Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan

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DECEMBER 4, 2018 | ADOPTED

*Safety and Housing Elements Updated July 9, 2024

City of Stockton, California

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Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan

DECEMBER 4, 2018 | ADOPTED

*Safety and Housing Elements Updated July 9, 2024

Prepared By:

PLACEWORKS

1625 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 300 Berkeley, California 94709 510.848.3815

In Association With:

Fehr & Peers Transportation Consultants BAE Urban Economics West Yost Associates Tom Origer & Associates

ORANGE COUNTY • NORTHERN CALIFORNIA • CENTRAL COAST • LOS ANGELES • INLAND EMPIRE • SAN DIEGO

www.placeworks.com

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The City of Stockton would like to thank and recognize the efforts of those involved in the development of the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan adopted by the City Council on December 4, 2018.

Citizens of Stockton

The Citizens of Stockton that participated in the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan process

City Council

Mayor Michael D. Tubbs

District 1 - Vice Mayor and Councilmember Elbert H. Holman Jr.

District 2 - Councilmember Daniel R. Wright

District 3 - Councilmember Susan Lofthus

District 4 - Councilmember Susan Lenz

District 5 - Councilmember Christina Fugazi

District 6 - Councilmember Jesus M. Andrade

Planning Commission

Chair - Don M. Aguillard*

Vice Chair - Kimberly A. Warmsley

Commissioner Sol Jobrack

Commissioner Waqar Rizvi*

Commissioner Elizabeth Mowry Hull

Commissioner Anne N. Mallett

Commissioner D'Adrea Davie*

Former Commissioners

• Served as General Plan Subcommittee members.

City Staff

• Office of the City Manager

  • Kurt O. Wilson, City Manager
  • Scott Carney, Deputy City Manager
  • Connie Cochran, Community Relations Officer

• Public Works Department, Gordon MacKay, Director

• Municipal Utilities Department, John Abrew, Director

• Community Services and Library, John Alita, Director

• Office of the City Attorney

  • John Luebberke, City Attorney
  • Lori Asuncion, Assistant City Attorney

• Economic Development, Micah Runner, Director

• Police Department, Eric Jones, Chief of Police

• Fire Department, Erik Newman, Fire Chief

• Information Technology, Norbert Ruijling, Director

• Office of the City Clerk, Christian Clegg, Deputy City Manager/Interim City Clerk

• Administrative Services, Matt Paulin, CFO

Community Development Department

David Kwong, Director Stephanie Ocasio, Assistant Director Michael McDowell, Deputy Director, Planning & Engineering David Stagnaro, AICP, Planning Manager Jenny Liaw, Senior Planner

Former City Staff

Thomas Pace, Deputy Director, Planning & Engineering Megan Meier, Assistant Planner Kanoa Kelley, Associate Planner Nicholaos Zois, Assistant Planner Addie Suguitan, Planning Technician

General Plan Consultants

PlaceWorks

Charlie Knox, AICP, Principal in Charge Tanya Sundberg, Project Manager Claudia Garcia, Associate Abe Sheppard, Associate Jessica Setiawan, Associate Pranjali Deokule, Planner Brendan Hurley, Planner

BAE Urban Economics

Matt Kowta, Principal Aaron Nousaine, Vice Principal Matt Fairris, Associate Amanda Wallace, Associate

Fehr & Peers Transportation Consultants

Kathrin Tellez, Principal Patrick Gilster, Senior Transportation Planner Mackenzie Watten, Travel Behavior Forecaster

Tom Origer & Associates

Janine Origer, Senior Associate

West Yost Associates

Jeffrey D. Pelz, Vice President Douglas T. Moore, Engineering Manager Patrick A. Johnston, Senior Engineer Natalie K. Muradian, Associate Engineer

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1-1

2. PLANNING FRAMEWORK.............................................................................................. 2-1

3. LAND USE ...................................................................................................................... 3-1

4. TRANSPORTATION ....................................................................................................... 4-1

5. SAFETY .......................................................................................................................... 5-1

6. COMMUNITY HEALTH .................................................................................................. 6-1

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Summary of Policies and Actions By Topic Appendix B: SB244 Analysis Appendix C: Resolutions 2018-12-04-1503-01: Resolution Certifying the Environmental Impact Report for the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan Update (General Plan) and Utility Master Plan Supplements (UMPS), adopting the Findings of Fact, adopting a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, Rejecting Land Use Alternatives, and Adopting a Statement of Overriding Considerations

2018-12-04-1503-02: Resolution Adopting the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan Update (General Plan) and Adopting the Utility Master Plan Supplements (UMPS)

2018-12-04-1503-03: Resolution Adopting Written Findings of Consistency with the Delta Plan with Supporting Documentation

FIGURES

TABLES

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INTRODUCTION

WHAT IS A GENERAL PLAN?

Every municipality in California is required by the State to adopt and periodically update a general plan that provides a comprehensive, long-range statement of the jurisdiction's land use policies for the coming decades. The Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan is the City government's primary tool to guide physical change within the city limit and, in some cases beyond it in a Sphere of Influence (SOI) where City services may someday be provided. The SOI includes unincorporated islands in the community and areas adjacent to the city where land use decisions in areas governed by San Joaquin County might affect quality of life for Stockton residents.

A general plan is broad in scope, addressing all geographic areas within the city limit, and all issues relating to the physical character of the city. In addition, general plans are visionary—Envision Stockton 2040 looks almost 25 years into the future and focuses on broad, emerging trends that will shape the Stockton of tomorrow. Finally, the plan must be internally consistent: its policies and actions are vital to carrying out goals and must complement one another across topic areas without conflicting.

The Stockton General Plan is the community's overarching policy document that defines a vision for future change and guides the location and character of development, with the intent of enhancing the local economy, conserving resources, improving public services and safety, and fostering community well-being. The General Plan is the City's primary land use regulatory tool and describes the means necessary to achieve the community's goals. Together with the Development Code and other related sections of the Municipal Code, Envision Stockton 2040 will serve as the basis for planning-related decisions made by City staff, the City Council, the Planning Commission, and other City boards and commissions.

GENERAL PLAN REQUIREMENTS

A city's zoning regulations and subdivision approvals must be consistent with an adopted general plan. Once a general plan is adopted, updated, or amended, the zoning, subdivision, and other land use regulation ordinances must be amended to be consistent with the plan, as needed. State law requires that a general plan contain eight "elements": land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space/parks and recreation, safety, noise, and environmental justice. In addition, for cities located within the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, State law also requires that a general plan include an air quality element. Optional elements can also be included at a city's discretion.

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The Envision Stockton General Plan uses a streamlined approach, consolidating the mandated elements into four chapters, plus the Housing Element, which is updated on a separate schedule. The prior 2035 Stockton General Plan had included additional optional elements, which are also incorporated into the four chapters of Envision Stockton 2040. Figure 1-1 compares the State-mandated elements and optional elements of the prior 2035 Stockton General Plan to the structure of the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan.

State law requires an update to the Housing Element every eight years; the City last updated the Housing Element in April 2016 to cover the planning period between 2015 and 2023. The Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan does not involve any amendments to the Housing Element.

The General Plan is to be considered and used as a whole. Case law and accepted land use practice stress the equality of the elements in a general plan. Since all General Plan elements carry equal weight, no single section, chapter, or subject should be emphasized over others, though of course certain sections may apply to specific subjects of interest to the community, City staff, and decision makers.

PLANNING CONTEXT

Following the 2007 approval of the prior 2035 Stockton General Plan and its Environmental Impact Report (EIR), the City of Stockton was brought into litigation with the Sierra Club and the State Attorney General regarding the EIR, in particular regarding concerns about greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In October 2008, the City entered into a Settlement Agreement with the State and the Sierra Club that requires the City to address GHG reductions in

a variety of ways, including through preparation of a Climate Action Plan, which was completed in 2014, and through some specific requirements for the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan, including policies and programs to support the development of 18,400 new housing units within the city limit as it existed in 2008, with at least 4,400 of those units located in the Greater Downtown Area (see Chapter 2, Planning Framework, for a description of planning boundaries).

In response to this direction, the 2040 General Plan represents a substantial change in the policy framework for future development in Stockton compared to the prior 2035 General Plan. The fundamental shift is from emphasizing growth in "outfill" areas at the periphery of the city to focusing new construction and redevelopment in existing "infill" neighborhoods. This change is reflected in the land use map and the associated map depicting the transportation network required to serve future development, and in the goals, policies, and actions throughout the General Plan.

Specifically, the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan land use map concentrates higher-intensity mixed uses and high-density residential uses in the Downtown and shrinks the future footprint of the city by changing areas previously designated Village to Open Space/Agriculture. Along the waterfront, future uses would promote a live/work/play environment to further boost the Downtown’s vitality. Outside of the Downtown, industrial designations along major corridors would shift to the outer parts of the city to promote more walkable, bikeable, and connected commercial and mixed-use corridors. In South Stockton, the Commercial and Administrative Professional designations would be expanded along S. Airport Way and near Weston Ranch to provide more opportunities for the development of grocery stores and medical clinics, which are needed in these areas.

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Figure 1-1: General Plan Chapters and State Mandated Elements

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GOALS, POLICIES, AND ACTIONS

Envision Stockton 2040 is built around a series of goals, policies, and actions that describe what needs to be done to achieve the community's vision for the future. "Goals" are end-states; they describe what the community wants to accomplish to resolve a particular issue or problem. Policies and actions guide day-to-day decision-making so that there will be continuing progress toward the attainment of goals. The goal, policy, and action terms are further defined as follows:

GOAL

A general, overall, and ultimate desired outcome toward which the City will direct effort during the 23-year timeframe of the General Plan.

POLICY

A specific statement that regulates activities in the city, guides decision-making, and directs implementing actions to achieve a goal. General Plan policies guide City staff, the Planning Commission, and City Council in their review of land development projects and in decision-making about City actions.

ACTION

A measure, procedure, or technique intended to implement one or more policies to help reach a specified goal. An action may be ongoing or something that can be completed in a targeted timeframe.

The goals, policies, and actions are a critical component of the General Plan. Goals determine what should be done and where. Policies and actions together establish who will do the work and how and when the goals will be carried out. Taken together, they describe the steps the City and the community must take to make the vision of the General Plan a reality. The General Plan is meant to be a useful, everyday guide for what to do. Explanatory text is provided where needed, and every action is listed and numbered under a specific policy. As with other City policy documents, implementation of the goals, policies, and actions are subject to the resources that the City and its partners have to carry them out, and need to remain consistent with the City's Long-Range Financial Plan.

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This General Plan also calls out goals, policies, and actions that address specific topics of concern raised by the community. For the reader’s ease, goals, policies, and actions related to these topics of concern are identified throughout the General Plan using the following icons, and summarized in Appendix A:

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Downtown

Public Health

Environmental Justice

Air Quality

Climate Change

STRUCTURE

The Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan includes this introduction, a description of the City’s land use planning framework, and the four separate chapters that establish goals, policies, and actions for each given set of topics. The chapters cover all of the topics required by California State Government Code Section 65302 as well as topics of particular interest to Stockton. The General Plan structure is summarized as follows:

• Introduction: Describes the required elements of the General Plan and its planning context, and provides an overview of the Plan’s organization.

• Planning Framework: Covers existing land use conditions and the policy framework, describes the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan Update process, and presents the location, intensity, and type of future growth and development in the city and its SOI.

• Land Use: Provides overall land use policies for the City, including the connection between land use and transportation and utilities and other infrastructure. This chapter also incorporates the State-required Open Space and Conservation Element topics, as well as other topics important to the community, including economic development and community design.

• Transportation: Satisfies the State law requirement that the Transportation Element specify the general location and extent of existing and proposed major streets and other transportation facilities. This chapter is correlated with the Land Use chapter to provide adequate pedestrian, bicycle, motor vehicle, transit, air, and water transportation to serve both new and existing land uses.

• Safety: Serves as the State-required Safety Element. It provides information about risks in Stockton due to natural and human-made hazards, and contains goals, policies, and actions designed to protect the community and property from hazards. It specifically addresses risks associated with geologic and seismic hazards, flooding and storm drainage, wildland fires, and hazardous materials and waste. Based on clear community input to prioritize public safety from criminal activity, this chapter also includes policies and actions to deter crime and support law enforcement and community protection efforts.

• Community Health: Addresses the State-required Environmental Justice and Noise Element topics, as well as Air Quality, which is a required general plan topic regionally per the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. This chapter also addresses public services and utilities, as well as the community-identified priorities of public health, recreation, youth and education, the local economy, and climate change and adaptation.

HOW TO USE THIS PLAN

The General Plan is used as a point of reference for a variety of interested parties. Some of the key groups that will use the General Plan include elected and appointed City officials, City staff, city residents and business owners, and individuals proposing new development projects when making decisions regarding such topics as subdivisions, capital improvements, and neighborhood rehabilitation. For all of these and the many other community members, the policies in this General Plan

are intended to provide clear guidance and explanation of the City land use decision-making processes and about how Stockton may grow, change, or stay the same.

In general, actions that use the words "require," "prohibit," or "shall" are mandatory. Policies that use the words "encourage," "promote," "discourage," "consider," or "should" are not mandatory, and the City may choose to modify its course of action in cases where a policy may not prove appropriate for a particular situation or if extenuating factors, such as competing priorities or budget limitations, would make it difficult to follow a policy direction verbatim.

As described in Chapter 2, Planning Framework, the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan Update process involved a wide variety of stakeholders and interests. As a result, this General Plan is intended to address multiple, and sometimes competing, policy objectives, and the City may not be able to strictly adhere to every policy in every decision that it makes to implement the overall goals of this General Plan. The City Council will continue to have discretion over prioritizing overall policy objectives to implement this General Plan in instances in which multiple policy objectives may affect a single decision.

Finally, the Plan is intended to be understandable and easily available to the public, in part because policies will be carried out only if they continue to merit community support. If and as conditions in Stockton change, the Plan can and should be interpreted, and modified as necessary, to reflect and remain consistent with the City's and community's desires and priorities.

AMENDING THE PLAN

The General Plan is intended to be as dynamic as needed by the Stockton community. Per the Stockton Municipal Code, the General Plan may only be amended by the City Council four or fewer times in a single calendar year—during the months of January, April, July, and October. Requested amendments in California tend to be proposed by land owners seeking to change the land use designation for specific properties. In addition, the City could amend the General Plan in response to changes in growth and market demand or for other policy reasons.

Although much of the General Plan represents regulatory guidance and is subject to this limitation, many items in the General Plan are provided for informational purposes only. Items included for illustrative purposes, such as photographs, figures, and background maps, do not establish General Plan policy and do not require a formal General Plan amendment to be updated or revised; their purpose is to help make the plan more user-friendly. Similarly, typographical corrections and parcel boundary changes may be made without a formal General Plan amendment. However, modifications to figures that reflect State or City regulation, such as the General Plan land use map or circulation map, could require a General Plan amendment.

As time passes, the City may find it desirable to revise portions of the General Plan to reflect land use map changes or other changing circumstances. It generally is recommended that the City comprehensively review the Plan every five years to determine whether it still reflects the community's values, as well as the city's physical and economic conditions. State law requires California's Office of Planning Research to publish the names of jurisdictions with general plans older than 10 years and to notify the respective decision-making bodies of these jurisdictions.

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PLANNING FRAMEWORK 2

Stockton is a dynamic and diverse community located east of the San Francisco Bay near the center of the northern San Joaquin Valley. Stockton began and is rooted in the Downtown, which is oriented around the waterfront. Over the past 160 years, each historic era has shaped Stockton into what it is today. Historic resources and districts, like Magnolia and Doctors' Row, offer a unique glimpse into Stockton's early beginnings. Situated around the head of the San Joaquin River, there are abundant scenic views of riparian areas, open spaces, and agricultural fields. Recreational opportunities abound in Stockton, from neighborhood parks to the Weber Point Events Center, with endless opportunities for outdoor recreation.

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Stockton's bustling economy is anchored by 10 of the top 25 major employers in San Joaquin County, including the University of the Pacific. The inland sea port, one of two in the state, provides an important commerce gateway to the Central Valley, and the Stockton Municipal Airport, located just south of the city limit, offers commercial passenger service to key destinations. This chapter presents the planning context for the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan, summarizing local history, existing land use, and the process for developing the plan. It also outlines the vision for Stockton in 2040, encapsulated in the General Plan land use map.

PLANNING AREA

The city encompasses an area of approximately 65 square miles and serves as the County seat; nearby cities include Manteca, Lathrop, Tracy, and Lodi. The General Plan considers land within the city limit, Sphere of Influence (SOI), Urban Service Area Boundary (USAB), and General Plan Planning Area. Determined in conjunction with the San Joaquin County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), the SOI is an area of approximately 115 square miles that could be considered as a potential future boundary of Stockton. The USAB includes areas where City services and facilities will be available for extension upon annexation and where future urban development must conform with City Council-adopted master utility and circulation plans.

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The USAB is approximately 120 square miles and follows the SOI boundary in many locations, but extends into areas southeast of the SOI. The General Plan Planning Area is larger than the SOI and USAB and encompasses approximately 191 square miles. While the Planning Area does not give the City any regulatory power over the land, it signals to the County and to other local and regional authorities that Stockton recognizes that development within this area may have an impact on the future of the city. The planning boundaries are shown on Figure 2-1.

This General Plan also delineates some key planning boundaries in the Downtown where higher intensities of development are planned. The Downtown Core area, located at the center of Stockton and bounded by Park Street, the railroad tracks, Highway 4/Crosstown Freeway, and Interstate 5, totals about 1 square mile and is characterized by compact urban development within a traditional street grid network and historic buildings. The Greater Downtown is bounded by Harding Way, Charter Way/Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Pershing Avenue, and Wilson Way; it totals almost 4 square miles and extends beyond the Downtown Core area.

HISTORY AND SETTING

While some of the earliest residents of the area were the Native American Yokuts, the town of Stockton is considered to have been "settled" in 1845 by Charles Weber, who named the city in honor of Commodore Robert Stockton for his actions during the 1846 Mexican-American War. The settlement quickly transformed into a growing commercial empire after the 1848 discovery of gold near the American River, east of Sacramento, and the City of Stockton was officially incorporated in 1850. As gold mining waned in the latter half of the 19th century, miners took to agriculture. The agricultural economy catalyzed growth in other related industries such as flourmills, shipyards, agricultural machinery, financial institutions, and tanneries. Due to its location within the San Joaquin Delta, shipping became an important aspect of the local economy that has endured throughout the city's history.

With Stockton's thriving economy came residential development. Many of the neighborhoods in the central part of the city were developed by the owners of businesses and industries in the city. These homes, dating to the late 1800s, reflect the high Victorian style.

During the early to mid- 20th century, war efforts brought military construction to the shipyards and revitalized the Downtown area. The development of the suburbs during the latter part of the 20th century drew businesses and residential growth to outlying areas. In September 1996, Stockton's Naval Reserve Center on Rough and Ready Island closed and was subsequently transferred to the Port of Stockton, signaling a major shift in the economy of the city. The facility had served as a major communications outpost for Pacific submarine activities during the Cold War.

As of 2017, the population of Stockton is approximately 320,600 people; there are about 100,300 homes, and the average household size is 3.23 people per household.¹ The median age of Stockton residents in 2015 was 31 years, which is younger than the overall statewide median average of 36 years.²

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Figure 2-1

Location and Planning Boundaries

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Source: City of Stockton, 2016; Placeworks, 2017.

City Limit	Urban Service Area Boundary
Downtown Core	General Plan Planning Area
Greater Downtown	Sphere of Influence

EXISTING LAND USE

How people use land in Stockton helps to define the city's character and that of its individual neighborhoods. The General Plan land use map establishes a plan for future land uses in Stockton, which may differ in some places from how the land is used today, in order to achieve community goals, such as a balance between jobs and housing. In addition to land uses that are planned in the General Plan land use map, it's also important to consider the land uses that exist on the ground today. Those existing land uses are tracked by the County Assessor for all of San Joaquin County, including Stockton, and are summarized on Figure 2-2 and mapped on Figure 2-3. Land uses mapped within the city limit cover 33,600 acres (roughly 52.5 of Stockton's 65 square miles), more than a third of which is used for housing. Of the 11,900 acres devoted to residential use, more than 85 percent contains single-family homes. Given Stockton's role as the County seat, it's not surprising that public/semi-public uses take up almost a quarter of the city; these uses include government buildings, public and private schools, the airport, hospitals, and religious institutions. Industrial and commercial uses combined represent about 15 percent of the city's land, and parks, recreation, open space, and agricultural uses account for about 14 percent. Mapped land uses within Stockton's SOI add over 29,000 acres, including more than 14,000 acres of agricultural land, which accounts for almost 30 percent of the total area of the SOI, including the city limit.

There are over 4,000 acres of vacant land within the city limit, which accounts for 12 percent of the mapped land

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Figure 2-2: Land Use Distribution

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Source: San Joaquin County, 2016.

uses. Much of this acreage is located at the edge of the city, where large development projects have been approved but not yet constructed. There are also areas interior to the city that remain vacant or that haven't been developed to their full potential, and are therefore considered "underutilized." These vacant and underutilized areas represent opportunities for infill development that can strengthen and enhance the city's core and interior neighborhoods, and are shown on Figure 2-4. To identify the underutilized properties shown in the figure, the improvement-to-land (I/L) ratio for each parcel was calculated based on County Assessor data. The I/L ratio is the relationship of a property's improvement value to its land value. For example, a lot worth $100,000 that is improved with a building worth $40,000 would have an I/L ratio of 0.4. In this analysis, properties with an I/L ratio below 1.0 were considered underutilized.

Figure 2-3

Existing Land Use

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Source: City of Stockton, 2016; San Joaquin County, 2016; PlaceWorks, 2017

Figure 2-4

Vacant and Underutilized Land

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Source: City of Stockton, 2016; US Census Bureau, 2010; San Joaquin County Assessor, 2016; PlaceWorks, 2017

GENERAL PLAN UPDATE PROCESS

The process to update the prior 2035 General Plan and envision the future of Stockton began in March 2016. Widely-publicized community workshops were held to inform community members about the update and to invite feedback on the process. In addition, the City formed a General Plan Subcommittee composed of three members of the Stockton Planning Commission to help guide the planning process. Three City Council study sessions, four Planning Commission study sessions, ten community workshops, and numerous other meetings targeting various stakeholders were held during the planning process, all of which were open to the public and included extensive public comment periods. The City also hosted a number of other outreach events with community groups throughout the General Plan Update process. In addition, the City created the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan Update website to share information about upcoming meetings and draft documents throughout the process; this website also included an online tool that community members used to provide input on each workshop topic without having to attend the workshop in person. Input and direction from the public and City officials was incorporated into each component of the General Plan.

The first phase of the General Plan Update process was devoted to researching and documenting baseline conditions in Stockton. This effort resulted in a series of technical memoranda that informed the subsequent visioning phase and the development of land use alternatives. The visioning phase included three community workshops, one of which was focused on

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RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION

COMMUNITY VISION

THREE LAND USE SCENARIOS

PREFERRED LAND USE SCENARIO

DRAFT GOALS, POLICIES & ACTIONS

DRAFT GENERAL PLAN

GENERAL PLAN ADOPTION

youth and young adults in Stockton, as well as a Planning Commission study session. At these meetings, participants shared and discussed issues and opportunities in Stockton that ultimately formed the framework for the vision statement.

To solicit public input on the future land use alternatives, the City hosted a mobile workshop on a double-decker bus. Participants toured various parts of Stockton where previous input had suggested the need for change, with the upper level affording a unique view to gain a different perspective than is typically seen via car, bicycle, or walking. Based on the suggestions from the mobile workshop, combined with the input from the visioning phase, three distinct scenarios were crafted - each of which described a different way that Stockton could evolve over the next 20+ years. The land use scenarios were then compared to each other to help the community decide which scenario, or combination of components from the scenarios, offers the most benefit. Over the course of two community workshops, a Planning Commission study session, and a City Council study session, a "preferred scenario" was selected, which became the land use map that is the basis for the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan.

Following the selection of the preferred land use alternative, draft goals that parallel the vision statement and support the concepts in the preferred land use scenario were developed. These draft goals were presented to the community at two open house events, where community members suggested specific policies to carry out those goals. Planning Commissioners and City Councilmembers then reviewed and added to the community's policy direction during one study session for each entity. Draft actions to implement the goals and policies were then developed based on a combination of policies and implementation measures from the existing General Plan, input from the community and decision-makers throughout the process, consideration of relevant State and local laws, and best practices in the planning profession.

Once the complete General Plan was drafted, the community and decision-makers provided feedback on needed changes over the course of two workshops and one study session each with the Planning Commission and City Council, followed by adoption hearings with the Planning Commission and City Council.

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COMMUNITY VISION

The Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan, crafted through a community-based participatory effort, is founded on a vision to promote investment in the Downtown and historically underserved areas, preserve and enhance neighborhood character, and improve community health and safety. Stockton’s vision for the future serves as the basis for the General Plan land use map that will guide the evolution of the city for the next 20+ years. Stockton’s vision for the future is as follows:

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The Stockton community celebrates the city’s cultural, lifestyle, and ethnic diversity and is proud of our tradition of looking out for each other in Stockton’s many distinct neighborhoods. The community’s vision for the future of Stockton is rooted in the people – honoring our history, strengthening the sense of belonging we enjoy today, and improving the safety and prosperity of all who live, work, and spend time in our city.

To that end, the General Plan envisions Stockton in 2040 as a regional destination attracting residents and visitors to cultural events, arts, entertainment, well-maintained parks, and a variety of dining options covering a wide range of ethnic cuisines. Residents and visitors alike will feel safe enjoying these attractions at all times of day and night throughout the city. Historic buildings and architecture will inspire artists, makers, and entrepreneurs that live and work in the Downtown, drawing people from near and far who seek this vibrant and creative energy. Places like the arena, ballpark, marina, Hotel Stockton, Waterfront Hotel, and Weber Point Events Center will be hubs of bustling activity that infuse the surrounding area with restaurant and shop patrons.

The entire Stockton community, including South Stockton, will have opportunities to maintain active and healthy lifestyles, and all areas of the city will provide easy access to medical facilities and fresh, affordable, and healthy food, including from grocery stores, community gardens, and farmers markets. Safe and interconnected bicycle and pedestrian facilities will provide real alternatives to car commutes along beautiful complete streets and access to active recreation throughout the city and beyond. Stockton’s urban forest will continue to expand and thrive, inspiring residents to enjoy outdoor activities and integrating nature into the urban fabric.

Residents of all backgrounds will have access to housing at all affordability levels and job opportunities with wages that are competitive with the rest of the region and state. Small businesses serving individual neighborhoods and places like the Downtown and Miracle Mile will thrive, while large-scale retail will continue to generate sales from the surrounding region. Major employers will locate in Stockton, attracted to its central location, pleasant climate, and airport, port, freeway, and transit access. Expanded flight service at the airport will fuel business and employment growth in South Stockton in particular, leading to public investments and new job opportunities that infuse the surrounding neighborhoods with positive change.

Stockton will be a leader in sustainability, with City incentives for energy conservation and green building. Stockton will also foster innovation by continuing to host colleges and universities—including a new California State University (CSU) Stockton campus—that cultivate an inquisitive and youthful energy that permeates the city. Students will find quality jobs in their career paths without having to leave Stockton, choosing to stay because of the affordable cost of living, range of housing options, convenient services, and wide variety of things to do outside of work.

The edges of Stockton will be discrete and clear, agriculture will continue to thrive outside the urbanized city, and Stockton residents will enjoy scenic views of agricultural land. Development and redevelopment of vacant, underutilized, and blighted areas will be prioritized over development that extends into agricultural areas, strengthening the city’s core and preserving the open space that surrounds it.

FROM VISION TO LAND USE MAP

Described above, the community’s vision is the basis for the City’s official land use map. The land use map is the backbone of the General Plan, guiding future growth, change, and preservation to achieve the community’s vision of Stockton as a regional destination with thriving neighborhoods, a healthy economy, and leadership in sustainability.

The preferred scenario developed during the land use alternatives phase, which is shown on Figure 2-5, focuses development within the city core, leaving land in the periphery as undeveloped open space and agriculture. Existing commercial corridors will be enhanced and more continuous. Vital commercial corridors will include a focus on infill development with new higher-density residential buildings and mixed-use shopping centers, providing current and new residents with convenient access to retail and services. This land use vision is illustrated on Figure 2-6, which spotlights three different locations in Stockton, visually depicting what the preferred scenario could mean at a particular site. For each location, there is a photo showing how the site looked in 2017, followed by a simulation of possible future development based on the land use designation for the site under the preferred scenario.

The three sites that are spotlighted are all vacant, and the simulations are meant to be illustrative of what the scenarios could mean for these or other similar sites. These locations are shown on Figure 2-7, and exemplify sites in need of investment to fuel positive change along the waterfront, in the eastern part of Downtown, and in South Stockton.

LAND USE DESIGNATIONS

The General Plan land use designations translate the preferred scenario into a detailed map that expresses the community’s vision for future conservation and development on public and private land in Stockton through the year 2040. Each designation includes standards for development density or intensity of use. Residential densities are expressed in terms of dwelling units per gross or net acre. Based on the gross acre calculation, the number of allowable units on a parcel can be calculated by multiplying the total number of acres by the allowable gross density. The net acre calculation uses a parcel acreage that excludes land devoted to road and infrastructure rights-of-way (ROW). The assumed percentages of land devoted to ROW varies based on the land use designation:

• Residential Estate: 10 percent
• Low Density Residential: 30 percent
• Medium Density Residential: 25 percent
• High Density Residential: 20 percent

Development intensities for non-residential uses are expressed in terms of floor area ratio (FAR), which is the ratio of gross building floor area (excluding areas designated for parking, etc.) to net lot area, both expressed in square feet, as shown below. FAR compares the building square footage permitted on a lot to the net square footage of the lot. For example, on a site with 10,000 square feet of net land area, a FAR of 1.0 will allow 10,000 square feet of building floor area to be built. On the same site, a FAR of 2.0 would allow 20,000 square feet of floor area. This could take the form of a two-story building with 100 percent lot coverage, or a four-story building with 50 percent lot coverage. A FAR of 0.4 would allow 4,000 square feet of floor area.

Possible configurations for Floor Area Ratio, which describes how large buildings can be compared to lot size

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FAR 0.5 FAR 1.0

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FAR 2.0 FAR 2.0

Figure 2-5 Preferred Scenario

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Source: PlaceWorks, 2017.

Figure 2-6: Visual Simulations

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Figure 2-7: Visual Simulation Locations

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The General Plan land use map is shown on Figure 2-8; the land use designations used in the map are described below.

■ Residential Estate. This designation allows for single-family residential units, public and quasi-public uses, second units, and other similar and compatible uses. The maximum density is 0.9 unit per acre based on gross acreage and 1 unit per acre based on net acreage.

■ Low Density Residential. This designation allows for single-family residential units, duplexes, triplexes, semi-detached patio homes, town homes, public and quasi-public uses, second units, and other similar and compatible uses. The maximum density is 6.1 units per acre based on gross acreage and 8.7 units per acre based on net acreage.

■ Medium Density Residential. This designation allows for single-family residential units, duplexes, triplexes, semi-detached patio homes, town homes, public and quasi-public uses, second units, and other similar and compatible uses. Based on gross acreage, this designation allows densities ranging from 6.2 to 13.1 units per acre; based on net acreage, it allows 8.8 to 17.4 units per acre. This designation also allows neighborhood-serving retail, commercial service, and mixed uses in appropriate locations that provide residents with easy access to daily services and necessities within their neighborhood, provided that they are compatible with surrounding uses, at a maximum FAR of 0.3.

■ High Density Residential. This designation allows for multi-family residential units, apartments, dormitories, group homes, guest homes, public and quasi-public uses, and other similar and compatible uses. This designation also allows neighborhood-serving retail, commercial service, and mixed uses in appropriate locations that provide residents with easy access to daily services and necessities within their neighborhood, provided that they are compatible with surrounding uses. The allowable density and intensity ranges differ based on the geographic area, as follows:

• Outside the Greater Downtown: Based on gross acreage, this designation allows 13.2 to 24 units per acre; based on net acreage, it allows 17.5 to 30 units per acre. The maximum FAR for neighborhood-serving retail is 0.3.
• Inside the Greater Downtown: Based on gross acreage, this designation allows 16 to 72 units per acre; based on net acreage, it allows 20 to 90 units per acre. The maximum FAR for neighborhood-serving retail is 3.0.
• Inside the Downtown Core: Based on gross acreage, this designation allows 16 to 108.8 units per acre; based on net acreage, it allows 20 to 136 units per acre. The maximum FAR for neighborhood-serving retail is 5.0.

■ Mixed Use. This designation allows for a mixture of compatible land uses including residential, administrative and professional offices, retail and service uses, industrial, and public and quasi-public facilities to be determined through a master development plan adopted concurrently with the designation of the property as Mixed Use. The master development plan will determine development standards in accordance with the requirements of the Stockton Development Code. The minimum development size is 100 acres, and the maximum FAR is 0.5. Based on gross acreage, this designation allows 13.2 to 24 units per acre; based on net acreage, it allows 17.5 to 30 units per acre.

■ Administrative Professional. This designation allows for business, medical, and professional offices; residential uses; public and quasi-public uses; and other similar and compatible uses. This designation also allows ancillary retail uses that provide office workers and residents in the immediate area with convenient access to daily services and necessities near their work, provided those retail and service uses can operate compatibly with surrounding uses. This designation is appropriate on the borders of residential areas. The maximum FAR and allowable residential density ranges differ based on the geographic area, as follows:

• Outside the Greater Downtown: The maximum FAR is 0.5. Based on gross acreage, this designation allows 13.2 to 24 units per acre; based on net acreage, it allows 17.5 to 30 units per acre.
• Inside the Greater Downtown: The maximum FAR is 3.0. Based on gross acreage, this designation allows 16 to 72 units per acre; based on net acreage, it allows 20 to 90 units per acre.
• Inside the Downtown Core: The maximum FAR is 5.0. Based on gross acreage, this designation allows 16 to 108.8 units per acre; based on net acreage, it allows 20 to 136 units per acre.

■ Commercial. This designation allows for a wide variety of retail, service, and commercial recreational uses; business, medical, and professional offices; residential uses; public and quasi-public uses; and other similar and compatible uses. Community or regional commercial centers as well as freestanding commercial establishments are permitted. In addition, limited industrial uses are allowed, provided that they are indoors and compatible with surrounding uses. The maximum FAR and allowable residential density ranges differ based on the geographic area, as follows:

• Outside the Greater Downtown: The maximum FAR is 0.3. Based on gross acreage, this designation allows 13.2 to 24 units per acre; based on net acreage, it allows 17.5 to 30 units per acre.
• Inside the Greater Downtown: The maximum FAR is 3.0. Based on gross acreage, this designation allows 16 to 72 units per acre; based on net acreage, it allows 20 to 90 units per acre.

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• Inside the Downtown Core: The maximum FAR is 5.0. Based on gross acreage, this designation allows 16 to 108.8 units per acre; based on net acreage, it allows 20 to 136 units per acre.

■ Industrial. This designation allows for a wide variety of industrial uses, including uses with nuisance or hazardous characteristics, warehousing, construction contractors, light manufacturing, offices, Retail Sales, service businesses, public and quasi-public uses, and other similar and compatible uses. Residential uses are prohibited. The maximum FAR for industrial uses is 0.6.

■ Economic and Education Enterprise. Development in this designation is intended to support the City’s economic development goals by attracting new businesses, industries, and/or educational institutions that provide high-quality jobs to the local workforce. By bringing major job-generators to Stockton, this designation supports the City’s Economic Development Strategic Plan and State Executive Orders regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, Senate Bill (SB) 32, and the San Joaquin Sustainable Communities Strategy.

It is not the intent of this policy to discourage development in other areas of the city. The Economic and Education Enterprise designation is specifically intended to accommodate exceptional job-producing developments and only permit housing and other facilities that are supportive to the job-producing effort.

Businesses envisioned for this designation include:

• Those that provide a significant number of jobs offering wages averaging above Area Median Income, as supported by a comprehensive economic impact analysis, and that cannot be reasonably accommodated elsewhere within the city limit.
• In the following industries:
  • Education
  • Healthcare and Medical Facilities
  • High-Tech Manufacturing
  • Agricultural Technologies
  • Energy Resources and Technologies
  • Professional and Information Technology

Figure 2-8

General Plan Land Use Map

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Source: City of Stockton, 2017; PlaceWorks, 2017.

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General Plan - 2040 update Land Use Designations ■ Administrative Professional ■ Commercial ■ High Density Residential ■ Industrial ■ Institutional ■ Low Density Residential ■ Medium Density Residential ■ Mixed Use ■ Open Space/Agriculture ■ Parks and Recreation ■ Residential Estate ■ Economic and Education Enterprise

CITY OF STOCKTON GENERAL PLAN 2040 MAP

The information on this map is based on the most current information available to the City of Stockton Geographic Information System Division. The information on this map is not intended to replace engineering, financial or primary records research.

LAST REVISION: 5/12/2023

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In support of a major job-generator, this designation promotes:

• Linked transportation and housing options so that future employees can live close to their jobs and commute using transportation modes that support the City's vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduction goals;
• Businesses that reduce VMT by providing vanpool programs, car share services, and active transportation alternatives;
• Proximate housing stock that supports the job-generator, including single-family, multi-family, and/or mixed-use dwellings at various levels of affordability, with housing costs that generally correspond to the income levels of the jobs generated by the project.

Projects proposed in the Economic and Education Enterprise designation will be required to:

• Adhere to the City's existing development review process including consideration by the Planning Commission and City Council of a General Plan Amendment.
• The City will negotiate with applicants to develop community benefit through development agreements that identify desired community amenities in the area of development.
• The City as Lead Agency will ensure that development mitigates its environmental impacts as feasible, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

The maximum anticipated FAR is 0.6 and the maximum anticipated density is 24 dwelling units per gross acre; however, the designation allows variation from these standards with City approval to achieve the economic development goals and complete communities described above. Development proponents are encouraged to propose creative and innovative master plans to further the City's economic development goals consistent with the policies outlined above.

■ Institutional. This designation allows for public and quasi-public uses such as schools, libraries, colleges, water treatment facilities, airports, some governmental offices, federal installations, and other similar and compatible uses. The maximum FAR for institutional uses is 0.5 outside the Downtown area and 5.0 within the Downtown area.

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■ Parks and Recreation. This designation allows for City and County parks, golf courses, marinas, community centers, public and quasi-public uses, and other similar and compatible uses. The maximum FAR for parks and recreation uses is 0.2.

■ Open Space/Agriculture. This designation allows for agriculture, parks, single-family residential units, farm worker housing, wetlands, wildlife reserves, and other similar and compatible uses and structures related to the primary use of the property for preservation of natural resources or agriculture. Lands under this designation are intended to remain unincorporated and under the jurisdiction of San Joaquin County. The minimum parcel size is 40 acres, maximum density is 1 dwelling unit per parcel, and maximum FAR is 0.01.

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THE GENERAL PLAN AND DEVELOPMENT CODE

Table 2-1 describes the overall relationship between the General Plan and the Development Code (Title 16 of the Stockton Municipal Code).

Table 2-1: General Plan Relationship to Development Code

3

LAND USE

Stockton grew outward from and remains rooted in the Downtown and waterfront, which continue to anchor the city's role as a major California hub for commerce and transportation. The physical form and character of Stockton has evolved over more than a century-and-a-half, and the city currently encompasses 65 square miles. Social, cultural, economic, and historical events have helped shape Stockton into many distinct and diverse neighborhoods (shown on Figure 3-1), each with distinguishing characteristics such as prominent landmarks, gateways, building types, street patterns, and land uses.

How land is used in Stockton can make a big difference in how people feel about their neighborhoods. Just one new successful business where there once was a vacant lot with weeds can begin the transformation of a whole neighborhood, improving everything from the safety of kids going to school, to new landscaping along streets that symbolizes local pride and revitalization. Identifying feasible locations for expanded and new educational, vocational, and employment opportunities can help local youth and adults create meaningful careers close to home, increasing the odds that they'll contribute to the sense of community and be able to afford better housing. Design of buildings matters too, as it can improve community safety and spur additional investment in Stockton.

The goals, policies, and actions in this chapter are intended to apply thoughtful land use planning to enhance and build upon neighborhood assets, address current challenges, and improve quality of life for everyone in Stockton. This chapter is organized around six key goals that reflect the priorities of the Stockton community:

• Regional Destination
• Strong Downtown
• Authentic Neighborhoods
• High Quality Jobs
• Protected Resources
• Effective Planning

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Figure 3-1

Stockton Neighborhoods

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Source: City of Stockton, 2014; PlaceWorks, 2017

[ ] City Limit [ ] Sphere of Influence [ ] General Plan Planning Area

GOALS, POLICIES, AND ACTIONS

GOAL LU-1: REGIONAL DESTINATION

Become more of a regional destination that attracts visitors and invites residents to enjoy a diverse array of events and arts, entertainment, and dining options.

STOCKTON IS A MAJOR CALIFORNIA HUB

From its earliest years, Stockton has always enjoyed a definitive advantage due to its accessibility by water, rail, and road, and it has built upon that position with numerous regional attractions, recently including the Stockton Arena, Banner Island Ballpark, Stockton Marina, and Weber Point Events Center. In addition, a vibrant local arts scene and growing cultural offerings provide momentum for positive change in Downtown Stockton and throughout the community while supporting a lively urban environment.

POLICY LU-1.1

Encourage retail businesses and housing development in mixed-use developments along regional transportation routes and in areas that serve local residents.

Action LU-1.1A

Require renovated and new mixed-use projects to be planned and designed to contribute to the corridor’s identity through appropriate public spaces, gateways, streetscapes, pedestrian walkways, setbacks, edge treatments, and other design features.

Action LU-1.1B

Evaluate the City’s parking policies, and amend the Development Code to provide more flexibility as appropriate to facilitate mixed-use redevelopment.

Action LU-1.1C

Continue to study and consider repealing the “Big Box Ordinance” that was adopted in 2007, and if big-box

stores are allowed in the future, require applicants to fund an analysis of economic and blight-inducement impacts of the proposed development on retail businesses in the market area, employment, City revenues and services, and any other relevant economic considerations. Prohibit the siting of any additional big-box “power centers” at the edges of the city to limit growth-inducing impacts to adjacent farmlands.

Action LU-1.1D

Encourage the redevelopment of struggling underutilized commercial strips into multi-family housing opportunities.

POLICY LU-1.2

Support expansion and improvement throughout the city of art, cultural, and educational facilities.

Action LU-1.2A

Advertise opportunities for the private sector to invest in public art throughout the city, and include public art in City roadway, building, and community parks projects.

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Action LU-1.2B

Provide funding mechanisms for the administration, development, and long term maintenance of public art on a citywide basis.

POLICY LU-1.3 Improve the visual quality of the urban environment to be more welcoming and inviting at key gateways and travel corridors into the city.

Action LU-1.3A

Create a “gateway district” program for major corridor entries to the city, in which the design of public and private investment is coordinated to provide a cohesive and attractive welcome into Stockton.

Action LU-1.3B

Work with transportation agency partners and private property owners to improve maintenance, code enforcement, screening, and landscaping of viewsheds along major transportation routes into Stockton, including rail corridors, Highway 99, Highway 4, and Interstate 5.

Action LU-1.3C

Require the incorporation of scenic views, including open space features like waterways, wetlands, natural landscapes, and parks, into design of the built environment.

GOAL LU-2: STRONG DOWNTOWN

Strengthen the Downtown to reinforce it as the region’s center for government, business, finance, arts, entertainment, and dining.

THE CITY’S LIFEBLOOD FLOWS FROM THE DOWNTOWN

The Downtown is the heart of Stockton. Much of Stockton’s earliest development, including many historic buildings, is located in the Downtown, which is characterized by a compact urban form within a traditional street grid network. There are significant opportunities for both employment growth and higher density housing in the Downtown that can build upon previous redevelopment projects that have created infrastructure and amenities. These projects are shown on Figure 3-2 and include:

• Robert J. Cabral Train Station. This station is the eastern terminus of the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE), which ferries commuters to and from the southern San Francisco Bay Area.

• Waterfront Amenities. The Stockton Arena, which opened in 2005, seats up to 12,000 people and hosts the professional hockey team, the Stockton Heat. The Banner Island Ballpark, which also opened in 2005, can accommodate up to 5,200 people and is the home field of the Stockton Ports minor league baseball team. Together with other Downtown and waterfront amenities, these facilities represent an important regional hub for sports and recreation activities.

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Figure 3-2

Downtown Redevelopment Projects

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• Open Window Project Master Development Plan. In March 2015, the City entered into an agreement with Ten Space, a development company, for the exclusive right to negotiate to buy City-owned properties within a 15-acre area of Downtown Stockton. The project area extends from Main Street in the south to Miner Street in the north and from Aurora Avenue in the east to Sutter Street in the west. Formally called the Open Window Project, the Ten Space development company is working to renovate an assortment of existing structures and to reposition vacant opportunity sites for future development. The project’s goal is to provide opportunities for new retail, restaurants, and mixed industrial/art studio space, as well as to incorporate up to 1,400 new market rate housing units in the Downtown area. The structure of the project area is well suited to a dense and pedestrian-friendly environment with good access to public transportation, including the ACE train at Cabral Station.

As the City’s heart, the Downtown also can catalyze positive change spreading out through Stockton in all directions along the major transportation and commercial thoroughfares. Goals, policies, and actions that support Downtown revitalization are indicated with 📊.

POLICY LU-2.1 📊

Promote the Downtown and waterfront as a hub for regional commerce and entertainment, with high-quality housing to complement commercial activity and to infuse the area with daytime, evening, and weekend activity.

Action LU-2.1A 📊

Work with other public agencies and organizations to develop and utilize all available financing tools and incentives to stimulate investment in the Downtown.

Action LU-2.1B 📊

Amend the Development Code to provide flexibility for redevelopment of historic structures in the Downtown to meet the needs of modern users while maintaining the overall historic value.

Action LU-2.1C 📊

Improve Downtown wayfinding for vehicles and pedestrians to direct visitors to key destinations throughout the Downtown.

Action LU-2.1D 📊 〰

Improve sidewalk maintenance in the Downtown, and widen key sidewalks to provide space for outdoor seating and tree plantings.

Action LU-2.1E 📊

Develop and implement a public/private strategy for mixed-use high-end development along both sides of the Stockton Channel/San Joaquin River Corridor, including the following:

• A public promenade along the North Channel to Louis Park and the South Channel to Mormon Slough.
• Mixed-use development and re-use of historic structures.

POLICY LU-2.2 📊

Facilitate the development of at least 4,400 new housing units in the Greater Downtown by 2040.

Action LU-2.2A 📊

Amend the Development Code to provide more flexibility for residential development to be feasible, including through a streamlined residential development permit process, and to contribute to the “charm” of the Downtown.

Action LU-2.2B 📊 〰 🏘 🌍

Establish Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Overlay Zones around the Robert J. Cabral ACE Train Station and the San Joaquin Street Amtrak Station to promote high-density residential, including affordable and mixed-income housing, and other TOD.

Action LU-2.2C 📊

Evaluate and implement adjustments to the Public Facilities Fee structure to promote development in the Downtown.

Action LU-2.2D

Discourage urban development at the edges of the city that would detract from or compete with the housing goals of the Greater Downtown.

POLICY LU-2.3

Encourage more Downtown community and regional entertainment venues.

Action LU-2.3A

Establish an entertainment district in the Downtown with a discrete boundary and strategies to promote entertainment uses, such as:

• Reducing permit requirements;
• Eliminating the requirement to sell food at bars;
• Providing incentives for clubs and restaurants;
• Allowing for reduced or shared parking; and
• Delineating an area in which to facilitate food trucks and pop-up businesses.

Action LU-2.3B

Partner with ride-sharing companies to facilitate safe nightlife in the Downtown.

Action LU-2.3C

Develop curbside management policies that are flexible to accommodate the evolving nature of ride-sharing programs and future reliance on autonomous vehicles in the Downtown.

Action LU-2.3D

Promote events that bring residents and visitors to the Downtown.

POLICY LU-2.4

Encourage more resident- and visitor-serving restaurants, retail, and consumer services to locate in the Downtown.

Action LU-2.4A

Implement strategies to promote new Downtown restaurant, retail, and consumer service businesses that primarily serve the needs of Downtown residents, but also add value for visitors, such as by:

• Reducing permit requirements;
• Allowing for reduced or shared parking;
• Providing incentives; and
• Facilitating planning and permitting for building renovations.

Action LU-2.4B

Partner with the Downtown Stockton Alliance to market the Downtown to existing Stockton businesses that would benefit from relocating to a centralized location.

Action LU-2.4C

Partner with the Downtown Stockton Alliance to market the Downtown to attract businesses that complement the Downtown’s multi-modal connectivity by appealing to the needs of travelers and providing shopping and recreation opportunities for visitors and commuters alike.

POLICY LU-2.5

Promote Downtown Stockton as a primary transit node that provides multi-modal connections throughout the city and region.

Action LU-2.5A

Improve transit, bicycle, and pedestrian connectivity between the Downtown and local colleges and universities.

Action LU-2.5B

Study the possible one-way to two-way conversions of streets in the Downtown (e.g., El Dorado/Center, Park/Oak, and Main/Market) in order to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, slow traffic speeds, and support local businesses.

Action LU-2.5C

Continue to develop an active transportation plan for Downtown Stockton, and implement complete streets projects to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety that are identified in the plan.

GOAL LU-3: AUTHENTIC NEIGHBORHOODS

Protect and preserve the authentic qualities of Stockton’s neighborhoods and historic districts.

STOCKTON HAS A RICH HISTORY AND MODERN-DAY CHARM

Local history and culture contribute significantly to Stockton’s sense of identity and pride. Stockton has a rich history, evident in numerous historic districts, landmarks, sites, and structures. Many of these are clustered in and around Downtown, but the city offers a great deal of charm in many other neighborhoods, with regional attractions like the University of the Pacific, Haggin Museum, and the County Fairgrounds. Many areas of Stockton feature avenues lined with mature trees that are a hallmark of the city’s old-California charm.

In the 1980s, the City designated two historic districts in the Midtown neighborhood, just north of Downtown: the Magnolia Historic Preservation District, bounded by Harding Way, California Street, Flora Street, and El Dorado Street, and the Doctors’ Row Historic Preservation District, bounded by California Street, Acacia Street, Poplar Street, and American Street on the former Stockton Development Center grounds, now the site of the California State University Stanislaus-Stockton Center, which is part of University Park. The City has also designated four historic sites, 13 structures of merit, and 52 historic landmarks. Of the City-designated historic landmarks, 17 are listed in the National Register of Historic Places and two are identified as California Historic Landmarks. Beyond the City-identified resources, the National Register also lists the Elks Building and Cole’s Five Cypress Farm, and the California Register lists the Oak Lawn Ranch and Western Pacific railway depot. Stockton’s historic resources are shown on Figure 3-3.

POLICY LU-3.1 Ensure that exterior remodels and the siting, scale, and design of new development are compatible with surrounding and adjacent buildings, public spaces, and cultural and historic resources.

Action LU-3.1A

Implement local and State incentives for the preservation and reuse of historic buildings and heritage housing in Downtown and other key areas.

Action LU-3.1B

If development has the potential to adversely affect buildings 50 years old or older, require a historical resources survey to be completed by a professional consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Architectural History.

Action LU-3.1C

Require historic structures, along with landscape, original roadways, sidewalks, and other public realm features in historic neighborhoods, to be maintained, restored, or repaired where ever possible. If alterations are proposed to historical buildings, require those changes to meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties.

Action LU-3.1D

Review the boundaries of the Magnolia Historic District, and consider land use and zoning changes to reflect current uses and help facilitate access to grant funding for historic preservation.

Action LU-3.1E

Maintain and periodically update the City’s historical resources inventory and adopt a priority list to protect the most important resources.

Figure 3-3

Historic Resources

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Source: City of Stockton; PlaceWorks, 2017.

• ⭐ Structures of Merit
• ● Historic Landmarks
• ■ Historic Sites
• ■ Doctors Row Historic Preservation District
• ■ Magnolia Historic Preservation District
• City Limit
• [--] General Plan Planning Area

Action LU-3.1F

Maintain and periodically update Citywide Design Guidelines.

POLICY LU-3.2

Retain narrower roadways and reallocate right-of-way space to preserve street trees and mature landscaping and enhance the pedestrian and bicycle network within and adjacent to residential neighborhoods.

Action LU-3.2A

Implement the “road diet” recommendations from the City’s Bicycle Master Plan that reduce roadway widths to provide space for bike lanes and other amenities that improve safety and ease of the streetscape for all modes.

GOOD PARKS ARE KEY TO QUALITY OF LIFE

Public parks and community centers provide a wide variety of spaces for gathering and recreation throughout Stockton. Opportunities for exercise and social activities are usually free and valuable for everyone, including children and seniors. Public parks and community centers also offer places where people interact and build bonds—parents meet as their kids play, and kids make new friends. Parks can also be a rallying place for the community, where people come together on a range of projects, from picking up trash, to planting flowers, to building play structures, and even to raising funds for new amenities.

Stockton residents have access to several dozen neighborhood, community, and specialty parks (listed in Table 3-1 and shown on Figure 3-4). The City has established the following design standards for new neighborhood and community parks:

• Neighborhood Parks: Neighborhood parks shall be designed to serve as both the recreational and social focus of the neighborhood. Neighborhood parks shall be bounded on all sides by public streets, unless adjacent to a public school, and accessible to the surrounding neighborhood through the use of bikeways, trails, sidewalks, or local residential streets. Neighborhood parks shall be a minimum of 5 acres in size and serve up to a 1/2-mile radius. Neighborhood parks may include, but are not limited to the following features:

  • Open grassy area for informal sports activities (e.g., soccer)
  • Basketball court(s)
  • Tennis court(s)
  • Playground and tot lot
  • Picnic tables and small group picnic shelter
  • Walking/jogging paths
  • Ornamental security lighting

• Community Parks: Community parks shall be designed to meet the recreational needs of large sections of the community. These parks should allow for larger group activities and recreational activities not suited for neighborhood parks. Community parks shall be bounded on all sides by public streets, unless adjacent to a public school. Community parks shall be a minimum of 15 acres in size and serve up to a 1-mile radius. Community parks may include, but are not limited to the following features:

  • Sports fields (baseball/softball and soccer) for practice and league activities
  • Tennis court(s)
  • Basketball court(s)
  • Handball court(s)
  • Playground and tot lot
  • Group picnic area
  • Walking/jogging paths
  • Restroom facilities
  • Sports lighting
  • Ornamental security lighting

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Figure 3-4

Existing and Planned Parks

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Source: City of Stockton; San Joaquin County; PlaceWorks, 2017.

• 🟢 Existing Parks
• 🟠 Planned Parks
• ➖ City Limit
• ➖ Sphere of Influence
• ➖ General Plan Planning Area

Table 3-1: City Parks by Type

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Table 3-1: City Parks by Type

COMMUNITY PARKS

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Table 3-1: City Parks by Type

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In addition, Stockton has special purpose facilities that house recreational and community programs and/or facilities targeted to meet the needs of a certain sector of the population or neighborhood. In addition to two target park and recreation facilities, the Barkleyville Dog Park and the Misasi Sports Complex at McNair High School, the City operates five community centers offering a range of programs and services for residents of all ages:

• Arnold Rue Community Center, 5758 Lorraine Avenue
• Stribley Community Center, 1760 E. Sonora Street
• Van Buskirk Community Center, 734 Houston Avenue
• Seifert Community Center, 128 W. Benjamin Holt Drive (shared with Stockton Unified School District)
• Oak Park Senior Community Center, 730 E. Fulton Street

Park and community center standards provide a means to ensure that parks and recreation facilities are provided as the city develops. The City maintains the following park and community center standards:

• Neighborhood Parks: 2 net acres per 1,000 residents

• Community Parks: 3 net acres per 1,000 residents

• Regional Parks: 3 net acres per 1,000 residents

• City-Owned Community Centers: 1 center per 50,000 population

• Combined City-Owned and School District Community Centers: 1 center per 30,000 population

These standards are an important way to be able to require new development to provide facilities when parks or community centers to serve new residents are lacking nearby.

POLICY LU-3.3

Maintain or expand the currently available amount of public park and open space area in each neighborhood.

Action LU-3.3A

Continue to improve and maintain park facilities and fields to address deficiencies and improve park sustainability, including lighting improvements, conversion to solar lighting, drinking fountain maintenance, and natural stormwater management.

Action LU-3.3B

Pursue joint-use recreational facilities where possible, including on school grounds and utility easements.

Action LU-3.3C

Establish a citywide park maintenance assessment district.

Action LU-3.3D

Periodically review the City's Development Impact Fee requirements to determine whether they should be adjusted to reflect the City's priorities for parks, community centers, and libraries that serve the surrounding neighborhoods.

Action LU-3.3E

Require new development to improve utility easement property as usable public open space, where feasible.

Action LU-3.3F

Allow developers to develop pocket parks that function as social gathering places and/or children's play areas, and which can count towards the park standard requirements for new development.

GOAL LU-4: HIGH-QUALITY JOBS

Attract and retain companies that offer high-quality jobs with wages that are competitive with the region and state.

GOOD-PAYING JOBS ARE ESSENTIAL TO STOCKTON'S FUTURE

Enhancing Stockton's success as an economic hub depends on retaining, supporting, and attracting a diverse range of businesses that will sustain the local economy despite changing market forces.

Ten of the top 25 major employers in San Joaquin County already are located in Stockton, including three major governmental entities, two health care providers, two major growers and shippers of fruit and vegetable products, one aircraft servicing and maintenance company, a major home appliance manufacturer, the University of the Pacific, and two Walmart Supercenters. More than 37,900 new jobs are expected in Stockton between 2015 and 2040, with the most significant growth in the education and health services, professional and business services, and government sectors (see Figure 3-5). With a significant number of Stockton residents commuting outside the city for work and an expected increase in housing production in the city over the coming decades, there is potential for strong growth across office, commercial, and industrial sectors in many locations in Stockton.

POLICY LU-4.1

Encourage large-scale development proposals in appropriate locations that include significant numbers of higher-wage jobs and local revenue generation. Such development may utilize the Economic and Education Enterprise land use designation if the proposal meets all of the criteria listed under the definition of the designation.

Action LU-4.1A

Update the Development Code and other City regulations to streamline project review as feasible for businesses that meet the City's economic development and workforce support objectives.

Action LU-4.1B

Seek out and market to businesses that build on Stockton's competitive advantages and offer high- and living-wage jobs in a range of industries, such as management of companies and enterprises, finance and insurance, wholesale trade, professional and technical services, information, healthcare and social assistance, and education.

Figure 3-5 Employment Forecast by Industry

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Source: University of the Pacific, 2016; BAE 2016.

Action LU-4.1C

Conduct marketing and outreach to retain existing companies and use the City’s permitting and regulatory processes to facilitate expansions of existing businesses, consistent with other General Plan policies and actions.

Action LU-4.1D

Consider future amendments to the General Plan for extraordinary growth plans outside the Urban Services Boundary that include significant job generators or public institutions such as a college campus.

POLICY LU-4.2

Attract employment- and tax-generating businesses that support the economic diversity of the city.

Action LU-4.2A

Maintain a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the San Joaquin Partnership, the Chambers of Commerce, and the Business Council to share marketing leads and collaborate on business attraction efforts.

Action LU-4.2B

Develop strategic partnerships with higher education institutions, workforce training agencies, business associations, financial institutions, and venture capital concerns to support the development of beneficial industry clusters.

Action LU-4.2C

Continuously improve the efficiency, timeliness, and transparency of the City’s permitting process to assist businesses in expanding or locating in Stockton, while providing certainty in fee calculations and regulatory requirements.

Action LU-4.2D

Continually reexamine the City’s planning and permitting fee structures to ensure that they do not constitute undue burdens on business.

GOAL LU-5: PROTECTED RESOURCES

Protect, maintain, and restore natural and cultural resources.

NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ARE A PILLAR OF A HEALTHY STOCKTON

Stockton’s setting affords great opportunities to appreciate natural resources even from within the urbanized environment. The city’s location within the greater San Joaquin Valley and proximity to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta also reinforce the importance of avoiding impacts to sensitive natural, cultural, and scenic resources.

To aid regional conservation efforts, California’s Delta Stewardship Council adopted the Delta Plan in 2013, which includes rules and recommendations to improve water supply, protect the Delta ecosystem, and preserve, protect, and enhance agricultural, cultural, and recreational features. As shown on Figure 3-6, the “Legal Delta,” the area subject to State oversight through the Delta Plan, including actions such as ensuring that the Stockton General Plan is consistent with the Delta Plan.

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Natural resources include not only the plants, trees, animals, fish, birds, and microorganisms present in the urban and natural environment around us, but also the water, soil, habitats, and ecosystems that make up the ecological community in which we live. Several rare and sensitive groups of plants and animals, or "natural communities," exist in the open space lands in and around Stockton, including coastal and valley freshwater marsh, great valley oak riparian forest, and valley oak woodland. The City collaborates with regional agencies and neighboring jurisdictions to manage and protect these and other natural resources as a voluntary participant in the San Joaquin County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation and Open Space Plan, which was adopted in 2001.

Stockton is also home to valued cultural resources, including structures and objects associated with events and people that have contributed to local history. The early indigenous local inhabitants, the northernmost tribes of Yokuts, range over much of the northern San Joaquin Valley. The Northern Valley Yokuts tribe, the Chulamni, had a village, Yatchcumne (or Yachik) near Stockton, and another village, Tauquimne, in the eastern end of the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta near Bear Creek. Approximately 100 archaeological sites and several fossil finds related to these early inhabitants have been identified in Stockton, and more may exist that have not yet been found.

Figure 3-6

Sacramento San Joaquin Delta

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Source: CA Department of Water Resources, 2017; San Joaquin County, 2017; PlaceWorks, 2017.

3-18 ENVISION STOCKTON 2040 GENERAL PLAN

POLICY LU-5.1

Integrate nature into the city and maintain Stockton’s urban forest.

Action LU-5.1A

Require renovated and new projects to provide open spaces that create gateways, act as collectors for pedestrian systems, and/or provide a social focal point for a project and the surrounding community and corridor, as appropriate.

Action LU-5.1B

Protect, preserve, and improve riparian corridors and incorporate them in the City’s parks, trails, and open space system.

Action LU-5.1C

Require landscape plans to incorporate native and drought-tolerant plants in order to preserve the visual integrity of the landscape, conserve water, provide habitat conditions suitable for native vegetation, and ensure that a maximum number and variety of well-adapted plants are maintained.

POLICY LU-5.2

Protect natural resource areas, fish and wildlife habitat, scenic areas, open space areas, agricultural lands, parks, and other cultural/historic resources from encroachment or destruction by incompatible development.

Action LU-5.2A

Continue to coordinate with the San Joaquin Council of Governments and comply with the terms of the Multi-Species Habitat Conservation and Open Space Plan to protect critical habitat areas that support endangered, threatened, and special-status species.

Action LU-5.2B

For projects on or within 100 feet of sites that have the potential to contain special-status species or critical or sensitive habitats, including wetlands, require preparation of a baseline assessment by a qualified biologist following appropriate protocols, such as wetland delineation protocol defined by the US Army Corps of Engineers. If such sensitive species or habitats are found to be present, development shall avoid impacting the resource, and if avoidance is not feasible, impacts shall be minimized through project design or compensation identified in consultation with a qualified biologist.

Action LU-5.2C

Require new development to implement best practices to protect biological resources, including incidental take minimization measures and other federal and State requirements and recommendations that are consistent with the San Joaquin County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation and Open Space Plan.

Action LU-5.2D

Require the following tasks by a qualified archaeologist or paleontologist prior to project approval:

• Conduct a record search at the Central California Information Center located at California State University Stanislaus, the University of California Museum of Paleontology at Berkeley, and other appropriate historical or archaeological repositories.
• Conduct field surveys where appropriate.
• Prepare technical reports, where appropriate, meeting California Office of Historic Preservation or other appropriate standards.
• Where development cannot avoid an archaeological or paleontological deposit, prepare a treatment plan in accordance with appropriate standards, such as the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Treatment of Archaeological Sites.

Action LU-5.2E

Continue to consult with Native American representatives, including through early coordination, to identify locations of importance to Native Americans, including archaeological sites and traditional cultural properties.

Action LU-5.2F

If development could affect a tribal cultural resource, require the developer to contact an appropriate tribal representative to train construction workers on appropriate avoidance and minimization measures, requirements for confidentiality and culturally appropriate treatment, other applicable regulations, and consequences of violating State laws and regulations.

Action LU-5.2G

Comply with appropriate State and federal standards to evaluate and mitigate impacts to cultural resources, including tribal, historic, archaeological, and paleontological resources.

Action LU-5.2H

Comply with applicable water conservation measures.

Action LU-5.2I

Coordinate with water agencies and non-profit organizations to promote public awareness on water quality and conservation issues and consistency in water quality impacts analyses.

CONSERVATION ALLOWS THE CITY, FARMS, AND OPEN SPACE TO THRIVE TOGETHER

In addition to their obvious importance in supplying food, local agricultural lands provide needed buffers between Stockton and neighboring cities, plus some of the most important scenic vistas in the Planning Area. Accordingly, the City has adopted a Right to Farm ordinance to protect local agricultural lands (Municipal Code Section 16.36.040), which limits the circumstances under which an agricultural operation may be considered a nuisance and establishes notification requirements for agricultural neighbors of this protection.

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Repeated droughts have highlighted the need for water conservation, and increasingly sustainable methods for using energy are assisting both urban and agriculture uses in succeeding locally. The City has helped property owners identify options for energy efficient, renewable energy, and water saving improvements and considers water and energy conservation an integral requirement for future development.

POLICY LU-5.3

Define discrete and clear city edges that preserve agriculture, open space, and scenic views.

Action LU-5.3A

At the interface between development and rural landscapes, use landscaping and other attractive edging instead of soundwalls and similar utilitarian edges of developments to maintain the visual integrity of open space.

Action LU-5.3B

Coordinate with San Joaquin County and property owners in unincorporated areas to preserve agricultural land and open space areas in the unincorporated county that contribute to maintaining clear boundaries between cities.

Action LU-5.3C

Maintain the City's agricultural conservation program that requires either dedication of an agricultural conservation easement at a 1:1 ratio or payment of an in-lieu agricultural mitigation fee for the conversion of prime farmland, farmland of statewide importance, or unique farmland, as defined by the State Farmland Monitoring and Mapping Program.

POLICY LU-5.4

Require water and energy conservation and efficiency in both new construction and retrofits.

Action LU-5.4A

Require all new development, including major rehabilitation, renovation, and redevelopment, to adopt best management practices for water use efficiency and demonstrate specific water conservation measures.

Action LU-5.4B

Require all new development, including major rehabilitation, renovation, and redevelopment, to incorporate feasible and appropriate energy conservation and green building practices, such as building orientation and shading, landscaping, and the use of active and passive solar heating and water systems.

Action LU-5.4C

Update the Citywide Design Guidelines to strengthen energy conservation and green building provisions.

GOAL LU-6: EFFECTIVE PLANNING

Provide for orderly, well-planned, and balanced development.

STOCKTON NEEDS BALANCED GROWTH

Achieving the community’s vision for the future of Stockton requires more than just good planning documents. The City needs to ensure that the pace and pattern of development can be supported by the infrastructure and service networks, promote fiscal health, align with regional plans, and represent community values. Prioritizing infill development is one strategy to efficiently use existing infrastructure networks in Stockton and avoid having to expand roadways, utilities, and services into new areas, even while accommodating new residents and attracting new jobs and visitors to the city. Expanding infrastructure beyond the current urban limit incurs both up front and long-term maintenance costs that, if not adequately funded by development, can detract from existing neighborhoods. As growth takes place, regularly monitoring its progress will help ensure that benefits are shared communitywide and that impacts can be mitigated.

POLICY LU-6.1

Carefully plan for future development and proactively mitigate potential impacts.

Action LU-6.1A

The Envision Stockton General Plan Update Environmental Impact Report (EIR) assumes the following maximum development projections for the year 2040 for the lands located within the Sphere of Influence, including projects that were already approved prior to the General Plan Update, but not yet constructed:

• 40,900 new dwelling units
• 13.8 million square feet of new commercial and office space
• 35.6 million square feet of new industrial space

When approved development within the city reaches the maximum number of residential units or any of the non-residential square footages projected in the General Plan EIR, require that environmental review conducted for any subsequent development project address growth impacts that would occur due to development exceeding the General Plan EIR’s projections. This does not preclude the City, as lead agency, from determining that an EIR would be required for any development in the Sphere of Influence to the extent required under the relevant provisions of CEQA (e.g., Section 21166 and related guidelines). The City will conduct the appropriate scoping at the time of initial study for any project, all in accordance with these requirements.

Action LU-6.1B

Monitor the rate of growth to ensure that it does not overburden the City’s infrastructure and services and does not exceed the amounts analyzed in the General Plan EIR.

Action LU-6.1C

Require that vacant unincorporated properties be annexed into the city prior to the provision of any City services, or that a conditional service agreement be executed agreeing to annex when deemed appropriate by the City.

Action LU-6.1D

Require that all utility connections outside the city limit be for land uses that are consistent with the General Plan.

Action LU-6.1E

Do not approve new development unless there is infrastructure in place or planned and funded to support the growth.

Action LU-6.1F

Evaluate and implement adjustments to the Public Facilities Fee structure to encourage development in areas where infrastructure is already present and ensure that non-infill development pays its fair share of anticipated citywide capital facilities and operational costs.

Action LU-6.1G

Maintain adequate staffing levels to support achieving the City's service level goals for police and fire protection.

POLICY LU-6.2

Prioritize development and redevelopment of vacant, underutilized, and blighted infill areas.

Action LU-6.2A

Develop and implement an infill incentive program that encourages infill development through expedited permitting, changes in fee structures, prioritizing infrastructure improvements in infill areas, property owner and/or landlord incentives to maintain property and reduce blight, and/or other strategies. As part of this program, define and prioritize categories of infill types based on land use and residential density or non-residential intensity.

Action LU-6.2B

Do not approve future annexations or City utility connections unless they are consistent with the overall goals and policies of the General Plan and do not adversely impact the City's fiscal viability, environmental resources, infrastructure and services, and quality of life.

Action LU-6.2C

Ensure prioritization of development and redevelopment of vacant, underutilized, and blighted infill areas be considered through strategies such as zoning changes and strategies to avoid gentrification.

Action LU-6.2D

Comply with State requirements that limit the idling of motor vehicles.

POLICY LU-6.3

Ensure that all neighborhoods have access to well-maintained public facilities and utilities that meet community service needs.

Action LU-6.3A

Require development to mitigate any impacts to existing sewer, water, stormwater, street, fire station, park, or library infrastructure that would reduce service levels.

Action LU-6.3B

Ensure that public facilities, infrastructure, and related land area and other elements are designed and right-of-way is acquired to meet 2040 planned development requirements to avoid the need for future upsizing or expansion, unless planned as phased construction.

Action LU-6.3C

Coordinate, to the extent possible, upgrades and repairs to roadways with utility needs, infrastructure upgrades, and bicycle and pedestrian improvements (i.e., “dig once”).

Action LU-6.3D

Design public facilities and infrastructure to maintain and improve the visual quality of the urban environment, including through the following approaches:

• Designing buildings and infrastructure to fit into and complement their ultimate surroundings.
• Buffering buildings and infrastructure from their surroundings as appropriate to shield unsightly areas from public view.
• Providing appropriate landscaping.

POLICY LU-6.4 🏙️ 🌍

Ensure that land use decisions balance travel origins and destinations in as close proximity as possible, and reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT).

Action LU-6.4A 🏙️ 🌍 Maintain a reasonable balance between potential job generation and local workforce availability with a goal of one job for each employed resident.

Action LU-6.4B 🏙️ 🌍 Maintain a reasonable proximity and balance (i.e., magnitude) between job-generating uses, housing opportunities, and resident services and amenities, including transit and active transportation.

Action LU-6.4C 📉 🌍 Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) per household by planning new housing in closest proximity to employment centers, improving and funding public transportation and ridesharing, and facilitating more direct routes for pedestrians and bicyclists.

FISCAL HEALTH IS A NECESSARY PRIORITY

The potential for business attraction, retention, and expansion in Stockton can support the City government and the overall community in a variety of ways. A portion of sales tax from retail and business-to-business transactions goes directly into the City’s General Fund, where it can be used to support services such as law enforcement, fire suppression, and street maintenance. Likewise, investment in real estate that leads to increased property value can also result in higher property tax revenues that support the General Fund. New development also pays a Utility User Tax, and lodging businesses pay an additional Transient Occupancy Tax, which together also fund City services. The sources of

City revenues and the costs to provide City services in 2017 are shown on Figures 3-7 and 3-8.

Figure 3-7 2017 City Revenue Sources

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Figure 3-8 2017 City Service Costs from General Fund

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Perhaps just as important as City tax revenues, new businesses offer increased job opportunities that put dollars directly in the pockets of employees and thereby increase spending power, and in turn, potential profitability for Stockton businesses. The location, appearance, and accessibility of business and employment centers are key to creating the synergy that encourages additional enterprises to locate and expand in the city.

POLICY LU-6.5

Improve and maintain the City’s fiscal health.

Action LU-6.5A

Require preparation of a fiscal impact analysis for large development projects and proposed annexations to ensure a full accounting of infrastructure and public service costs and to confirm whether revenue enhancement mechanisms are necessary to ensure net fiscal balance or better, and require appropriate fiscal mitigations, when necessary, to ensure the City’s ongoing fiscal health and continued viability of the City’s General Fund.

Action LU-6.5B

Utilize development agreements as a tool to implement public facilities financing plans and to secure fiscal mitigations and various public benefits from new development projects.

Action LU-6.5C

Evaluate and update all development impact fees to be consistent with the 2040 General Plan.

Action LU-6.5D

Continue to utilize developer fees, the City’s public facilities fees, and other methods (e.g., grant funding and assessment districts) to finance public facility design, construction, operation, and maintenance.

COORDINATION WITH REGIONAL PARTNERS MAKES CITY PLANNING MORE EFFECTIVE

The City of Stockton’s jurisdiction ends at the city limit, but City staff and officials regularly work with other agencies to ensure that the region as a whole is operating cohesively toward a unifying vision. Participation in San Joaquin County planning efforts at the edge of Stockton and in regional planning programs facilitated by the San Joaquin Council of Governments, such as the Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy and Regional Smart Growth Transit-Oriented Development Plan, help to achieve this goal.

In addition to working collaboratively with other governmental agencies, an active civil society is key to achieving the General Plan goals and vision. Community participation in local government brings diverse viewpoints and values into the decision-making process and helps ensure that City actions benefit the broadest range of people possible. Inclusive, participatory processes lead to better informed solutions and build mutual understanding and trust between local government officials and the public they serve.

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POLICY LU-6.6

Coordinate land use planning efforts among City departments and with regional agencies.

Action LU-6.6A

Provide written comments to San Joaquin County on all proposed significant development projects in the City’s Planning Area to request consistency with this General Plan and other City regulations.

Action LU-6.6B

Participate in the San Joaquin Council of Governments’ (SJCOG) regional planning programs and coordinate City plans and programs with those of SJCOG, including the Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, among others, and work with non-profit organizations also engaging in these planning programs.

Action LU-6.6C

Review and update the Development Code to ensure consistency with the updated General Plan.

Action LU-6.6D

Review and update the Zoning District Map to ensure consistency with the updated General Plan.

POLICY LU-6.7

Enhance public participation in the planning process.

Action LU-6.7A

Work with community-based organizations to develop and implement a comprehensive and accountable long-term strategy to engage the Stockton community in planning decisions.

Action LU-6.7B

Require that sponsors of new development projects, especially those that require Planning Commission and/or City Council approval, have early, frequent, and meaningful communication with affected citizens and stakeholders.

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4

TRANSPORTATION

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Transportation is an essential part of our everyday lives. How we choose to move around—to jobs, schools, homes, and shopping/leisure activities—has major implications for our lives, ranging from how much time we spend commuting to health issues related to air pollutants and limited time for recreation. Stockton has excellent regional access by road, water, and air. Locally, freeways and arterials provide quick access through town, but improving connections between neighborhoods and destinations in Stockton is a key consideration for the future. Closing gaps in the bicycle and trail network, improving the pedestrian realm, and expanding the range of efficient, safe, and easy options for getting around will enhance the quality of life for all community members. The focus of this chapter is on strengthening physical connections to the region and within the community. It is organized around four key goals that represent the priorities of the Stockton community:

• Mobile Community
• Active Community
• Sustainable Transportation
• Effective Transportation Assessments

GOALS, POLICIES, AND ACTIONS

GOAL TR-1: MOBILE COMMUNITY

Provide an integrated transportation system that enables safe and efficient movement of people and goods for all modes of travel.

MOBILITY FOR ALL IS THE NEW STANDARD

The local transportation system needs to serve all users, with a focus on safety, accessibility, and convenient, efficient travel between origins and destinations in Stockton. Enhancing mobility and connectivity for transit, bicycles, and pedestrians will also help reduce vehicle traffic congestion and pollution and promote public health.

Roadway classifications help define the function of various street types in the transportation network, based on level of traffic volume that can be served. Classifying roadway types allows the City to monitor performance and plan for improvements needed to accommodate changes in traffic, pedestrian, and bicycle volumes, physical development, and transit service modifications over the life of the General Plan. Classifications are also necessary to ensure the City is eligible for roadway maintenance and improvement funding.

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As interest in safe and sustainable transportation systems has emerged, communities throughout California have been changing the transportation planning paradigm from a vehicle-centered exercise to a “Complete Streets” approach, in which all travel modes are accommodated in a balanced way based on the particular street’s location, land use context, and function within the citywide circulation network.

The General Plan defines the City’s roadway network based on traditional categories recognized by regional, State, and federal transportation agencies for purposes of grant funding for ongoing street maintenance and rehabilitation programs. In addition, the City of Stockton will continue to consider whether and when to transition to a “Complete Streets” approach, in which all travel modes are explicitly accommodated in a balanced way based on the particular street’s location, land use context, and function within the citywide circulation network.

The existing and future roadway networks are shown on Figure 4-1. The City’s adopted Precise Road Plans, which protect, preserve, and require dedications for planned roadway and/or transportation corridors as future development occurs, are intended to be updated to conform to the planned roadway network, along with the multi-modal complete streets principles outlined in the policies and actions below. The roadway classifications included in the roadway network are as follows:

• Freeways and highways are high-speed facilities that move inter-city or regional traffic. Freeway access is generally limited to grade-separated interchanges, while highway access is provided at-grade in most cases. Freeways and highways that provide regional access to and from Stockton include Interstate 5 (I-5), State Route (SR) 99, SR 4, SR 26, and SR 88.

Figure 4-1

Circulation Map

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Source: City of Stockton; Fehr & Peers, 2016; PlaceWorks, 2017.

TRANSPORTATION 4-3