Long-Range Planning
Colusa County – General Plan Update and EIR. De Novo Planning Group is preparing an update to the Colusa County General Plan. The update focuses on reflecting the County’s rural values which include strong support for agricultural activities, maintaining a small-town feel in the unincorporated areas, and focusing development in or adjacent to existing communities, and ensuring that high quality employment opportunities are provided for future generations. The work effort includes an extensive public outreach and public participation program, the development of a county-wide GIS database, policy development in collaboration with a Steering Committee, a conservation plan for agriculture, open space, and wildlife, and preparation of an EIR. Deliverables include a background report, Issues and Opportunities Report, GIS database, 3 land use alternatives maps, the General Plan policy document, and EIR. The updated General Plan will provide the County with a 20-30 year growth plan that will balance the demand for increased services, expanded opportunities for local residential and commercial development, and preservation of the rural lifestyle and extensive agricultural resources of the County.
City of Escalon – Air Quality, Circulation, and Land Use Elements Update. De Novo updated the City of Escalon’s General Plan to provide a comprehensive approach to reducing greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions through long-term planning approaches (land use and circulation patterns) and involvement with regional planning efforts. Project-level policies ensure that projects contribute to a walkable community with a complete streets pattern, are thoroughly evaluated for direct impacts as well as contribution to regional impacts, and contribute to the community’s health and well-being by improving air quality and encouraging residents to walk or ride their bikes to recreational facilities and nearby amenities. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District reviewed the amendments and commended the City for its commitment to protecting the health of its residents.
City of Half Moon Bay – Sign Code. De Novo prepared a comprehsenive update to the City’s Sign Code. The update addressed the City’s desire to incorporate design standards for signage in the downtown area and to provide sign standards for each type of use that reflected an appropriate scale for the community. The update included a framework for wayfinding signs ranging from signs identifying major attractions to signs directing visitors to parking and nearby shops.
City of Half Moon Bay – Municipal and Zoning Code Revisions. De Novo updated the City’s Municipal Code and Zoning Ordinance to ensure that the City has clear requirements to accommodate a range of housing types that address the City’s short-term and long-term housing needs. The code revisions addressed condominium conversions, mobile home park conversions, second units, inclusionary housing requirements, and density bonuses and incentives for affordable housing.
City of Manteca – Circulation Element Update EIR. De Novo was hired by the City of Manteca to prepare an EIR for the Circulation Element Update (CEU) of the 2023 Manteca General Plan. The CEU includes proposed modifications to Level of Service (LOS) standards, Traffic Impact Study Guidelines, and General Transportation Policies. De Novo was selected to prepare an environmental document with the primary purpose of serving as the required CEQA documentation for the adoption of the CEU. However, the environmental document will be used by the City of Manteca, Manteca Redevelopment Agency, other public agencies and private developers for “tiering” of future environmental reviews for development projects, roadway improvement projects, and other activities that relate to the analysis contained in the environmental document, and to implement the Circulation Element.