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Circulation Element: October 28, 1998
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<br /> General Plan Requirements
<br /> California Government Code Section 65300 requires every city and county to draw up and adopt
<br /> a"comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development" of the community. The
<br /> Circulation Element is one of seven mandatory elements of a General Plan, which also include
<br /> Land Use, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Safety, and Noise. Communities may include
<br /> additional elements if they so choose, such as the. Town's current Pathways, Recreation, and
<br /> Scenic Roadways elements. Most of the Town's General Plan is quite outdated, having been
<br /> adopted in 1975. Exceptions are the Pathways Element, which was revised in 1996, and the
<br /> Housing Element, which was updated and adopted in August of 1998.
<br /> State law specifies that all General Plans shall include a circulation plan intended to designate the
<br /> "location and extent of existing and proposed major thoroughfares, transportation routes,
<br /> terminals, and other local public utilities and facilities." The Town's circulation system is
<br /> somewhat unique in that there is no commercial or industrial development to be served and there
<br /> are no major roadways, other than at the perimeter of the Town. Instead, local roadway design_
<br /> and alternative modes such as the Town's pathways play a more critical role in the transportation
<br /> system. Because of the focus on the scenic nature of the Town's roadways and overlapping
<br /> policies of the two elements, the Council directed that the Circulation Element and the Scenic
<br /> Roadways Element of the General Plan be combined in this effort. Due to the recent updating of
<br /> the Pathway s Element and its importance as a stand-alone document, it was determined not to
<br /> incorporate that element into the Circulation Element. There are, however, numerous references
<br /> in the draft element to pathways and the policies of the.Pathways Element.
<br /> DISCUSSION
<br /> The Draft Circulation and Scenic Roadways Element initially sets forth several general goals and
<br /> objectives for circulation, and then discusses in more detail nine specific issues important to the
<br /> Town's circulation system: roadway classifications, private roadways, driveways, traffic safety,
<br /> scenic roadway design, emergency vehicle access, drainage and utilities, alternative
<br /> transportation modes, and regional coordination. Each of these issues is discussed briefly, and
<br /> goals, objectives, policies, and implementation measures are outlined for each. The policies and
<br /> implementation measures, while useful for assuring that Town actions are consistent with the
<br /> General Plan, remain at a broad policy level, and implementation will usually require subsequent
<br /> studies, standards, policies, ordinances, CIP projects, etc. to be adopted.
<br /> Background Report
<br /> The draft Circulation and Scenic Roadways Element also includes a Technical Background
<br /> Report, which was used to support much of the discussion and policies set forth in the Element.
<br /> The Background Report will not be included in the final element, but is provided for the
<br /> Commission's and public's information only. Revisions will not be made to the report unless
<br /> substantive errors are noted which might affect the policies outlined.
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