R SA
SANTA
FORWARD
Plan Our Future Together
Santa Rosa General Plan 2050
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Attachment 2
2 A general plan is a city’s road map for the future. It describes a community’s aspirations and identifies strategies for managing preservation and change. General Plan 2050 was developed in close collaboration with the community and with oversight and direction from the Planning Commission and City Council in a multiyear process involving several phases:
» Phase 1: Project Initiation and Community
Involvement Strategy (Complete)
» Phase 2: Existing Conditions Analysis and
Visioning (Complete)
» Phase 3: Land Use and Circulation Alternatives
(Complete)
» Phase 4: Preferred Alternative (Complete)
» Phase 5: Draft 2050 General Plan (Complete)
» Phase 6: Environmental Analysis (In Progress)
» Phase 7: Public Review and Adoption (In Progress)
» Phase 8: Additional Amendments to City
Documents (Upcoming)
R SA
SANTA
VISION
JUST
HEALTHY
INCLUSIVE
PREPARED
EQUITABLE
RESILIENTCONNECTED
SAFE
EDUCATED
CULTURAL SUSTAINABLE
SUCCESSFUL
SHELTERED
COMMUNITY VISION
The community’s vision for the future, developed in
Phase 2 of the project, helped to frame the Preferred
Alternative (Phase 4); inform new and updated
General Plan goals, policies, and actions; and ensure
that the General Plan fully addresses the needs and
desires of the community. The vision is made up of
13 complementary ideals.
1. INTRODUCTION
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050
3 General Plan 2050 Contents
Santa a Rosa General Plan 2050 consolidates the eight State- mandated elements of a general plan into five chapters that address both required and optional General Plan topics.
The sixth and final chapter, Housing, was prepared through a separate process as State law requires it to be updated every eight years and the current Housing Element was
adopted and certified in Spring 2023, covering the planning period through 2031. General Plan 2050 does not involve any amendments to the Housing Element.
Chapters
LAND USE AND
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
URBAN DESIGN,
HISTORIC
PRESERVATION,
AND ART AND CULTURE
CIRCULATION, OPEN
SPACE, CONSERVATION,
AND GREENHOUSE GAS
REDUCTION
SAFETY, CLIMATE
RESILIENCE, NOISE,
AND PUBLIC SERVICES
AND FACILITIES
HEALTH, EQUITY AND
ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE
HOU SING
L and Use
Urban
Design
His toric
P reservation
Art and
Culture
Hills ide
P olicies
O pen Space
Climate
Resilience
Saf ety
Equ ity
Noise
Community
Health
E nvironmen tal
Jus tice
Hou sing
P arks Youth, Family,
and Seniors
R equ ired 2030 GP New , not requ ired
G reenho use Ga s Reduction Con servationCirculation
Public Services
and Facilities
Goals, Policies, and Actions
General Plan 2050 is made up of goals, policies,
and actions that work together to achieve the
community’s future vision.
Goal, Policy, and Action Hierarchy
GOAL POLICY A CTION
A specific statement
that regulates activities
in the city, guides
decision-making, and
directs implementing
action to achieve a
Goal. General Plan
policies guide City
staff, the Planning
Commission, City
Council, and other City
boards’ and
commissions’
decision-making and
their review of land
development projects.
A general, overall, and
ultimate desired
outcome the City will
direct to achieving over
the lifetime of the
General Plan./NULL
A measure, procedure,
or technique intended
to implement one or
more policies to help
reach a Goal. An action
may be ongoing or
something that can be
completed in a discrete
timeframe.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050
4 General Plan Priority
Areas and Populations
A number of goals, policies, and
actions in the General Plan give priority
to specific areas or populations in
Santa Rosa. Though a goal, policy,
or action may apply broadly, this
prioritization means that the City will
first concentrate efforts on historically
underserved communities and/or core
neighborhoods to advance key aims of
environmental justice, social equity, and
complete neighborhoods. These priority
areas and populations are Equity Priority
Populations, Equity Priority Areas, and
Areas of Change.
Equity Priority Populations are
groups identified by the City as having
characteristics that contribute to
vulnerability and/or the likelihood of
being underserved in a variety of areas,
including environmental justice, equity,
health, and safety. These populations
are:
1. Low-income individuals and families
2. Racial or ethnic groups experiencing
disparate health outcomes
3. Seniors, children, youth, and young adults
4. Individuals with disabilities
5. Immigrants and refugees
6. Outdoor workers and farmworkers
7. Individuals who have limited English
proficiency
8. Unhoused people
9. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer,
intersexual, asexual, and other LGBTQIA+
communities
10. Individuals who are incarcerated or who
have been incarcerated
Some goals, policies, and actions
prioritize one or more Equity Priority
Populations to support equitable
outcomes for all residents.
Equity Priority Areas or EPAs are
areas in Santa Rosa where residents
suffer most from economic, health,
and environmental burdens. EPAs are
identified following Guidance from
the State tool, CalEnviroScreen 4.0,
and additional input from community
members and stakeholders. This
General Plan addresses environmental
justice needs pursuant to SB 1000 and
health and equity considerations of
EPAs with goals, policies, and actions
in each chapter that prioritize EPAs, as
appropriate. Chapter 6, “Health, Equity,
and Environmental Justice,” has the
highest concentration of these goals,
policies, and actions.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050
5 1401
3104
2802
2100
1402
2801
3200
3002
3001
2903
3103 3102
SCWA
Unity
Stone
Farm
Young-Armos
Ives
Park
Kelly Farm
Brown Farm
Alpha Farm
Youth
Community
Park
Howarth
Park
Golis
Park
Laguna
Youth
Park
A Place to
Play Park Doyle
Park
Oken
Sugarloaf
Ridge SP
Santa Rosa
Plain Vernal
Pool ER
Spring
Lake RP
Annadel SP
Hood Mtn. RP
Laguna
Wildlife
Area
Saddle
Mtn. OSP
North Sonoma
Mtn. RP and OSP
Taylor Mtn.
RP and OSP
W 3RD ST
STONY POINT RD
MENDOCINO
AVE
PINER RD
FRAN
KLINAVE
SONOMA AVE
COLLEGE AVE
SANTA ROSA AVE
MONTGOMERY
DR
SUMMERFIELD
RD
N
DUTTONAVE
4TH ST
FOUNTAINGROVE
PKW
Y
PACIFIC AVE
W COLLEGE AVE
BROOKWOOD AVE
HOEN AVE
GUERNEVILLE RD
BENNETT
VALL
EY RD
CALISTOGA RD
SE S
T
PETAL
UMA
HILL RD
SEBASTOPOL RD
(/
101
(/
101
12 116
12 Rohnert Park
Larkfield-Wikiup
Fulton
Santa Rosa
Sebastopol
Kenwood
Equity Priority
Areas
Figure 2-4
0 1 20.5 miles
City Limits
City Sphere of Influence
Urban Growth Boundary
Planning Area
Equity Priority Areas
Census Tracts Containing
Equity Priority Areas
Source: City of Santa Rosa 2023
GalvinCommunityPark
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050
6 Areas of Change were identified in the Preferred Alternative process (phase 4). This community- favored approach to land use planning maintains existing designations while prioritizing development in 21 specific Areas of Change, where the City will focus efforts to address housing, services, connectivity, and/or infrastructure needs to help make these complete neighborhoods. As such, some goals, policies, and actions prioritize implementation in Areas of Change.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050
7 SCWA
Unity
Stone
Farm
Juilliard
Park
Young-Armos
Ives
Park
Kelly Farm
Brown Farm
Alpha Farm
Youth
Community
Park
Howarth
Park
Golis
Park
Laguna
Youth
Park
A Place to
Play Park Doyle
Park
Oken
Sugarloaf
Ridge SP
Santa
Rosa Creek
Redwoods
Santa Rosa
Plain Vernal
Pool ER
Spring
Lake RP
Annadel SP
Hood Mtn. RP
Laguna
Wildlife
Area
Saddle
Mtn. OSP
North Sonoma
Mtn. RP
and OSP
Taylor Mtn.
RP and OSP
W 3RD ST
ST
ONY POINT RD
ME
NDOCINO
AVE
PINER RD
FRAN
KLIN
AVE
SONOMA AVECOLLEGE AVE
SANTA ROSA AVE
MONTGOMERY DR
SUMMERF
IELD
RD
N
DUTTON
AV
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T
BENNETT
VA
LLEY
RD
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GUERNEVILLE RD
CALISTOGA RD
SE ST
PETALUMA
HILL RD
SEBASTOPOL RD
(/
101
(/
101
12 116
12 Rohnert Park
Larkfield-Wikiup
Fulton
Santa Rosa
Sebastopol
Kenwood
1 2
3 4
5 6
7 8
9 10
11 12
13 14
15 16
17 18
19 20
21 Areas of Change
Figure 2-5
0 1 20.5 miles
City Limits
City Sphere of Influence
Urban Growth Boundary
Planning Area
Areas of Change
Source: City of Santa Rosa 2023
GalvinCommunityPark
8 How land is used in Santa Rosa can
make a big difference in how people
feel about and interact in local
neighborhoods and in how the local
economy operates. General Plan 2050
seeks to reinforce local pride, increase
local investment, and bolster the vitality
of the city as a whole.
Land Use and Economic
Development in the Plan
The Land Use and Economic
Development chapter of the General
Plan supports thoughtful land use
planning and economic development
strategies to enhance and build on
neighborhood assets, address current
challenges, increase economic and
environmental vitality, increase personal
opportunity, and improve quality of life
for everyone in Santa Rosa.
The citywide land use classifications
represent adopted City policy intended
to achieve the community’s vision. They
are meant to be broad enough to give
the city flexibility in implementation,
and clear enough to provide sufficient
direction to carry out the General Plan.
CHAPTER GOALS
Goal 2-1: Ensure that growth and change serve
community needs, protect the environment,
improve fiscal stability, and enhance quality of
life for all members of the community.
Goal 2-2: Promote city-centered growth and
investment with a neighborhood-focused
approach to create complete and connected
communities that provide community
members’ daily needs within easy walking or
biking distance.
Goal 2-3: Promote livability by creating a
variety of housing types near transit to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
Goal 2-4: Ensure that new growth and
development are resilient to economic cycles
and forces.
Goal 2-5: Foster sustained, inclusive growth
that generates long-term, shared value
in the community and creates economic
opportunities for all residents.
Goal 2-6: Maintain vibrant, convenient, and
attractive commercial centers.
2. LAND USE AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
NEW IDEAS
The following are some of the new ideas
presented in this chapter:
» Require construction measures that make
exposure to air pollution less severe for
development within 500 ft of Highways 101
and 12 (Action 2-1.3).
» Support micro-entrepreneurialism,
neighborhood-centered businesses and job
creation, home-based businesses, mobile
food and craft vendors, and community
gathering events in all nonresidential zoning
districts (Actions 2-4.6, 2-5.8, and 2-5.9).
VISUALIZING THE CONCEPT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050
9 SCWA
Unity
Stone
Farm
Juilliard
Park
Young-Armos
Ives
Park
Kelly Farm
Brown Farm
Alpha Farm
Youth
Community
Park
Howarth
Park
Golis
Park
Laguna
Youth
Park
A Place to
Play Park Doyle
Park
Oken
Sugarloaf
Ridge SP
Santa
Rosa Creek
Redwoods
Santa Rosa
Plain Vernal
Pool ER
Rohnert
Park
Municipal GC
Spring
Lake RP
Annadel SP
Hood Mtn. RP
Laguna
Wildlife
Area
Saddle
Mtn. OSP
North Sonoma
Mtn. RP
and OSP
Taylor Mtn.
RP and OSP
W 3RD ST
STONY POINT RD
MENDOCINO
AVE
PINER RD
FRAN
KLINAVE
SONOMA AVE
COLLEGE AVE
SANTA ROSA AVE
MONTGOMERY
DR
SUMMERFIELD
RD
N
DUTTONAVE
4TH ST
FOUNTAINGROVE
PKW
Y
PACIFIC AVE
W COLLEGE AVE
BROOKWOOD AVE
HOEN AVE
GUERNEVILLE RD
BENNETT
VALL
EY RD
CALISTOGA RD
SE S
T
PETAL
UMA
HILL RD
SEBASTOPOL RD
(/
101
(/
101
12 116
12 Rohnert Park
Larkfield-Wikiup
Fulton
Santa Rosa
Sebastopol
Kenwood
General Plan
Land Use
Figure 2-6
0 1 20.5 miles
City Limits
Urban Growth Boundary
City Sphere of Influence
Planning Area
Land Use Designation
Country Residential
Very Low Densitiy Residential
Low Density/Open Space
Low Density Residential
Medium Low Density Res
Medium Density Residential
Medium High Density Res
Mobile Homes
Retail and Business Services
Retail/Medium Res Mixed Use
Office/High Res Mixed Use
Office/Med Residential
PubInst/Med Residential
Office
Transit Village Mixed Use
Transit Village Medium
Station Mixed Use
Core Mixed Use
Neighborhood Mixed Use
Maker Mixed Use
Business Park
Light Industry
General Industry
Public/Institutional
Parks and Recreation
Open Space
Agriculture
Source: City of Santa Rosa 2023
GalvinCommunityPark
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050
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Kenwood
Existing and
Planned
Bicycle Network
Figure 3-6
0 1 20.5 miles
City Limits
City Sphere of Influence
Urban Growth Boundary
Planning Area
Existing Bike Route
Class 1
Class 2
Class 3
Proposed Bike Route
Class 1
Class 2
Class 3
Destinations
! School
SMART Station
Transit Hub
H Hospital
Library
Adapted from the 2018 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.
GalvinCommunityPark
Responsible management of the built and
natural environments now and in the future is
essential to ensure the well-being of current and
future generations.
Circulation
The General Plan works to further expand
the city’s transportation options and support
the mobility needs of everyone in Santa Rosa,
prioritizing modes like transit and bike that
minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
3. CIRCULATION, OPEN
SPACE, CONSERVATION,
AND GREENHOUSE GAS
REDUCTION
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Sebastopol
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Planned
Pedestrian Network
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Figure 3-5
0 1 20.5 miles
City Limits
Urban Growth Boundary
City Sphere of Influence
Planning Area
Existing Class I Shared-Use
Path
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PathProposed Sidewalk
Destinations
! School
SMART Station
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Adapted from the 2018 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.
GalvinCommunityPark
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050
11 SCWA
Unity
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Farm
Juilliard
Park
Young-Armos
Ives
Park
Kelly Farm
Brown Farm
Alpha Farm
Youth
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Park
A Place to
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Ridge SP
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Plain Vernal
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Road Diets
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050
12 CHAPTER GOALS
Goal 3-1: Provide an integrated land use
and transportation system with safe and
efficient movement of people and goods for
all modes of travel that prioritizes reduction of
transportation-related GHG emissions.
Goal 3-2: Provide a safe and accessible active
and public transportation network that reduces
dependence on single occupancy vehicles,
prioritizing Equity Priority Areas and Areas of
Change.
Goal 3-3: Ensure that traffic-related impacts
of proposed land uses are evaluated and
mitigated.
Goal 3-4: Protect, expand, maintain, and restore
natural resources, open space, and agricultural
land.
Goal 3-5: Achieve net carbon neutrality by 2030.
Open Space and Conservation
Open space in and around Santa Rosa
offers multiple community benefits,
including visual enjoyment, watershed
protection, recreation use, and hazard
risk reduction. General Plan 2050 guides
City efforts to conserve (preserve and
protect) resources, including the city’s
open space areas and air quality.
Greenhouse Gas Reduction
This chapter provides goals, policies,
and actions to reduce greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions in the transportation
and energy sectors, which generate
the highest shares of GHG emissions.
Additional GHG reducing strategies
are present in other chapters of the
General Plan where topics such as land
use and public services and facilities are
addressed. The City’s GHG Reduction
Strategy, currently under development,
will present all City GHG reduction
measures in a comprehensive plan.
NEW IDEAS
The following are some of the new ideas
presented in this chapter:
» Prioritize transportation investments that
support walking, biking, transit, carpools, and
rideshares, especially in Equity Priority Areas
(Actions 3-1.7 and 3-1.14), or areas that have
been underinvested.
» Continue to reduce parking requirements
(Action 3-1.9).
» Prohibit new drive-throughs (retail
and services) and provide incentives to
discontinue existing ones (Action 3-4.34).
VISUALIZING THE CONCEPT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050
13 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050
14 Attractive design of buildings and
outdoor spaces, cultural and historic
preservation, and art in public spaces
support a high quality of life and esteem
for Santa Rosa residents and businesses.
Urban Design
The City’s urban design standards
encourage development to highlight
the natural and historical features
of established areas, create distinct
architectural identities in emerging
areas, and protect views of the natural,
unbuilt areas surrounding Santa Rosa.
Historic Resources
Santa Rosa’s historic resources include
sites, structures, districts, and landmarks,
marked by a rich architectural heritage,
spanning many periods.
Cultural Resources
Native American habitation in the
Santa Rosa region began about 7,000
years ago. The city contains almost 200
recorded Native American resources
and there is a high potential for finding
more Native American sites in Santa
Rosa.
Arts
Arts have the power to connect
people, promote cultural inclusion
and diversity, create civic pride and a
sense of community, stimulate the local
economy, and inspire the creative spirit.
4. URBAN DESIGN, HISTORIC
PRESERVATION, AND ART AND CULTURE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050
15 CHAPTER GOALS
Goal 4-1: Preserve and enhance Santa
Rosa’s community character through
attractive urban and environmental
design and intentional development.
Goal 4-2: Protect the historic and cultural
resources of Santa Rosa and enrich the
sense of place and understanding of the
city’s history and prehistory.
Goal 4-3: Support an empowered, thriving,
and inclusive Santa Rosa community
connected through the power of art.
NEW IDEAS
The following are some of the new ideas
presented in this chapter:
» Provide planting strips with large canopy
trees between the road and sidewalk along
commercial streets to support safety and
placemaking (Action 4-1.5).
» Remove obstacles for owners of historic
properties to support preservation (Action
4-2.11).
VISUALIZING THE CONCEPT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050
16 The beautiful environment that attracts
people to Santa Rosa also creates
potential risks from hazards such as
fires, floods, droughts, earthquakes, and
slope instability that can harm people
and property and cause economic and
social dislocation.
Geologic and Seismicity
The relatively flat valley floor adjacent
to highland areas in and around Santa
Rosa signifies the presence of active
earthquake faults.
Flooding and Dam Failure
Santa Rosa is in the Russian River
watershed and has experienced flooding
in the past. Rain events can overwhelm
local drainages, especially the low-lying
areas in the southwest part of the city,
where critical sewer treatment facilities
are located. Flooding can also lead to
mudslides and landslides.
Emergency Preparedness
Through the City’s Know Your Ways Out
evacuation portal, the Multijurisdictional
Hazard Mitigation Plan, and other
proactive measures, the City has taken
proactive measures to prepare the
community for an emergency event
and is poised to respond quickly and
efficiently in a disaster event.
Public Services and Facilities
The General Plan supports the City’s
ability to continue to provide superior
public services and facilities for the
community, including ensuring
sufficient water supply to serve future
community needs, facilitating ongoing
cooperation with local and regional
emergency responders, and expanding
the City’s efforts to focus policing on
community-based solutions.
5. SAFETY, CLIMATE RESILIENCE, NOISE,
AND PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050
17 Rohnert Park
Larkfield-Wikiup
Fulton
Santa Rosa
Sebastopol
Kenwood
Unity
Young-Armos
Kelly Farm
Brown Farm
Stone
Farm
Alpha Farm
Howarth
Park
A Place to
Play Park
Oken
Sugarloaf
Ridge SP
Santa Rosa
Plain Vernal
Pool ER
Spring
Lake RP
Annadel SP
Hood Mtn. RP
Laguna
Wildlife
Area
Saddle
Mtn. OSP
North
Sonoma Mtn.
RP and OSP
Taylor Mtn.
RP and OSP
W 3RD ST
STONY POINT RD
MENDOCINO
AVE
PINER RD
FRANK
LINAVE
SONOMA AVE
COLLEGE AVE
SANTA ROSA AVE
MONTGOMERY
DR
SUMMER
FIELD
RD
N
DUTTON
AV
E 4TH ST
FOUNTAINGROVE
PKW
Y
PACIFIC AVE
W COLLEGE AVE
BROOKWOOD AVE
HOEN AVE
GUERNEVILLE RD
BENNETT
VALLEY RD
CALISTOGA RD
SE ST
SEBASTOPOL RD
PETALU
MA
HILL RD
(/
101
(/
101
12 116
12 Wildland-Urban
Interface Areas
Figure 5-9
0 1 20.5 miles
City Limits
Urban Growth Boundary
City Sphere of Influence
Planning Area
Creeks and Waterways
Parks and Open Space
Critical Facilities
Transmission Lines
Electric Power Plants
Electric Sub Stations
Fire Stations
Hospitals
Urgent Care Facility
Libraries
Schools
Local Law Enforcement Office
Dam Location
Airports
Interface Zones
Not a WUI
Influence Zone
Intermix Zone
WUI Zone
GalvinCommunityPark
Source: FRAP , 2015; CalOES, 2021.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050
18 Hazardous Materials
There are hazardous materials
throughout the community, and though
their presence may not be a significant
hazard, their release could harm plants,
animals, and people.
Climate Resilience
The climate crisis has severely impacted
Santa Rosa, contributing to wildfires,
droughts, extreme heat, severe weather,
and threats to local agriculture. While
General Plan 2050 works to reduce
GHG emissions and reverse the effects
of climate change, effective hazard
mitigation must simultaneously support
the community’s ability to adapt to
and recover from changing climate
conditions.
Wildland and Urban Fires
Santa Rosa and Sonoma County are
prone to wildfire that can be intense
and uncontrollable—the area is
especially susceptible in the wildland
urban interface. The General Plan and
other plans and City activities reduce
the threat of fires and protect the
community.
CHAPTER GOALS
Goal 5-1: Minimiz e community exposure to
seismic and geologic hazards.
Goal 5-2: Effectively manage the potential
effects of flooding and dam failure.
Goal 5-3: Increase community resilience to
future wildfire threats.
Goal 5-4: Protect all community members and
businesses from hazardous materials exposures
and releases.
Goal 5-5: Santa Rosa is prepared for future
emergencies.
Goal 5-6: Santa Rosa is a resilient city able
to adapt to, recover from, and thrive under
changing climate conditions.
Goal 5-7: Protect the community from adverse
noise impacts that can decrease quality of life.
Goal 5-8: Provide adequate and high-quality
city services for water, wastewater, recycled
water, stormwater, and solid waste.
Goal 5-9: Help provide superior and lifelong
educational opportunities for all community
members.
Goal 5-10: Provide efficient and effective
police and fire services for all members of the
community.
NEW IDEAS
The following are some of the new ideas
presented in this chapter:
» Create opportunities to proactively relocate
existing development from high fire risk
areas (Action 5-3.11).
» Explore options to prohibit increased density
of residential and non-residential uses in fire-
prone areas (Action 5-3.12).
VISUALIZING THE CONCEPT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050
19 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050
20 Like many communities, Santa Rosa
faces long-standing inequities and
health disparities between certain areas
and groups in the city. The General Plan
identifies these issues and presents
meaningful solutions.
Health for All Residents
Santa Rosa is committed to maintaining
and enhancing the health and quality
of life for the community by integrating
“Health in All Policies,” a practice that
incorporates community and individual
well-being into decision-making across
all City government sectors and policy
areas.
Food Access and Urban Agriculture
Access to fresh foods, whole grains,
and other unprocessed or minimally
6. HEALTH, EQUITY, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
VISUALIZING THE CONCEPT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050
21 processed foods is essential to good
health. The General Plan identifies
Healthy Food Priority Areas, where
residents may lack access to fresh foods,
to target efforts to meet the nutritional
needs of these communities.
Violence Prevention
and Equitable Policing
General Plan 2050 includes strategies
to enhance safety and make residents
of all ages, races, and ethnicities, across
Santa Rosa feel safe and welcome in the
community.
Parks
Santa Rosa features a wonderful
network of parks offering a variety of
recreation opportunities. But the City
continues to work toward an ambitious
target of offering 6 acres of parkland for
every 1,000 residents, while maintaining
and even enhancing the quality of
existing parkland.
Y outh, Family, and Seniors
The City aims to enhance opportunities
for young people, families, and seniors
to enjoy a high quality of life with age-
appropriate services and the ability to
age in place.
CHAPTER GOALS
Goal 6.5: Minimize risk of displacement and
gentrification while ensuring housing is safe
and sanitary for all residents.
Goal 6.6: Ensure that all households and
individuals have convenient, daily access
to affordable healthy food, including fresh
produce.
Goal 6.7: Ensure community safety and
foster neighborhood environments that are
welcoming to all ages, cultures, races, and
ethnicities.
Goal 6.8: Make parks the center for improving
personal and community well-being.
Goal 6.9: Foster environments that support
families and community members of all
ages with high-quality, equitably accessible
amenities, programs, and services.
Goal 6.1: Improve health and well-being for
all community members by emphasizing
community health in all City policies, programs,
actions, and activities.
Goal 6.2: Advance health equity by
understanding and addressing key social
determinants of health.
Goal 6.3: Promote meaningful community
engagement and empower residents through
inclusive communication, outreach, and
capacity-building to participate in City planning
and decision making.
Goal 6.4: Maintain and enhance a culture
of language access and justice in City
communications and public participation in
planning and decision-making processes.
NEW IDEAS
The following are some of the new ideas
presented in this chapter:
» Ensure that every decision made by the City
of Santa Rosa promotes community health,
sustainability, equity, and environmental
justice (Actions 6-1.3, 6-1.4, 6-1.11, and 6-1.12).
» Restrict tobacco and alcohol sales where
there is already a high concentration of
retailers and near sensitive populations, such
as near schools and senior facilities (Action
6-2.14).
» Require convenience stores, supermarkets,
liquor stores, and neighborhood markets to
carry fresh produce (Action 6-6.2).
» Require extra review for new chain
restaurants and at least 300 feet between
fast-food chains (Actions 6-6.7 and 6-6.8).
» Allow all forms of urban agriculture (including
rooftop, indoor, and other gardens) by
right citywide and allow on-site produce
exchanges and sales (Action 6-6.13).
Santa Rosa City Hall
100 Santa Rosa Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
www.SantaRosaForward.com