The Board of Supervisors held two all-day Study Sessions on February 18 and February 19, 2009. These were the final meetings under Meeting Series #5, devoted to Goals and Policy development for the Butte County General Plan 2030 process.  The Study Sessions were divided into morning and afternoon sessions, which involved the review and facilitated discussion of the following 17 Policy Topic areas:

w        Economic Development

w        Agriculture

w        Urban Growth Boundaries

w        County Character, New Development & Housing

w        Regional & Local Coordination

w        Community Health & Safety

w        Noise

w        Cultural Resources & Tribal Coordination

w        Parks & Recreation

w        Trails

w        Natural Resources & Habitat

w        Green Building, Greenhouse Gases & Energy

w        Water Resources

w        Transportation & Circulation

w        Scenic Highways

w        Utilities & Public Services

w        Airports

Each of the Sessions was facilitated by General Plan Consultant David Early of Design, Community & Environment. The Board of Supervisors reviewed recommendations from the Planning Commission, Citizens Advisory Committee and the public concerning Goals and Policy development and provided final direction on each of the 17 specific Policy Topic Areas. The Board of Supervisors also made final recommendations on the Transportation Alternatives. A time for public input was also provided at the beginning of each morning and afternoon session during which over 30 members of the public commented on the policy topics under consideration. The Board of Supervisors also reviewed and approved a variety of needed minor refinements to the Preferred Land Use Alternative as recommended by staff and the consultant.  The Board directed that two areas (Study Area #10, the Tuscan Ridge residential development project, and Study Area #13, the Paradise Summit residential development project) proposed by the consultant for designation as Specific Plans on the Countywide Land Use Map remain as Planned Unit Developments as originally approved.  Staff also advised that a second draft of the County-wide Land Use Map would be brought back for additional review as further refinements to specific General Plan designations were made

The four documents provided on this web page are intended to provide you with a detailed look at the Board of Supervisors actions and include two versions of the Policy Alternatives approved by the Board.  The first document shows the changes and edits made by the Board of Supervisors to the Policy Alternatives.  The changes can be seen in red font (underline and strikethrough).  The second document is a final version of the policy alternatives as approved by the Board.  A third document, the Transportation Alternatives, shows the Board’s direction for each of the roadway segments and locations.  A fourth document provides the public input provided at each of the two Study Sessions.

The Board of Supervisors recommendations concerning Goals and Policy development and the Transportation Alternatives will form the basis of the DRAFT Butte County General Plan 2030 (Meeting Series #7), that will be released for public review in the Summer of 2009.  Additional meetings will take place to review this document, including a Public Workshop, Citizens Advisory Committee Meetings, and study sessions with the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission.  Please watch this website for further details concerning these meetings.