Community

The Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act, passed by the California Legislature in 2008, called for regional planning agencies to integrate their land use and transportation planning with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These plans are called Sustainable Communities Strategies. By reducing the distance between where we work, live, and play and increasing the options for alternative transportation, we can reduce how much we drive. This, in turn, reduces our emissions that contribute to climate change. Of course, there are many co-benefits of this kind of planning including better air quality, reinvestment in existing neighborhoods, a wider range of housing options including affordable homes, more walkable neighborhoods, investment in green jobs, and protection of valuable farmland. Both San Joaquin and Stanislaus Councils of Government have adopted high-quality Sustainable Communities Strategies, but our coalitions will continue to work for full implementation of these plans as well as laying the groundwork for an even better second round. Read the San Joaquin SCS or the Stanislaus SCS.

Modesto is the process of updating their General Plan and Stockton is in the Implementation process of their General Plan. This could be considered the "economic constitution" of a community as it outlines where we are going to grow, invest, and improve, and how. It has dramatic ramifications for housing type and affordability, the range of active and alternative transportation options, the kind of investment (if any) in struggling neighborhoods, and the impact our communities will have on the natural environment around us. These plans are updated periodically and present an opportunity for our coalitions to make an impact on the health, equity, and sustainability of our cities in the long term.