UPPER RIDGE COMMUNITY PLAN

The Upper Ridge Community Plan will set a vision and provide policy guidance for the areas within the unincorporated portion of Butte County north of the Town of Paradise, including Magalia and Paradise Pines area, collectively known as the Upper Ridge. The exact boundary for the Upper Ridge Community Plan will be determined during the planning process..

The 2018 Camp Fire destroyed 2,158 homes within the Upper Ridge area, along with many other non-residential structures, especially in the lower Paradise Pines subdivision. The devastation from this fire highlighted the Butte County Upper Ridge area’s vulnerability to wildland fires and has changed the population, landscape, and priority for this area for many years to come.

Butte County is interested in working with current and past residents, property owners, business owners, and other interested parties to develop the Upper Ridge Community Plan. The Upper Ridge Community Council has identified many aspects of this community that would benefit from a community plan, especially in the area of fire safety, evacuation routes, land use planning, community and economic development, affordable housing, infrastructure, recreation, and quality of life. Magalia’s commercial core has developed without extensive planning, and could potentially support higher density housing (under a Transfer of Development Rights, or “TDR” program), as well as a community gathering place/small plaza/ cultural center to hold special community events and to support and strengthen community character and identity.

WHAT IS A COMMUNITY PLAN?

A community plan is a policy document and sets forth goals, objectives, policies, and programs to address specific issues related to a particular community. A community plan can also include a land use map identifying where land uses (such as residential, commercial, and industrial) are permitted as well as design standards or guidelines for new development.

Community plans refine the policies of a general plan as they apply to a smaller geographic area and are implemented by ordinances and other discretionary actions, such as zoning. The community plan process also provides an opportunity to identify local needs so that the plan can provide greater detail regarding important development and conservation policies within a given geographic area. The Upper Ridge Community Plan would be an extension of the Butte County General Plan, adopted by Butte County in 2010 (Butte County General Plan 2030). While the Upper Ridge planning process is underway, Butte County will be simultaneously undertaking a focused update to the General Plan.

PROJECT GOALS

• Develop a land use blueprint for post-Camp Fire recovery and provide important policy direction for future growth, circulation, infrastructure, conservation, and development
• Provide a locally developed and supported vision for the community’s future
• Engage the community as key decision makers to create conditions for health, safety, and equity
• Plan for a vibrant, youth-friendly town center providing needed commercial services
• Explore the use of an innovative transfer of development rights program that would encourage a variety of housing types, including affordable housing
• Include policies that would be an example throughout California for developing a resilient and fire-adapted community.

TIMELINE

November 2020-March 2021

• Existing Conditions Analysis
• Virtual Community Workshop #1 (January 27th, 2021 at 6:00 - 7:30 PM)
  

April-May 2021

• Design Development
• Virtual Community Workshop #2 (May 5th, 2021 at 6:00 - 7:30 PM)
• Virtual Community Workshop #3 (May 26th, 2021 at 6:00 - 7:30 PM)
• Community Workshop #4 (June 15th, 2021 at 4:30 - 7:30 PM, Magalia Community Center, 13917 South Park Drive)

June-November 2021

• Feasibility and Capacity Analysis
• Development of Transfer of Development Rights Program
• Preparation of Draft Community Plan

November- December 2021

• Adoption of Draft Community Plan
• Preparation of Final Community Plan

CONTACT

Rowland Hickel                                                                                                                                                                                                  Senior Planner, Butte County                                                                                                                                                                         (530) 552-3684                                                                                                                                                                                                     rhickel@buttecounty.net