Specific Plans

A Specific Plan is an area-wide development plan for a defined geographic area. A Specific Plan is used as an area-wide planning tool for new growth areas that have relatively large land holdings and fewer property owners. Using a Specific Plan as an area-wide planning tool has the advantage of combining the land use plan, specific zoning, unique conditions, and infrastructure financing into one comprehensive package. Another key feature of the Specific Plan process is reimbursement of planning and engineering costs to participating landowners from non-participating landowners who decide to develop their property at a later time. A Specific Plan is similar to a zoning ordinance since it regulates land use through development standards; however, there is considerable flexibility to tailor the standards to a specific area.

The provisions of Article 8, Sections 65450 through 65457 of Title 7 Planning and Land Use Law, California Government Code, authorize the preparation of Specific Plans. These provisions require that Specific Plans must be consistent with the local's jurisdiction's General Plan. The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance Number SCC-0908 amending the County Code by including Title 21, Chapter 21.14 that provides for the Specific Plan process in Sacramento County. A document known as the Specific Plan Ordinance and Procedures and Preparation Guide was adopted pursuant to the Ordinance. This document provides the necessary procedures to guide the Specific Plan process from project initiation to adoption of the Plan to subsequent revisions or amendments.