What is a General Plan?
Every city and county in California is required by State law to have a General Plan. The General Plan embodies a community's vision of the future and is long-range, comprehensive and general in nature. The General Plan coordinates all major components of the community's physical development and has been referred to as the "constitution for development" with which zoning and subdivision ordinances and specific plans must be in conformation.
State planning law calls for seven General Plan elements: land use, open space, circulation, noise, housing, conservation and safety.