Foothill Conservancy has been developing sets of principles to help guide the organization, formalize the way we've done business for years and clarify our approach for the public. We published our river and watershed guidelines in the Summer 2002 Focus.
Most recently, we developed a set of land use and development principles that were adopted by the Conservancy Board of Directors on August 7, 2003.
Foothill Conservancy has been developing sets of principles to help guide the organization, formalize the way we've done business for years and clarify our approach for the public. We published our river and watershed guidelines in the Summer 2002 Focus.
Most recently, we developed a set of land use and development principles that were adopted by the Conservancy Board of Directors on August 7, 2003.
Foothill Conservancy Land Use
and Development PrinciplesNew residential and commercial development should be concentrated in existing towns and communities where shopping, services, schools, jobs, and infrastructure are available.
Infrastructure such as water lines, sewer lines, and roads should not be extended outside existing developed areas unless those areas are contiguous to existing communities and scheduled for development in the near future as part of a general or community plan.
Communities should have clear boundaries with separation between them provided by working landscapes, greenbelts, or parks.
Development should not outpace the ability of local governments to provide adequate services and infrastructure, or reduce the level of services provided to existing community residents.
Land uses should be consistent with stated community visions or goals.
A range of housing types should be available for people of all income levels.
Land uses should not put land-use conversion pressure on agricultural lands or threaten the continued operation of existing industrial and commercial businesses.
Project design should work with the contour of the land, preserve physical features such as rock outcroppings, trees, watercourses, and wetlands, and protect important wildlife habitat.
County and city plans should protect key wildlife habitat, visual quality, agricultural lands, and open space resources.
Projects should be approved only if there is adequate water to supply them.
Environmental mitigation measures should adequately address local and community-wide impacts.
