The Sonoma County General Plan governs the future of our county (affecting the entire region) ~ and the next iteration will continue to do so for at least the next 20 years. It will shape the future of where we live - for good - or not. Being informed (and involved) is an investment of your time, with good reason. I know you don’t have enough time … but this close-to-home Plan will have an outcome you and yours will live with for … well, forever. There’s no going back once choices are made and options are closed.
The Board of Supervisors is holding a General Plan Update (GPU) Workshop where they will direct staff on their priorities on September 15, 2026. They will need to hear from us - again!
The last GPU was adopted in 2008. We’ll not have another crack at this guiding document until nearly 2050 - and you know how much will be changed by then.
As Mr Rogers explained - everything is connected. Each Element (like a Chapter) focuses on an issue area, as do Specific Plans - but each and every Goal, Policy and implementation throughout the Plan either reinforce each other … or they do not.
One example: the County has approved an Environmental Justice Element. The Agriculture and Water Elements will surely have Policies that should reinforce the EJ element, but will they? Or will different Policies confuse the intent?
This time the County has committed to greater focus on Climate Change. It should be part of every Element, as should water uses, resource management, safety, justice, housing, transportation … you get the idea. Everything is connected to everything else.
"Wisdom Tree Mural" Town of Windsor photo by Jenny Blaker
A coalition of folks have been meeting monthly on General Plan potentials since 2019 - thinking things would get underway in 2020. Things went sideways for all of us. And in 2021, we joined with our allies to advocate for greater transparency in County processes. We’ve not been idle.
This year - we all have the opportunity to make a difference. You may have attended Permit Sonoma’s outreach meetings last year, and I hope you see your “vision” for Sonoma County reflected in the Staff Report of those meetings:
The coalition agrees with the vision we all created in those meetings, and we believe it will be necessary to reinforce them with this Board of Supervisors.
We have also identified a short list of priorities we think umbrella many of our shared interests:
- Protect and enhance natural areas and agricultural lands.
- Concentrate all growth and development (housing, businesses, schools, and other uses) within cities and existing urban service areas, protecting other lands from development.
- Meet the sustainable long-range water needs of people, agriculture, industry, and nature.
- Integrate climate impacts throughout the General Plan by using the best available climate science.
- YOU may have others ...
You are invited to learn more, to provide feedback, express concerns - and to participate in a community-wide effort to hold the Board of Supervisors to the vision we share.
Two preparation meetings :
General Plan Update Advocacy Happy Hour
Sonoma County Water Coalition “Tech" Session