A. General

1. Utilize the existing Framework Plan and enhance its use and implementation.

2. In today’s world, and with continuing technological advancements in telecommuting and electronic communications, contingency plans should be made and actively monitored for Humboldt County growing at a rate of 2% per year over the next 20 years. (Reference Appendix “B”) It is HELP’s opinion, the County should anticipate this more aggressive growth rate as it plans for the future rather than be in a position of reacting to it, should it occur. Unanticipated growth is often what results in inadequately planned growth.

3. Direct staff to prepare drafts of the remaining Community Plans that must be updated. They may be put into priority order based on their geographic location and the availability (or lack) of services. Those Plans that are located adjacent to the Cities that are anticipating or preparing their own General Plan Update, have recently updated their General Plan or have annexation pressures could be developed first. Those that are ‘closer in’ and have the land available like the Glendale area, could be next. In some areas, a Community Plan update accompanied by specific zoning, could be done in an expeditious manner (like Orleans and the area next to Trinidad).

4. The Coastal Plans should be combined into one element of the General Plan with the individual communities addressed as subsections to the element. For the areas in which the development is most likely to occur, the Coastal Plan document needs to be integrated in to the non-coastal Community Planning area. The areas would include the communities of Orick, Trinidad, McKinleyville, Eureka, and Shelter Cove.

5. County needs to develop and fund an Implementation Plan, ie, Plan the work; Work the plan.

6. HELP recommends a growth rate of 2% per year over the next 20-25 years which would result in a demand for approximately 18,250 new dwelling units within the unincorporated area of the County. (See Appendix “B”)

B. Land Use

1. Preserve, increase, designate an adequate supply of buildable land in the General Plan update for single and multifamily housing; for commercial/industrial, for public facilities, and for recreational uses. Such designation should relate to existing and potential infrastructure.

2. Plan should adopt higher densities in appropriate areas. Increase density/intensity to provide for housing in the following areas: (Reference Section VIII Vision)

• Fortuna
• Eureka / Cutten / Ridgewood Area
• Glendale / Blue Lake
• McKinleyville

3. Balance desire for preservation of agricultural lands with desire for market rate affordable housing. Given there is a decreasing supply of developable land for residential use, but a continuing demand for housing, maintenance of this balance can only be achieved by making additional land available for residential use. This will require some conversion of those agricultural lands, and also timber lands, which are contiguous to existing urbanized areas. These contiguous lands are best suited for conversion because they are closest to existing infrastructure.

4. There should be a designation for “Residential Ag” instead of “Ag Suburban”.

5. Planned growth/urban Spheres of Influence. Planned, modest growth should include flexible urban development lines

6. Create the Zoning Maps that implement the policies and standards of the Framework Plan for Rural Lands.

7. Review the density and parcel size standards for the rural lands and modify them as alternatives to the present Plan.

8. Change the allowed uses within the land use designation to reinforce and make clear that the County supports a defined intensity of tourist and visitor serving activities under the control of the owner within these lands.

9. Important to consider cities in planning for housing, economic and industrial development.

10. Evaluate possible incompatibilities between economic and environmental goals. Both of these values suffer when they are in conflict. Integrate economic and environmental goal policies

11. Expand TPZ (timber productivity zoning) to provide more land use flexibility.

12. Support an expanded HSU presence in the Marina/Woodley Island area, such as developing and managing a Boating Instruction Safety Center in joint partnership with the City and other entities.

13. Consider consequences of effectively removing land from housing production when downzoning.

14. HELP stresses the importance of the County to identify the means of implementing growth in certain areas.

15. Commercial timberland should remain in TPZ.

16. HELP recommends planning for growth in phases:

Phase I Concentrate growth in areas where there is the potential for the largest growth – in Cutten and McKinleyville.

Phase II Fortuna and Glendale areas of growth should be the focus during Phase II planning. Humboldt County should support annexation of added land in Fortuna -- infrastructure will increase density and minimize leap frog development.

17. HELP recommends incorporating The Vision addressed in Section VIII, of this document, Plan H into the update of the Humboldt County General Plan.

18. If incorporated into the update of the General Plan, Plan H will inhibit sprawl – it does not contain policies which promote sprawl.

C. Economic Development

1. Include an Economic/Fiscal Development Element in the updated General Plan as recommended by State General Plan Guidelines issued by OPR (Office of Planning and Research).

2. Implement strategies outlined in the Prosperity Report dated 2000.

3. Explore the potential for establishing additional Enterprise Zones and Redevelopment Districts.

4. Consider the dredged harbor for access to cruise ships.

5. Consideration should be given to dredging certain lower rivers by sand and gravel operations to restore the rivers and assist with their rebound. One of the unique characteristics of Humboldt County is the availability of sand and gravel as found in its rivers and streams. An added benefit is the cost-effectiveness of having dredging operations closer to development sites which would contribute to affordability of all types of construction, especially housing.

6. Promote a healthy economic environment which will help support and fund public facilities and services, natural resources, and environmental amenities

7. HELP recommends the County form a group, made up of County staff and representatives from the private section, which would help facilitate companies considering relocating to the area. As an example, their task could be to meet with the company and identify the company's needs and coordinate within the County and special districts to assure the company has the information they need in a timely manner and help work through any potential stumbling blocks which would otherwise be very difficult to sort through for a company from out of the area. The name of such a group could be “SST” (Startup and Support Team).

8. HELP recommends the County Board of Supervisors on a quarterly basis, have an agenda item regarding Economic Development. Staff should present a report on economic development activities. At this same meeting members of the following organizations could report economic development progress to the Board: HELP, Labor, Realtors, Chambers of Commerce, other stakeholders interested in jobs and housing.

9. Work with HELP, members of the local Building Trades Union, and the Harbor Commission to explore the potential for attracting the use of 350 foot barges which are being replaced by larger barges by the Port of Oakland.

10. Support Humboldt State University in establishing a Business Park for startup companies, with an emphasis on technology and science.

D. Housing

1. The County must meet its state mandated very low, low and moderate income affordable housing quota in order to insure the County qualifies for future low interest and grant funding for housing. The County must ensure the means for private industry to create / contribute to the low income, market rate affordable housing stock.

2. Consider designating residential land use and zoning with higher densities for market rate and lower income affordable housing near existing and planned future infrastructure.

3. Support HSU’s Master Plan, including development of off-campus housing to accommodate the implementation of its long range Plan.

E. Circulation

1. Past General Plans have failed to require the prioritization of transportation upgrades. The update of the General Plan should require such implementation strategies.

2. Study the use of the unused railroad corridor as an expressway to Fortuna. This would enhance general circulation throughout the area and improve access to the University.

3. Highway 299 needs to be improved. As it is, large trucks can't make it from Weaverville through the Buckhorn bottleneck. It is recognized this would be a major and costly project which the State would have to fund.

4. PRDs (Permanent Road Division) should be reviewed in the update of the Subdivision Ordinance .

F. Capital Improvements / Public Facilities

1. The update of the General Plan should include a Capital Improvements / Public Facilities Element.

2. There are simply too many issues that cross over the legislatively created line called the Coastal Zone. The County’s housing needs, circulation and drainage systems, service systems like police and fire, and the District Services like water, wastewater and recreation, are not organized along this artificial boundary. The Community Plans need to address the issues on a more comprehensive basis with the implementation to be directed to the entire incremental community and not just portions thereof.

3. The potential to form traditional assessment districts and/or Mello Roos districts should be explored as a means of financing future growth in areas needing infrastructure. Explore possible alternative funding of infrastructure at State and Federal levels, including the State’s Infrastructure Bank. County should fund and train a staff position expert in this area to assist applicants.

4. HELP suggests the County consider expansion of the Eureka/Arcata Airport runway which would result in larger, and quieter commercial jets providing direct flights/service between Eureka/Arcata and Los Angeles and between Eureka/Arcata and Denver. This would reduce significantly the existing commuter flights which are delayed due to San Francisco traffic and weather-related problems. This improved access to Humboldt County would increase its attractiveness for companies considering relocation to the area and support HSU master planned growth goals.

5. Explore special funding (Infrastructure Bank) established by the State Treasurer’s office available for certain infrastructure in redevelopment areas which is being administered by the California Business, Transportation & Housing Agency.

6. Pursue using Headwaters dollars as seed money for local matching funds for financing infrastructure, or as a loan to Humboldt County for roads.

7. The existing Subdivision Ordinance requires reimbursement to developers who finance infrastructure. This practice should be implemented.

8. Work with HELP to address the importance of fixing Buckhorn Summit.

G. Policies / Administrative

1. Streamline permit processing guided by clear and determinate policies and procedures to provide a clear and consistent process for all applicants and staff.

2. Integrate General Plan policies, land use development ordinances, CEQA thresholds of significance and permit procedures.

3. Develop unified zoning codes for Humboldt County which incorporate Coastal zoning codes where applicable.

4. Develop clear guidelines for other types of development e.g. cluster and mixed use.

5. Immediately update and provide clear requirements for new subdivision model s to replace existing one dated 1977. Update subdivision ordinance.

6. Design review committees slow projects down, add to cost and erode affordability. The Tool Kits should be discretionary, not mandatory.

7. Create the Zoning Maps that implement the policies and standards of the Framework Plan for Rural Lands.

8. Identify policies which promote excessive regulations and revise such policies to allow for responsible growth.

9. Design documents to be user friendly and avoid technical jargon. With current practice, significant criteria are determined on a project by project basis. This results in inconsistent application of policies and lack of standards.

10. Create Performance Standards which would allow those projects meeting the standards to go quickly through the system. As example: noise, air, etc

11. Process Lot Line Adjustment applications through the Zoning Administrator or Planning Commission, as applicable, without requiring proof of buildability until such time as this issue is resolved through the General Plan update.

12. Model and develop thresholds of significance. Baseline environmental data. Adopt CEQA guidelines.

13. County needs to provide, up front, the complete list of what is required to obtain zoning and/or any type of permits.

14. Board of Supervisors initiate and review a Quarterly Housing Progress Report

15. Promote more use of PUD’s which allows for more flexibility

16. HELP recommends the County develop tools to implement the Plan, i.e. Plan the work – Work the plan.

H Cooperation, Coordination, Collaboration, Communication, and Innovation

1. Improve coordination between Planning Division and other departments such as Public Works, Building and Environmental Health departments. Planning Division should coordinate with Public Works and Environmental Health from the beginning. Use existing data from departments. Integrate various departments' existing planning documents. Fund and train County staff to provide consistent interpretations and responses to County policies and ordinances. In other words, a cultural change is needed.

2. Coordinate with cities during the General Plan update process. Use existing data from cities. Consider other cities’ general plans.

3. HELP encourages the support and expansion of the County’s business/government liaison staff position which would help expedite business applications.

4. Make County’s GIS products available to the public

5. County provide developers with information about parcels which would enable them to assist clients in knowing what development is possible on a specific property.

6. County increase availability of Land Information System (LIS) and General Plan documents via the Internet.

7. Improve coordination between Planning and Dept. of Public Works from the beginning. Use existing data from each department. Integrate with department's existing planning documents.

8. Incentives should be offered by the County to encourage development in appropriate areas, such as:

a Reduce development fees such as impact, park and water/sewer hook-up fees.

b Allow for relaxed development and building standards to cut down on developer’s production costs. Examples include: concessions granted for such requirements as minimum floor area, room size, lot size, setback lines and building heights.

c Consider modification of public works standards such as standards for street widths, curbs, and gutters.

d Consider subsidization or provision of infrastructure by the County.

e Suspend payment of property taxes for a certain period.

f Review the idea of local tax abatements as may be applicable.

9. Enhance the gateways to Humboldt County – Garberville; Orick; & Willow Creek

10. Work with HSU to provide for its future growth needs within the County

11. There is a need for coordination among agencies to get projects through in reasonable time frames

12. Support the partners of the Redwood Coast Rural Development organization, a cooperative effort between HSU, Prosperity, CR, and Humboldt Area Foundation to create a plan for regional development. It could become a national model for rural development.

13. Support the University’s exploration of alternative energy sources, such as a potential wind power farm in the Samoa area and the current experimental work being doing in Trinidad on power generated from wave action. These alternative sources of energy should continue to be explored. HSU could/should play a major role in this type of R&D.

14. Encourage better cooperation, coordination, collaboration and communication between local and State agencies such as Caltrans.

15. Participate in a ‘Regional Compact’ with other political jurisdictions and special districts within the region which would coordinate, cooperate, collaborate, and communicate on common issues such as:

• Individual unique identity for each community
• Economic Development
• Transportation
• Affordable housing
• Water, sewer, drainage, wastewater treatment
• Ag and Timberlands
• Arts and Entertainment
• Parks, open space and trails
• Emergency management and disaster preparedness

16. Make copies of the Housing & Community Development Reports mandated by the State (ref pg 11 in “Housing Needs” Study) available to the public by posting them on the County’s website.

17. In addition to the General Plan Elements specifically addressed in Plan H, HELP will work with the County on the Conservation, Open Space, Noise, and Safety Elements to assist with their implementation as required by State law.