CEA recognizes that the General Plans of Nevada County and our cities are the guiding documents for land use issues. We feel it is important that these documents incorporate a vision for the future which adequately addresses the real needs of our community while providing for protection of natural resources.

Key considerations include:

• Recognition that the crisis of global warming is reshaping community development criteria, driven by new priorities to protect against wildfires, drought, and severe storms events, and to address evolving energy strategies. As examples, clustered development is more defensible in the event of fire and it preserves open space and wildlife habitat. Walkable and bikeable communities allow for reduced emissions from transportation, and encourages a healthier, friendlier community. And promoting infill projects vs. sprawl reduces traffic and  traffic driven emissions. It also helps with costs of living.

• Housing policies should include set-asides for affordable housing. But there’s more to affordable housing than just housing. Elimination of the need for a car makes living more affordable and housing with solar systems have reduced monthly energy costs. Infill projects can gain cost benefits from existing infrastructure such as sewer, power, water service, streets. 

• Planning  orientation of streets and/or housing for maximum solar efficiency is listed in some General Plans (e.g. Grass Valley) but is rarely applied in practice.

• The woodlands and forested ridgelines amongst our stream-filled valleys are valuable assets of our region. They also put certain constraints on how our area develops. We do not support the notion that all open areas should be considered available for more construction if it means we sacrifice the unique characteristics and aesthetics which bring value to our community.