1. FINAL
EXCERPT: Creating Sustainable Communities and Landscapes
In 2018, California’s Strategic Growth Council collaborated with OPR and CALAFCO to publish Creating
Sustainable Communities and Landscapes, this reports promotes stronger relationships between Local
Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCo) and local governments. SGC’s collaborative nature is due to the
cross-cutting intersections needed to achieve community sustainability and resiliency. California will take
a Smart Growth approach as it sets the standard for sustainability and addressing Climate Change. Smart
Growth focuses on infill development, mobility, economic growth, and preservation of open spaces to fulfill
sustainability. This report is six parts that include planning and context, management practice benefits,
LAFCos overview, case studies, recommendations and tool implementation.
A three-part Smart Growth management framework guides LAFCos. First, they define resource areas and
prime farmland to prevent development. Second, they encourage compact development to reduce Vehicle
Miles Traveled (VMT) and Greenhouse Gases (GHG). Third, they promote investments for infill
development to build sustainable housing and transit infrastructure.1
Smart Growth will preserve natural
and prime agricultural land, which contributes to increasing produce exports, food security and job security
for community members.2
Smart Growth improves public health and tackles Climate Change jointly
because compact growth creates neighborhoods conducive to walking and biking.3
This means community
members will have a healthier lifestyle through walking and biking in addition to the improved air quality
from reductions in VMT and GHG. LAFCos are currently enforcing Smart Growth practices but are facing
operation challenges.
By design, LAFCos are independent but some rural LAFCos are dependent on local funds and employees
to assist in their operations, this impedes their ability to act independently. In addition, when LAFCos reject
popular proposals in favor of Smart Growth, the commissioners whom sit on LAFCos are subject to
negative public opinion. This can impede efficiency of LAFCos because the public is not familiar with their
missions and goals. To overcome this, LAFCos share best practices with each other and have several case
studies that serve as examples for others to follow as they promote Smart Growth for all Californians
LAFCos have been successful in promoting Smart Growth in different counties. In 2015, the City of Gilroy
in Santa Clara proposed to convert 721 acres of prime farmland without adequately analyzing the project’s
impact. This led the LAFCo to initiate litigation against the City, which resulted in the City rescinding its
proposal.4
In Stanislaus, the LAFCo set policy requiring cities to provide agricultural preservation plans
and published a Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program Tool.5
This resulted in low annexation
applications and many cities in the county recognizing the need to create a preservation plan.6
In Ventura,
a grassroots movement, Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources (SOAR), led to policies that require
local approval for land development.7
The SOAR movement has empowered the LAFCo to exercise its
authority to protect the community it serves by declining development in favor of Smart Growth. In
Sonoma, the LAFCo collaborated with the County’s Community Separator to ensure efficient development
in urban growth boundaries and prevent loss of farmland.8
LAFCos will continue to promote Smart Growth
by adopting recommendations and tools provided.
1
Strategic Growth Council, et al. Creating Sustainable Communities and Landscapes: Recommended Practices and Tools for Local
Collaboration on Climate-Smart Growth. 2018, sgc.ca.gov/resources/docs/20181004-
Creating_Sustainable_Communities_and_Landscapes.pdf. Pg.3
2
IBID Pg.5
3
IBID Pg.5
4
IBID Pg.11
5
IBID Pg.14
6
IBID Pg.14
7
IBID Pg.15-17
8
IBID Pg.20
2. FINAL
This study offers the following recommendations and tools to foster relationships between LAFCos and
local governments. LAFCos should meet regularly with local planning departments and host educational
trainings to clarify their role to build trust and streamline collaboration efforts.9
LAFCos should collaborate
with community-based organizations and press to create more local buy-in, educate the community and
continue momentum for Smart Growth practices.10
As LAFCos implement these recommendations, they
should also use The Scoping Plan and General Guidelines because they are roadmaps to meet California’s
climate and sustainability goals. These tools are not regulatory items but they can result in successful
partnerships as local governments and LAFCos team up to apply for grants and California Climate
Investment funds.11
Finally, local governments are provided with planning software and incentives that
promote the collaboration of LAFCos in the planning processes to produce higher quality conservation
outcomes.
9
Strategic Growth Council, et al. Creating Sustainable Communities and Landscapes: Recommended Practices and Tools for
Local Collaboration on Climate-Smart Growth. 2018, sgc.ca.gov/resources/docs/20181004-
Creating_Sustainable_Communities_and_Landscapes.pdf. Pg. 22
10
IBID Pg. 22
11
IBID Pg. 24
