services	Infrastructure
Reduce future infrastructure costs by up - front design of sewer plan/septic alternatives	12	Public Services	Infrastructure
Infrastructure plan requirements for new development are needed	12	Public Services	Infrastructure
Development is approved before infrastructure needs are met	12	Public Services	Infrastructure
Infrastructure/water supply for new development needs to be addressed	12	Public Services	Infrastructure
No sewer system	12	Public Services	Infrastructure
Butte Creek -- flood prevention needed	13	Water Resources	Flood prevention
Butte Creek -- address roads that flood	13	Water Resources	Flood prevention
Butte Creek flood control	13	Water Resources	Flood prevention
Drainage	13	Water Resources	Flood prevention
Impeded water flow along Butte Creek	13	Water Resources	Flood prevention
Poor drainage at Cummings Lane and Lower Lott Road	13	Water Resources	Flood prevention
Drainage issues in area south of Chico, west of Highway 99	13	Water Resources	Flood prevention
Butte Creek --  brush removal needed	13	Water Resources	Floodplain management
Butte Creek -- gravel migration needs to be addressed	13	Water Resources	Floodplain management
Butte Creek -- allow appropriate development in floodplain	13	Water Resources	Floodplain management
Floodplain management needed along Butte Creek	13	Water Resources	Floodplain management
Butte Creek maintenance of overgrowth to facilitate water flow	13	Water Resources	Floodplain management
Proposed casino: located in floodplain and Indian artifact area; services are expensive (county residents would have to pay); and affects water supply for agriculture.	13	Water Resources	Floodplain management
Floodplain mapping: town flooded, too broadly mapped	13	Water Resources	Floodplain management
Water issues south of Dayton	13	Water Resources	General water resources
Asset: water	13	Water Resources	General water resources
Nitrate contamination	13	Water Resources	Groundwater
Protect recharge areas east of Highway 99	13	Water Resources	Groundwater
No groundwater pumping	13	Water Resources	Groundwater
No groundwater export	13	Water Resources	Groundwater
Exportation of groundwater	13	Water Resources	Groundwater
Don't build in recharge areas	13	Water Resources	Groundwater
Keep groundwater in ground: don't pump for export	13	Water Resources	Groundwater
Preserve groundwater, protect from septic system and herbicide/pesticide pollution	13	Water Resources	Groundwater
Wastewater disposal issues	13	Water Resources	Wastewater
Possible septic improvement requirements resulting in cost increases for residents	13	Water Resources	Wastewater
Lack of sewers: maintains rural atmosphere but affects water quality	13	Water Resources	Water quality
Avoid nitrate impacts from wastewater	13	Water Resources	Water quality
Water supply for irrigation	13	Water Resources	Water supply
Declining water levels	13	Water Resources	Water supply
Infrastructure/water supply for new development needs to be addressed	13	Water Resources	Water supply
Agriculture wells are located too close to residential wells	13	Water Resources	Water supply
Asset: water quantity, quality	13	Water Resources	Water supply; water quality
Asset: Sense of supportive community		Other	Community character
Asset: Slower pace of life than Chico		Other	Community character
Asset: people/long-term families		Other	Community character
Asset: sense of community		Other	Community character

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