Here’s how to give feedback on Sacramento 2040 plans for climate, city growth

The city of Sacramento is encouraging the public to give feedback on its draft plans for the next two decades, which includes goals to support adding 69,000 homes and 77,000 jobs by 2040. 

A self-guided online workshop is available through the end of August and prompts the public to give comments on Sacramento 2040, which includes a general plan update and the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP). 

Sacramento aims to incorporate the feedback when it updates the plans, Andrew Hill, an urban planner consulting the city on the project, said in a webinar last week. Comments will also be presented to City Council before the body adopts the plans near the end of the year or early 2024, according to a press release. 

The general plan includes goals for promoting the development of a wider variety of housing types, as well as making public transit more frequent and reliable. Single-unit residences account for two-thirds of existing homes in the city, while multi-unit structures make up the other third, according to census data from 2014 to 2018. 

“I think a homerun would really be about building on that vision for interconnected centers and corridors in order to help ensure that the growth Sacramento is expected to see happens in ways that are sustainable and equitable,” Hill said. 

State law requires California cities and counties to have general plans, which serve as blueprints for development and land use. The city last completed a full general plan update in 2009 and adopted a technical update in 2015, according to the draft.

Meanwhile, the CAAP builds on Sacramento’s 2012 climate action plan and recommendations by the Mayors’ Commission on Climate Change, which held its final meeting in 2020. The plan is designed to help the city reach carbon neutrality by 2045. 

Goals in the CAAP include increasing the urban tree canopy cover to 35% and reducing wastewater emissions by 40% by 2045. Other targets include providing 8,150 public electric vehicle chargers by 2030 and collaborating with Sacramento Regional Transit to expand service lines. The city currently has more than 600 public chargers, according to the CAAP. 

Overall, the city aims for Sacramento 2040 to be a model of sustainable and equitable community development, senior city planner Remi Mendoza said in a webinar last week. 

“My hope is that we get broad community participation, interest and review and comments on this general plan and that we’re able to confirm that we’re heading in that direction,” Mendoza said. 

Two more webinars on Sacramento 2040 and how to give feedback are scheduled for June 6 and 29. The public can also opt to email comments to [email protected] or speak at meetings instead of completing the online workshop. 

The council and various city commissions are scheduled to discuss the draft plans in June. Meeting dates are listed on the city website. 

Anyone who doesn’t have access to the documents online can review printed copies at the city permit counter at 300 Richards Blvd, Mendoza said.