Humboldt County families deserve to live in communities where residents feel safe and connected to one other.  Safe, caring neighborhoods are best realized when families’ basic needs are met.  Integrating residential neighborhoods with professional opportunities, commercial and child care options, and open spaces allows residents more time with family and friends, which improves quality of life and social cohesion.  People closely connected within a neighborhoods are more proactive in ensuring the safety and well-being of their neighbors.  A strong sense of community and security and clean, well-kept surroundings promote more satisfied, engaged community members.

The following General Plan Elements will impact our neighborhood communities. Click on any element to download the most recent draft from the County's website.

• Safety Element
  We can promote safety in existing neighborhoods through strong emergency management planning and development codes. We can also ensure that new neighborhoods are safe by keeping out of floodplains, avoiding fire-prone forestlands, and planning for safe multimodal transportation.
• Community Design
  Surrounded by one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, our small towns and villages can mature into some of the most unique, pleasurable, and safe places to work and live.   We should work to create trails, public parks, and walkable streets where community members would choose to congregate.
• Housing Element
  Workforce housing must be attractive and affordable at the true cost of living, including transportation and energy expenses. Building new homes within existing service areas keeps the cost of housing, travel, and other living expenses lower.
• Growth Planning
  We can best create healthy, caring neighborhoods by responding to the housing needs of our community. We must build housing for Humboldt County families that meets, but does not exceed, our projected growth rate.  This section has been combined with the Land Use Element.
• Conservation and Open Space Element
  We can ensure that every resident has fair access to Humboldt’s amazing natural landscape.  By enabling people to spend more time exploring and enjoying Humboldt’s wild and working lands, we will have more success in protecting natural areas for future generations.
• Noise Element
  We can improve our neighborhoods by keeping noise levels down through traffic reduction and proper sound regulations.
• Circulation Element
  Emphasizing multi-modal transportation will improve safety, prevent noise and air pollution, and increase connectivity between neighborhoods.

It's up to us to speak up for this vision and ensure that the General Plan Update provides the blueprint for a future that is healthy for us all. You can help by getting involved today!