What is the Land Use Element?

The Land Use Element and the Land Use and Circulation Map designate the proposed location, distribution, and extent of land uses, which shape future physical development, community design, and quality of life. The Land Use Element sets forth specific goals, policies, and implementation plans to guide land use for the City through 2040.

Each Land Use Classification represents a desired use for that area. These classifications include population density and commercial and industrial intensity, which assist in the determination of pedestrian and vehicular circulation and public facility needs. They reflect the environmental carrying capacity limitations that can be used in assessing new or rehabilitated growth. The accompanying Land Use and Circulation Map graphically represents these Land Use Classifications throughout the City.

Why is Land Use Important?

In order to plan for future growth and development, it is important to understand existing land use supply. The existing land use pattern shows where concentrations of certain uses are, highlights land available for future development and predicts potential development pressure. While the existing land use may also be the desired future use, there are some identified areas where changes in land use are anticipated as vacant and under-utilized properties are redeveloped.

Through the Land Use Element, future land use planning translates the vision, goals, and policies into a tangible, physical form. The future land use map was created through examination of existing land use patterns, zoning, community input, and discussion with City staff.

The future land use plan should not be confused with zoning. While land use and zoning are related, they serve separate functions. Land use describes the activity that occurs on the land, such as single-family residential or industrial. Zoning regulates the character, building size, density, and other development standards of that land use activity. There are often multiple different single-family residential zones, ranging from rural or estate in character to denser, traditional neighborhood forms commonly seen around Shasta Lake.