The City of San José is updating the Safety and Open Space elements of the Envision 2040 General Plan and adopting a new element, Environmental Justice. This is a comprehensive planning effort in part to comply with California Senate Bill 1425 (Stern, 2022) and California Senate Bill 1000 (Leyva, 2016). Below is additional information on each “element” to be updated. 

Timeline

Community Engagement

We want to hear from you! There will be multiple opportunities to share your input and help shape these policies in the General Plan. Opportunities to provide your input will be shared on this website and via email. Please subscribe to receive project updates via email.

SAFETY ELEMENT

We are developing new plans and an action program that would address specific issues, including climate adaptation and resilience and other co-benefits of open space.  The updates will align with Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Plan which is also underway and led by the City Manager’s Office.

The Open Space element must ensure that the City is providing access to open space for all residents in a manner that considers social, economic, and racial equity. The new plan updates will also include looking at rewilding opportunities, which are considered habitat, recreation, natural resource, historic and tribal resources, water management, aesthetics and coordinating a conservation plan to mitigate impacts of new development.

Environmental justice ensures that people of all races, cultures, and incomes are equally and equitably valued, protected, and served by laws. This includes regulations and policies that impact the quality of the environment around us, such as transportation, parks, natural spaces, urban landscapes, City services and the overall use of land. This Environmental Justice Element will:

• Identify objectives and policies to reduce the unique or compounded health risks in disadvantaged communities by the reduction of pollution exposure, and the promotion of public facilities, food access, safe and sanitary homes, and physical activity.
• Identify additional unique or compounded health risks including climate vulnerability.
• Identify objectives and policies to promote civic engagement in the public decision-making process.
• Identify objectives and policies that prioritize improvements and programs that address the needs of disadvantaged communities.

Documents & resources

• California Senate Bill 1425 (SB 1425)
• California Senate Bill 1000 (SB 1000)
• Governor’s Office of Planning and Research General Plan Guidelines
• Department of Justice Environmental Justice Planning

CONTACTS 

Planning Division 
Ruth Cueto, Principal Planner 
Email: Ruth.Cueto@sanjoseca.gov 

Planning Division
Sanhita Ghosal, Supervising Planner
Email: Sanhita.Ghosal@sanjoseca.gov 

Planning Division
David Fong, Planner
Email: david.d.fong@sanjoseca.gov 

Planning Division
Laura Maurer, Planner
Email: laura.maurer@sanjoseca.gov