Yuba County General Plan nearing OK

The much-debated draft version of the Yuba County General Plan update will get some revisions, but perhaps not all the revisions its biggest critics wanted.

County planners Wednesday asked supervisors to consider comments on the plan from interested parties in three contexts: staff recommending a change, not recommending a change, or needing direction from the board.

The ensuing discussion, stretching over three hours, veered from as technical as eliminating a word or two to as broad as how many supervisor votes would be needed to amend the plan after it's adopted.

Kevin Mallen, director of Community Services and Development, suggested the only amendment requiring a controversial four-fifths vote would be to change the valley growth boundary, which will dictate where most of the new homes will be built in the next two decades.

"It's intended to be an absolute," Mallen said.

But some supervisors pointed out changing the four-fifths requirement could later be done with three votes, making it ineffectual.

"Having this language will only exist until there's a project where three members want to go forward and it isn't within the boundary," said board Chairman Roger Abe. Planners said they'd finesse the language to see if there was a way to please everyone.

Another area subject to scads of criticism, and unlikely to find agreement among the supervisors, was how the county would meet the requirements of Assembly Bill 32, which requires reductions in greenhouse gases.

Mallen said the plan could be adjusted for more flexibility. Supervisors said they'd rather submit a plan state officials might reject first, because it'd be easier to later ratchet up rather than ease restrictions on greenhouse gases.

"We're ahead of the curve on this," said Supervisor John Nicoletti. "I think we need to have a General Plan that keeps us in the game rather than being another notch on Jerry Brown's, I dunno, hemp belt."

Planners said they'd also change language on such topics as deer herds and corridors, septic systems in high groundwater recharge areas, and fire safety and evacuation routes, all areas foothills residents in particular were concerned about. A page describing the United Nations' plans for addressing global warming will be eliminated.

Supervisors also gave more specific instructions on areas mostly related to a jobs/housing balance and land use, generally in favor of assurances of jobs created or at least planned for in new housing developments.

Nick Spaulding, an Oregon House resident who'd previously criticized the plan as too driven from the top and not inclusive of county residents, liked what he saw Wednesday.

"The changes will be visible to the public," Spaulding said after the hearing. "It's the first step, but it's a good step."

Planners will introduce a revised plan within a month, then give more time for residents and others to comment. Final adoption is now set for May.