CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1100 OVERVIEW

The Carlotta/Hydesville Community Plan, as the Humboldt County Framework Plan is, a long range statement of public policy for the use of public and private lands. The Framework Plan, Community Plans and Coastal Area Plans comprise the Humboldt County General Plan. The Framework Plan covers countywide issues while the Carlotta/Hydesville Area Community Plan deals with land use within the Carlotta/Hydesville Planning Area. (See Figure 1 for boundaries of the Carlotta/Hydesville Planning Area.)

Land use policies which are applicable within the Carlotta/Hydesville Planning Area are contained in two documents (each consisting of text, tables, maps and diagrams). The documents are:

1. The Carlotta/Hydesville Area Community Plan - This plan contains specific policies applicable to the Carlotta/Hydesville Planning Area.

2. The Humboldt County Framework Plan - This plan contains policies and information applicable to all unincorporated areas of Humboldt County.

Background information used in the preparation of the Community Plan is found in these documents: 1. The Hydesville County Water District Sphere of Influence Report - This Plan was adopted by the Local Agency Formation Commission on August 22, 1979 and establishes the probable ultimate physical boundary and service area for the Hydesville County Water District.

2. Technical Background Report to the Carlotta/Hydesville Area Community Plan- This report contains background information useful in establishing the policies of the Carlotta/Hydesville Area Community Plan. An analysis of a citizen's questionnaire survey and a summary of responses to the questionnaire is included.

3. Policy Background Studies to the Humboldt County Framework Plan - These studies contain background information pertinent to the Humboldt County Framework Plan.

It is critical to note that the Carlotta/Hydesville Area Community Plan, while recognizing many of the various policies established by the Humboldt County Framework Plan, cannot be used in isolation without consideration of the entire General Plan. The Framework Plan and the Community Plan together constitute the General Plan for the Carlotta/Hydesville Planning Area.

The Carlotta/Hydesville Area Community Plan has been developed in accordance with the Humboldt County General Plan, Volume I - Framework Plan. Numerical sections of the Plan correspond with Volume I sections. Where Community plan sections are referenced to Volume I, or are omitted entirely, the language of Volume I prevails. Where specific Goals, Policies or Standards are included in the Community Plan, the Community Plan supplements or takes precedence over Volume I counterparts.

The major policies of the Humboldt County Framework Plan are:

1. Protection of resource production lands (agriculture, timber and minerals).

2. Incentive to increase rural densities within or adjacent to existing communities to compensate for development potential constrained by the protection of agricultural and timberlands.

3. Concentration of new development around existing communities.

4. Commitment of priority for public investments in existing communities.

5. Designation of a boundary between urban and rural areas of development.

6. Establishment of relationships between availability of services (sewer and/or water) and their relationship to the conversion of rural lands to urban development.

7. Provision for adequate housing.

8. Provision for economic development.

9. Identification of areas of special consideration (i.e., sensitive habitats, cultural resources, landslides, flood, etc.). Major plan proposals and underlying principles of the Carlotta/Hydesville Area Community Plan are: 1. Maintain the present level of resource protection for timberlands and provide additional zoning protection for agricultural lands on the Van Duzen River flood plain and the Yager Creek Valley.

2. Reserve additional land suitable for industrial development in the vicinity of the existing lumber mills along Yager Creek.

3. Preclude and/or limit the extent of additional residential development in high hazard areas (flooding and geologic fault rupture corridors).

4. Direct residential development to existing urbanizing areas. 5. Provide for adequate housing sites for the area's future growth.

6. Planned resdiential densities in Hydesville to be compatible with the continued use of on-site wastewater disposal systems.

7. Planned residential densities in Carlotta to be compatible with the continued use of individual water systems and on-site wastewater disposal systems.

1340 THE PARTICIPANTS

1341 Board of Supervisors

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, as the elected legislative body, is the chief policy making body for the County. The Board has sole responsibility and authority to adopt the General Plan as the County's statement of public policy on land use. The Board is required by law to hold at least one public hearing to receive public testimony and to review the report and recommendations of its advisory agency, the Planning Commission. The Board, through the establishment of the Planning Commission, the provision of funding for the work on this plan and the adoption of policies to maximize the public participation has provided the greatest opportunities for public awareness and understanding of the plan.

1342 Planning Commission

The Planning Commission consists of seven people who are appointed by the Board of Supervisors as the advisory agency on all planning matters. One Commissioner comes from each supervisorial district and two are appointed at-large. The Commission must report to the Board and provide recommendations on the adoption and revision of the General Plan. The Commission is required by law to hold at least one public hearing to take testimony on plan proposals. In order to provide for maximum public input, the Commission has the ability to recommend to the Board the formation of advisory committees (see Section 1550 of Volume I). The Commission held over thirty public workshops on plan issues addressed in a series of Policy Background Studies now included in the County's data base. The Policies developed during the workshops became the basis for the Hearing Draft General Plan Volume I-Framework.

The Planning Department provides planning services to the Board, the Commission, and the public. These services should include: the gathering, presentation, and/or coordination of information; making recommendations; and implementing the Plan. The Planning Director is appointed by the Board with the staff appointed by the Director. The staff level and supporting appropriations are determined annually by the Board during the budget process.

1343 The Public

One of the first goals approved in the beginning of this program was:

To maximize the opportunity for individuals and groups to have meaningful participation in the planning process. This goal was developed from the understanding that the public will be more able to support policies guiding the development of the County when an opportunity to participate in the development and review of the general plan has been provided. Through this exposure, and the contributions it makes to the process and the product, the public will hopefully gain greater understanding of the plan. Participation not only in the review of this document, but also in proposing subsequent revisions to improve what is adopted, will help insure that this document will remain a current statement of public policy.

1450 AMENDMENTS TO THE GENERAL PLAN

It must be recognized even if this document were assumed to be a perfect interpretation, analysis and forecast from the base information, that the base information itself will change over time. Changes in the base information, as well as the underlying community values and any corrective measures that may need to be taken constitute the reasons for amending the General Plan.

1451 Annual Report to Board

The Planning Commission is required by law [Government Code Section 65400(b)] to report annually to the Board of Supervisors on the status of the plan and progress in its implementation. This report should also review the changes made or recommended as a result of the review schedule shown in Figure 1-3 of the Framework Plan.

1452 Amendments

Amendments may only be initiated by the Board of Supervisors based on a recommendation by Resolution of the Planning Commission or requested by members of the public. Applications by the public shall be on the forms provided by the Planning Department. Fees shall be as established by the Board of Supervisors.

1452.1 Procedures

All amendments must follow the procedures outlined in the Government Code. An amendment to the general plan constitutes a project under the California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, must be evaluated for its environmental effects. In addition, proposed amendments shall be referred to all interested government agencies for comment prior to adoption. As with the adoption of the plan, a legally noticed public hearing is required before both the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. Any changes made by the Board must have been considered previously by the Commission, or the Board must refer the amendment back to the Commission for its consideration and report (Government Code Section 65356).

1452.2 Findings Required

In reviewing proposals for general plan amendments, the Board and Commission should remember that the general plan is a policy document for the entire County and that it may only be amended "in the public interest" (Government Code Section 65356.1) as determined by the Board of Supervisors. In other words, the plan should only be amended when the County, with the support of the broad consensus, determines a change is necessary, not merely because a property owner or a group of citizens desires the amendment. Every general plan amendment, additionally, must be consistent with the rest of the general plan or appropriate changes need to be made to maintain consistency.

Amendment of this plan shall be considered upon making any of the following findings:

1. Base information or physical conditions have changed; or

2. Community values and assumptions have changed; or

3. There is an error in the plan; or

4. To maintain established uses otherwise consistent with a comprehensive view of the plan. 1500 Planning and Coordination

Background

The Carlotta/Hydesville Community Advisory Committee with representation from the Hydesville County Water District and the Carlotta Community Services District played a key role in the preparation of the Community Plan.(REFER TO CHAPTER 1 OF THE FRAMEWORK PLAN FOR ALL PLAN REVISION AND COORDINATION POLICIES APPLICABLE IN THE CARLOTTA/HYDESVILLE AREA COMMUNITY PLAN.)

Community Policy

1. The Carlotta Community Services District should review, approve and utilize the Carlotta/Hydesville Community Plan as adopted by the Board of Supervisors. 2. The Hydesville County Water District: a. The Hydesville County Water District should review, approve and utilize the Carlotta/Hydesville Community Plan as adopted by the Board of Supervisors.

b. Pursuant to Government Code 65402 which requires the County to review public works projects for conformance to the General Plan, the Hydesville County Water District shall prepare a status report on the preparation of a Water Facilities and Finance Plan within one year of adoption of the Community Plan by the Board of Supervisors.

3. The amendment of the Plan or Zoning within the Hydesville Community Water District Sphere of Influence shall require the preparation of a Water Facilities and Finance Plan to be approved by the County as consistent with the level of development to be adopted in the Plan or Zone revision.

4. An ad hoc Community Advisory Committee should be appointed by the Board of Supervisors to review and comment on the adopted Community Plan in the event:

a. A community-wide public water or sewer system is proposed for Carlotta; or

b. Public sewer systems are proposed for the community of Hydesville; or

c. A hydro-geologic study indicates the necessity/opportunity to reconsider the pattern and intensity of development.

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