Local Governments Driving
Change in the Valley
What are the
steps between
the BIG VISION
and local
implementation?
Sustainable
Communities
Strategies
BIG
VISION!
ON THE
GROUND
CHANGE
Sustainable
Communities
Strategies
General
Plans
Specific
Plans
Zoning
Codes
The San Joaquin Valley
• 8 counties / 8 COGs
• 62 cities
• 16 cities with
populations over
50,000
• 46 cities with
populations under
50,000
Stanislaus
3.8
Merced
4.8
Comparing Average
Madera Dwelling Units
4.1per Acre
Fresno
3.8
Plan adopted in 2009
Kings
4.1
Tulare
4.3
Kern
3.9
ValleyCurrent
Averages:
4.3
Preferred
9.0Trends
Growth Scenario
5.6
8.6
4.7
8.0
7.4
5.3
6.0
6.8
County:
San Joaquin
Stanislaus
Merced
Madera
Fresno
Kings
Tulare
Kern
Valley Averages:
re
9.0
8.0
Average Dwelling Units/Acre
San Joaquin Valley Blueprint
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
A
4.5
3.8
4.8
4.1
3.8
4.1
4.3
3.9
4.3
A
B+
7.7
5.6
8.6
4.7
8.0
7.4
5.3
6.0
6.8
B+
Sa
Corridor Reinvestment Plan
Cities of Modesto, Riverbank, and Oakdale
Integrating Health in Planning
City of Delano
General Plan
City of Fresno
F R E S N O G E N E R A L P L A N U P D AT E
Local Setting
Boundaries
Sphere Of Influence
Fresno City Limits
Fresno County
Historic Growth Patterns
Post 1945 Growth
Pre 1946 Growth
41
Circulation
168
99
State Highway
41
State Highway
168
State Highway
180
State Highway
180
99
0
0.45 0.9
1.8
2.7
Miles
Plant
Source: Boundary and circulation information,
City of Fresno Development And Resource
Management Department, 2010; World Street Map,
developed by Esri using DeLorme basemap layers,
Automotive Navigation Data, USGS,
UNEP-WCMC, Tele Atlas Dynamap, 2009,
City Boundaries, CA Department of Transportation, 2008
Vs. Business As Usual
Impact of Fresno General Plan scenarios on General
Fund at existing and optimal service levels
A
B
C
D
30%
25%
23%
18%
20%
18%
10%
Existing
0%
Optimal
-10%
-10%
-14%
-20%
-21%
-30%
-21%
Potlucks and Community
Meetings
Popular Education
Zoning Exercise
• Easily accessible
• Low-Tech,
• Colors, not Words
• All Language Groups
can participate equally
Challenges for Local Implementation
• Lack of Planning Staff
• Tools to Evaluate Performance of Growth Plans
• Capacity of Local Policy Makers
• Difficult to Make Innovative Projects Pencil
• Outdated Community Engagement Practices
New Partners & New Players
Young Professionals
Health Community
Business Community
New Breed of Builders
How Funders Can
Make a Difference
• Sustain and grow networks of stakeholders to
engage in local and regional planning efforts.
• Support grassroots organizing.
• Support efforts to improve local governments’
civic engagement practices to be more inclusive.
• Provide assistance to local planning departments.
• Support the use of technical tools that measure
fiscal, environmental, health, and social benefits
• Educate local policy makers.