SUSTAINABILITY IN GENERAL PLANS

What Was Measured?
A survey was sent to the city manager of each of the 20 cities in San Mateo County.  Two questions were asked: 1) Does voter city's General Plan specifically mention sustainability? 2) In Your opinion, does your city's General Plan include the concept of sustainability, even though it is not mentioned specifically?  Answer spaces for "yes" or "no" were provided.  No criteria for sustainability were included.  While appropriate guidelines for sustainability will vary from place to place, ideally, General Plans would be assessed against established criteria for sustainability.

Why Is It Important?
General Plans are public documents that reflect the priorities and concerns of the community.  They are guidelines for achieving each city's vision for the future.  If a city incorporates the concept of sustainability into its General Plan then it is more likely to move towards sustainability.

What Was Found?
Seventeen cities responded to the questionnaire.  Two cities have General Plans that actually mention sustainability-Brisbane and San Mateo.  Twelve responders believe their General Plans include the concept of sustainability, and one was uncertain.  Four responders answered "no" to both questions.  More than half of the cities in the county believe their General Plans include the concept of sustainability.

What Is The Trend?
No other region is collecting this information, as far as could be established.  There is an opportunity to create or find established criteria as to what a General Plan should include in order to be considered as containing guidelines for sustainability.

Source: Responders from each city, usually someone from the manager's office or the planning department.

Researcher: Marcia Pagels.