The County’s existing General Plan contains the following elements:

• Land Use (1988)
• Circulation (2002)
• Housing (2020)
• Noise (2003)
• Open Space and Conservation (1973)
• Safety (2014)

As a part of updating the General Plan, the County may reorganize or add to existing elements and/or may add new elements to emphasize new planning issues that have arisen since the current General Plan was adopted.

Trinity County adopted its current General Plan in piecemeal fashion.  While the existing General Plan is serving the community well, the County is doing the update to refine the Plan, address emerging trends and recent State laws, consider new issues, and remove completed implementation measures.  This effort is intended to be a comprehensive overhaul of the existing General Plan. This planning effort will also allow the General Plan Team to implement best practices in planning to ensure Trinity County is resilient to future risks while also improving quality of life.

State law requires the County to adopt a General Plan to address land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, noise, safety, and environmental justice.  General plans may also address and emphasize other subjects of local importance.  The updated and integrated plan will guide how Trinity County should develop and evolve, and where funds and resources for infrastructure, services, and programs should be directed.

The General Plan sets forth long-term policies that guide future development.  It identifies the types of development that will be allowed, the spatial relationships among land uses, and the general pattern of future development.  The Zoning Regulations implement General Plan policies through detailed development regulations, such as specific use types and building standards.  However, the land uses specified in the General Plan will usually be reflected in the local zoning maps as well.  State law requires that zoning be consistent with maps and policies in the General Plan.  Development must not only meet the specific requirements of the Zoning Regulations, but also the broader policies set forth in the General Plan.

Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the potential environmental impacts of all major development projects must be assessed, disclosed, and appropriately mitigated.  The results of this environmental review process are conveyed in the form of an environmental impact report, or EIR.

As required by CEQA Guidelines, the Trinity County General Plan EIR will identify the potential environmental impacts associated with the implementation of the General Plan.  This analysis will assess and, if necessary, include measures to mitigate potential impacts related to CEQA-required topics.  These topics include: air quality, greenhouse gases, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology, land use, noise, population and housing, public services, recreation, mobility and transportation, utilities, agricultural and forest resources, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, and aesthetics.

The General Plan is anticipated to be completed by March 2024.

The General Plan consulting team consists of a core group of highly-experienced planner, designers, and technical specialists:

• Mintier Harnish (lead consultant)
• Rincon Consultants
• Dynamic Planning + Science
• Applied Development Economics
• GreenDot Transportation Solutions
• Miller Planning Associates

The General Plan process provides all residents and businesses with the chance to help guide the future of Trinity County.  A successful General Plan will reflect the community’s vision and priorities, and we need public input to set the vision and priorities.