Planning Services

2004 Community Regions 

OBJECTIVE 2.1.1: COMMUNITY REGIONS

Purpose: The urban limit line establishes a line on the General Plan land use maps demarcating where the urban and suburban land uses will be developed. The Community Region boundaries as depicted on the General Plan land use map shall be the established urban limit line.

Provide opportunities that allow for continued population growth and economic expansion while preserving the character and extent of existing rural centers and urban communities, emphasizing both the natural setting and built design elements which contribute to the quality of life and economic health of the County. 

Policy 2.1.1.1
The Communities within the County are identified as: Camino/Pollock Pines, El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, El Dorado, Diamond Springs, Shingle Springs, and the City of Placerville and immediate surroundings. 

Policy 2.1.1.2
Establish Community Regions to define those areas which are appropriate for the highest intensity of self-sustaining compact urban-type development or suburban type development within the County based on the municipal spheres of influence, availability of infrastructure, public services, major transportation corridors and travel patterns, the location of major topographic patterns and features, and the ability to provide and maintain appropriate transitions at Community Region boundaries. These boundaries shall be shown on the General Plan land use map. 

Policy 2.1.1.3
Mixed use developments which combine commercial, research and development, and residential uses on a single parcel are permissible and encouraged within Community Regions provided the commercial use is the primary and dominant use of the land. Within Community Regions, the mixed uses may occur vertically. In mixed use projects, the maximum residential density shall be 10 dwelling units per acre within Community Regions. 

Policy 2.1.1.4
Community Region boundaries shall generally be coterminous with the Sphere of Influence boundaries of incorporated cities. Community Region boundaries may extend beyond a city’s sphere of influence to recognize existing and anticipated development patterns consistent with that of Community Regions. However, cities should be encouraged to expand their sphere of influence to be contiguous with Community Region boundaries. 

Policy 2.1.1.5
intentionally blank 

Policy 2.1.1.6
The boundaries of existing Community Regions may be modified through the General Plan amendment process. 

Policy 2.1.1.7
Development within Community Regions, as with development elsewhere in the County, may proceed only in accordance with all applicable General Plan Policies, including those regarding infrastructure availability as set forth in the Transportation and Circulation and the Public Services and Utilities Elements. Accordingly, development in Community Regions and elsewhere will be limited in some cases until such time as adequate roadways, utilities, and other public service infrastructure become available and wildfire hazards are mitigated as required by an approved Fire Safe Plan.