What is a General Plan?

California state law requires every city and county in California to prepare a “General Plan” which guides decisions about future growth and development. A General Plan covers topics such as land use, transportation, housing, open space, natural resources, and public services. Local General Plans have been mandatory in California since the 1950s. State law also requires such Plans to be periodically updated in response to changing conditions. Each General Plan includes maps expressing the community’s vision of how and where it will grow and change in the future. The General Plan typically has a time horizon of about 20 years, giving the city an opportunity to think long-term about what it wishes to preserve and what it wishes to change. Once a General Plan is adopted, it is used by the City Council, local commissions, and City Staff as they make day to day decisions about the community’s future.

The Albany General Plan Update Program was initiated in February 2013. The process included the 2007-2014 Housing Element Update, adopted in March 2014, and the 2015-2023 Housing Element Update, adopted in February 2015. The process also included the update of all other General Plan elements, development of several new elements, and preparation of a revised General Plan Map. Concurrently the City prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the General Plan Update, as required by the California Environmental Quality Act.

The City Council of the City of Albany adopted the Albany 2035 General Plan on April 18, 2016 (CC Resolution 2016-24). Links to the individual chapters can be accessed below. 

Chapter 1: Intro
Chapter 2: Framework
Chapter 3: Land Use
Chapter 4: Transportation
Chapter 5: Housing
Chapter 6: Parks, Recreation, Open Space
Chapter 7: Conservation
Chapter 8: Environmental Hazards
Chapter 9: Community Services
Chapter 10: Waterfront
Chapter 11: Implementation

Albany 2035 General Plan CEQA Findings

Albany 2035 General Plan Draft EIR

Albany 2035 General Plan Draft EIR Response to Comments

Albany 2035 General Plan Mitigation Monitoring