A general plan is a blueprint which outlines the required elements needed to create a thriving, well-balanced and sustainable community. The Dixon General Plan Update will be a significant tool for preserving the historic foundation upon which the City was developed, while also creating a community future generations will want to call home.
The following key issues will be addressed in the General Plan Update:
Land Use — Ensures land is properly allocated for the purpose of urban revitalization, commercial facilities, agriculture and schools.
Circulation — Addresses commuting and travel-related issues for residents, including air and land transportation.
Housing — Addresses housing needs for all economic groups in the community.
Natural Resources — Addresses water conservation, managing soil conditions and the maintenance of other natural resources.
Open Space and Recreation — Addresses effective ways to use open space and recreational facilities to meet community needs.
Community Character — Addresses preserving the historical charm and unique character of the City.
Health and Safety — Ensures the City is equipped to maintain public safety and handle potential natural disasters.
In addition to the mandatory elements, the City of Dixon has also chosen to include energy, air quality and public facilities elements in their General Plan.
Importance of Updating a General Plan
The City of Dixon, located in the Central Valley, is known for its strong agricultural history, architectural allure, quaint neighborhoods and community spirit. As the City updates its General Plan, community input will be important to preserving the current quality of life in Dixon while also staying in harmony with future growth.
Through active participation with key decision makers at public meetings, residents can have a direct impact on the vision and goals achieved by this important community plan.
General Plan Contents
California state law requires every city and county to adopt and regularly update their general plans. General plans typically include seven key elements described as follows: land use, circulation, housing, conservation, parks, trails and open space, community character, and health and safety.
These elements are outlined as follows:
The land use element covers population and employment, agricultural preservation, growth management, zoning, downtown revitalization and locations for homes, businesses, schools and facilities for mixed use and public use.
The circulation element identifies existing and future travel demands, traffic patterns, air transportation, the allocation of commercial and industrial roads and recreational trails. This element must correlate with land use.
The housing element is a comprehensive assessment of current and projected housing needs for all economic segments of the community. It sets forth local housing policies and programs to implement those policies.
The conservation element addresses the conservation, development and use of natural resources including water use, water conservation, soil conditions and surface and ground water resources.
The parks, trails and open space element details plans and measures for preserving open space for natural resources, the managed production of resources, protection and beautification of existing open spaces and outdoor recreation.
The community character element identifies the aesthetics within an environment such as views, scenic highways, historic structures and cultural entities which are specific to the City of Dixon. Certain undesirable traits are also addressed that include noise, odors, light and glare.
The health and safety element addresses how the community prepares for and handles natural disasters such as flooding, hazardous substances and materials and potentially threatening situations to affect homeland security.
All jurisdictions in California are also free to adopt additional elements which are specific and applicable to the City, such as urban design, recreation and conservation.
In addition to the mandatory elements, the City of Dixon has included the elements of energy, air quality and public facilities in their General Plan.
The energy element establishes policies and programs to educate the community on the benefits of energy independence and practices on renewable energy, green building and fostering sustainable behaviors.
The air quality element concerns air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, the effects of global warming and substances which pose toxic problems.
The public facilities element is an assessment of the current infrastructure within the city, law enforcement, fire and rescue, utility operations and wastewater and solid waste disposal.
General Plan Advisory Committee
Congratulations to General Plan Advisory Committee members, appointed by the Dixon City Council on April 22nd! The General Plan Advisory Committee comprises a panel of 15 community members with a diverse set of skills and interests who are selected by the City Council to assist during the General Plan Update. The Committee serves a significant role as a liaison between government and the community, ensuring a successful execution of the General Plan Update.
Participating in the General Plan Advisory Committee is a significant and very important commitment to the City of Dixon that means consistently participating in monthly meetings for two years. All Committee members live in the 95620 zip code and have been required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest by filing out a form that includes a listing of their investments and properties in Dixon.
General Plan Advisory Committee Members are listed below in alphabetical order:
Jack Caldwell
John Currey
Marshall Drack
Mike Gloege
Shirley Humphrey
David Hunt
Marjorie Kelly
Courtney Kett
Ric Dorris
John Rosenberger
Ted Seifert
Steve Sikes
Tiffany Wing
Clinton Harbison
Robert Williams
California state law requires every city and county to adopt and regularly update their general plans. General plans typically include seven key elements described as follows: land use, circulation, housing, conservation, parks, trails and open space, community character, and health and safety.