Title
GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT - POLICY OS-10.11 (GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTIONS)
a. Consider an early assessment of a proposed County-initiated amendment to the 2010 General Plan regarding Greenhouse Gas Reductions (Policy OS-10.11) consistent with state law and guidance.
b. Provide direction to staff relative to the suitability of the proposed General Plan Amendment in consideration of the context of all other amendments comprehensively and cumulatively.
Location: County-wide
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Planning Commission:
a. Consider an early assessment of a proposed County-initiated amendment to the 2010 General Plan regarding Greenhouse Gas Reductions (Policy OS-10.11) consistent with state law and guidance.
b. Provide direction to staff relative to the suitability of the proposed General Plan Amendment in consideration of the context of all other amendments comprehensively and cumulatively.
SUMMARY:
Chapter 21.91 of the Monterey County Code (implementing General Plan Policies LU-9.6 and LU-9.7) sets forth a process and criteria to amend the General Plan, which entails bringing requests to the Planning Commission for an early assessment. Staff has identified the need to update policy OS-10.11 of the 2010 General Plan. At the time of adoption of the General Plan, and consistent with Assembly Bill 32 (the Global Warming Solutions Act), Policy OS-10.11 requires adoption of a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Plan with a target to reduce emissions by 15 percent from 2005 levels by 2020. Current state guidance (Senate Bill 32) sets the relevant target as reduction of emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.
To align timelines and targets provided in Policy OS-10.11 with current guidance from the State, staff recommends that the Planning Commission initiate revisions to the Policy that remove the specific target years. Proposed revisions generally keep the GHG reduction goal that was the reason for the Policy, while providing flexibil...
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