Table of Contents

Environmentally Sensitive Areas

The city’s comprehensive plan contains policy statements that support the protection of natural features within an urban growth boundary. The Natural Features, Land, and Water Resources element designates ecologically and scientifically significant natural areas as significant natural features, requiring preservation or mitigation if the area is harmed. It identifies a variety of ecosystem services in the findings section of each resource sections, along with methods to protect these spaces, including using density transfers and use of open space conservation districts for natural hazards, limiting development within floodways, and preserving water resources.

Hazard Mitigation

The city’s comprehensive plan includes extensive hazard mitigation policy recommendations in its Natural Features, Land, and Water Resources article. 

This article provides background and policy recommendations for Hillsides (4.6); Natural Hazards, including geologic, earthquake, landslide, and wildfire hazards (4.7); Flood Plains and Flood Hazards (4.8).

solar energy

In the city's Comprehensive Plan, the Energy article includes several vision statements regarding solar energy (12.2g, 12.2m-o), and includes a number of policy statements supporting the use and development of solar energy (12.2.1, 12.2.3, 12.2.4).