What ideas do you have about policies and programs for the draft Natural Environment Element?

Select one of the goals below to read an annotated version of the existing Natural Environment and provide your ideas and comments.  

GOALS

Open Space - Goal N-1: A Citywide Open Space System that Protects, Conserves and Enhances Palo Alto’s Natural and Urban Habitats, Ecosystems, and Natural Resources, Providing a Source of Beauty and Enjoyment for Palo Alto Residents.

Creeks and Streams - Goal N-2: Conservation of Creeks and Riparian Areas as Open Space Amenities, Natural Habitat Areas, and Elements of Community Design.

Urban Forest - Goal N-3: A Thriving “Urban Forest” That Provides Ecological, Economic, and Aesthetic Benefits for Palo Alto.

Water Resources - Goal N-4: Water Resources that are Prudently Managed to Sustain Plant and Animal Life, Support Urban Activities, and Protect Public Health and Safety.

Air Quality - Goal N-5: Clean, Healthful Air for Palo Alto and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Noise - Goal N-8: An Environment That Minimizes the Adverse Impacts of Noise.

Energy - Goal N-9: A Clean, Efficient, Competitively-priced Energy Supply That Makes Use of Cost-effective Renewable Resources.

Climate Change and Climate Adaptation - New Goal: Actively Support Regional Efforts to Reduce Our Contribution to Climate Change While Adapting To The Effects Of Climate Change On Land Uses And City Services.

ABOUT THIS ELEMENT

The Natural Environment Element fulfills State requirements for three required Elements, including “Open Space,” “Conservation,” and “Noise.”  The State requires these Elements to describe the use of open space for the preservation of natural resources, the managed production of natural resources, outdoor recreation, and public health and safety; include policies pertaining to areas around creeks and streams, wetlands, the urban forest, water resources, wildlife, air quality, and energy; and include policies that reduce exposure to undesirable levels of noise in the community. This Element will describe these topics through a list of goals, policies, and programs, in addition to maps and figures that help describe these topics visually. Note that the City Council has provided direction to move Natural Hazards (Goal N-10), Hazardous Waste (Goal N-6) and Solid Waste (Goal N-7) out of the Natural Environment Element and into a new Safety Element.

The Natural Environment Element identifies strategies to respect and manage natural resources in a way that sustains the natural environment and protects our legacy of maintaining a substantial portion of the City as open space.   As access to nature and an urban forest provide ecological benefits and a source of beauty for residents, the Element calls for cleaner air, water, to foster conservation, and respond to climate change through adaptation.  Similarly, the Natural Environment Element addresses noise and the need to mitigate the negative impacts of noise as part of a healthy, pleasant, and safe environment in Palo Alto.

A significant focus of the Natural Environment Element is to translate the city’s values and vision for the future into a document that provides for the conservation, development and utilization of natural resources, an inventory and plan for preservation and conservation of open space lands, recognizes the guidelines established the Office of Noise Control and quantifies current and projected noise levels from certain sources, and provides strategies related to climate change and adaptation.  These themes from the existing Element will be carried forward to guide future decisions, including:

• Maintaining a citywide open space system that protects and conserves Palo Alto’s natural resources and provides a source of beauty and enjoyment for residents.
• Maintaining and enhancing Palo Alto’s thriving “Urban Forest” that provides ecological, economic, and aesthetic benefits.
• Prudently managing water resources to sustain plant and animal life, support urban activities, and protect public health and safety.
• Striving for clean, healthful air for Palo Alto and the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Minimizing the adverse impacts of noise through thoughtful land use decisions.
• Providing Palo Alto with a clean, efficient, competitively-priced energy supply that makes use of cost-effective renewable resources
• Adapting to climate change.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Click here to view the current Natural Environment Element.

Click here to view the Planning and Transportation Commission’s recommended changes.

Existing conditions reports related to the Natural Environment can be viewed using these links:

• Air Quality
• Biological Resources
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Hydrology and Water Quality
• Noise

What follows is a digital, annotated version of the existing Natural Environment Element with questions and annotations intended to highlight potential changes that the Citizens Advisory Committee will consider. 

OPEN SPACE

POLICY N-1: Manage existing public open space areas and encourage the management of private open space areas in a manner that meets habitat protection goals, public safety concerns, and low impact recreation needs.

PROGRAM N-1: Review and update as needed the Open Space (OS) zoning district regulations to ensure consistency with Comprehensive Plan policies.

PROGRAM N-2: Examine and improve management practices for natural habitat and open space areas, including the provision of access to open space for City vehicles and equipment, to ensure that natural resources are protected.

PROGRAM N-3: Review the need for access controls in environmentally sensitive areas, including the baylands, foothills and riparian corridors.

POLICY N-2: Support regional and sub-regional efforts to acquire, develop, operate, and maintain an open space system extending from Skyline Ridge to San Francisco Bay.

PROGRAM N-4: Seek additional sources of funding, including state and federal programs, to finance open space acquisition and development

POLICY N-3: Protect sensitive plant species resources from the impacts of development.

POLICY N-4: Preserve the foothill area as predominantly open space.

PROGRAM N-5: Work to maintain Williamson Act agricultural preserves within the City.

POLICY N-5: Preserve Stanford’s lower foothill property predominantly within the City, and act as an advocate to Santa Clara County for the preservation of the open space link between the urban area and the foothills.

POLICY N-6: Through implementation of the Site and Design process and the Open Space zone district regulations, minimize impacts of any new development on views of the hillsides, on the open space character, and the natural ecology of the hillsides

PROGRAM N-6: As part of the design review process for proposed development in the Open Space zone district that exceeds 6,500 square feet, require that “story poles” be erected with outlining tape depicting the building’s location, bulk and height to aid in assessing the potential visual impacts of the proposed project.

POLICY N-7: All development in the foothill portion of the Planning Area (i.e., above Junipero Serra Boulevard) should be consistent with the following criteria:

• City of Palo Alto Open Space Development Criteria
• The development should not be visually intrusive from public roadways and public parklands. As much as possible, development should be sited so it is hidden from view.
• Development should be located away from hilltops and designed to not extend above the nearest ridge line.
• Site and structure design should take into consideration impacts on privacy and views of neighboring properties.
• Development should be clustered, or closely grouped, in relation to the area surrounding it to make it less conspicuous, minimize access roads, and reduce fragmentation of natural habitats.
• Built forms and landscape forms should mimic the natural topography. Building lines should follow the lines of the terrain, and trees and bushes should appear natural from a distance.
• Existing trees with a circumference of 37.5 inches, measured 4.5 feet above the ground level, should be preserved and integrated into the site design. Existing vegetation should be retained as much as possible.
• Cut is encouraged when it is necessary for geotechnical stability and to enable the development to blend into the natural topography. Fill is generally discouraged and should never be distributed within the driplines of existing trees. Locate development to minimize the need for grading.
• To reduce the need for cut and fill and to reduce potential runoff, large, flat expanses of impervious surfaces should be avoided.
• Buildings should use natural materials and earth tone or subdued colors.
• Landscaping should be native species that require little or no irrigation. Immediately adjacent to structures, fire retardant plants should be used as a fire prevention technique.
• Exterior lighting should be low-intensity and shielded from view so it is not directly visible from off-site.
• Access roads should be of a rural rather than urban character. (Standard curb, gutter, and concrete sidewalk are usually inconsistent with the foot- hills environment.)
• For development in unincorporated areas, ground coverage should be in general conformance with Palo Alto’s Open Space District regulations.

POLICY N-8: Preserve and protect the Bay, marshlands, salt ponds, sloughs, creeks, and other natural water or wetland areas as open space.

Back to the goals.

CREEKS AND STREAMS

POLICY N-9: Avoid fencing, piping, and channelization of creeks when flood control and public safety can be achieved through measures that preserve the natural environment and habitat of the creek.

POLICY N-10: Work with the Santa Clara Valley Water District and other relevant regional agencies to enhance riparian corridors and provide adequate flood control by use of low impact restoration strategies.

POLICY N-11: Preserve the integrity of riparian corridors.

PROGRAM N-7: Adopt a setback along natural creeks that prohibits the siting of buildings and other structures, impervious surfaces, outdoor activity areas, and ornamental landscaped areas within 100 feet of the top of a creek bank. Allow passive or intermittent outdoor activities and pedestrian, equestrian, and bi- cycle pathway s where there are adequate setbacks to protect the natural riparian environment. Within the setback area, provide a border of native riparian vegetation at least 25 feet along the creek bank.

Exceptions to the 100-foot setback are as follows:

• Single family property is exempt from the 100-foot setback, except that undeveloped parcels southwest of Highway 280 are not exempt. A creek ordinance and guidelines will be prepared addressing appropriate setbacks and creek conservation measures.
• Existing development within the 100-foot setback will be considered legal and nonconforming. With the 100-foot setback as a goal where feasible, redevelopment of such sites must be designed consistent with basic creek habitat objectives and make a significant net improvement in the condition of the creek.

PROGRAM N-8: Develop and adopt a creek ordinance that establishes new development regulations for properties abutting creeks, establishes an exception process, and provides incentives to achieve maximum creek setbacks, such as reduced front yard setbacks and reduced on-site par king requirements.

PROGRAM N-9: Participate in a San Francisquito Creek Coordinated Resource Management and Planning (CRMP) process with adjacent cities.

POLICY N-12: Preserve the habitat value of creek corridors through the preservation of native plants and the replacement of invasive, non-native plants with native plants.

PROGRAM N-10: Work with the Santa Clara Valley Water District to establish guidelines for creek channel maintenance that encourage preservation of riparian habitat , including vegetation that  provides shade to creek bottoms.

PROGRAM N-11: Work with the Santa Clara Valley Water District to develop a comprehensive riparian corridor restoration and enhancement program that identifies specific stretches of corridor to be restored, standard s to be achieved, and sources of funding. Include provisions for tree planting to enhance natural habitat .

POLICY N-13: Discourage creek bank instability, erosion, downstream sedimentation, and flooding by minimizing site disturbance and vegetation removal on or near creeks and carefully reviewing grading and drainage plans for development near creeks and elsewhere in the watersheds of creeks.

PROGRAM N-12: Review and update the Grading Ordinance to ensure that it adequately protects creeks from the erosion and sedimentation impacts of grading.

PROGRAM N-13: Establish public education programs regarding the conservation of creeks and riparian areas.

Back to the goals.

URBAN FOREST

POLICY N-14: Protect, revitalize, and expand Palo Alto’s urban forest through public education, sensitive regulation, and a long-term financial commitment that is adequate to protect this resource.

PROGRAM N-14: Implement the recommendations of the Tree Task Force.

PROGRAM N-15: Continue celebration of Arbor Day in Palo Alto.

PROGRAM N-16: Continue to require replacement of trees, including street trees lost to new development, and establish a program to have replacement trees planted offsite when it is impractical to locate them onsite

PROGRAM N-17: Develop and implement a plan for maintenance, irrigation, and replacement of trees in parks, par king lots, and City rights-of-way

PROGRAM N-18: Actively pursue funding for tree planting

PROGRAM N-19: Establish one or more tree planting programs that seek to achieve the following objectives:

• a 50 percent tree canopy for streets, parks, and par king lots; and
• the annual tree planting goals recommended by the Tree Task Force and adopted by the City Council.

POLICY N-15: Require new commercial, multi-unit, and single family housing projects to provide street trees and related irrigation systems.

POLICY N-16: Provide on-going education for City staff, homeowners, and developers regarding landscaping and irrigation practices that protect the urban forest.

PROGRAM N-20: Establish procedures to coordinate City review, particularly by the Planning, Utilities, and Public Works Departments, of projects that might impact the urban forest.

PROGRAM N-21: Work cooperatively with the Palo Alto Unified School District so that their tree planting and maintenance practices are consistent with City guidelines.

POLICY N-17: Preserve and protect heritage trees, including native oaks and other significant trees, on public and private property.

Back to the goals.

WATER RESOURCES

POLICY N-18: Protect Palo Alto’s groundwater from the adverse impacts of urban uses.

PROGRAM N-22: Work with the Santa Clara Valley Water District to identify and map key groundwater recharge areas for use in land use planning and permitting and the protection of groundwater resources.

POLICY N-19: Secure a reliable, long-term supply of water for Palo Alto.

PROGRAM N-23: Regularly review the water rate structure to ensure that it encourages efficiency and is competitive.

POLICY N-20: Maximize the conservation and efficient use of water in new and existing residences, businesses and industries.

PROGRAM N-24: Maintain citywide water conservation and efficiency programs for all customer classes.

PROGRAM N-25: Where practical, incorporate federal, state, and other agency policies and standards for water efficiency into City codes, regulations, and procedures.

PROGRAM N-26: Implement incentives for the use of drought-tolerant landscaping and recycled water for landscape irrigation.

POLICY N-21: Reduce non-point source pollution in urban runoff from residential, commercial, industrial, municipal, and transportation land uses and activities

PROGRAM N-27: Work with regulatory agencies, environmental groups, affected businesses, and other stakeholders to identify economically viable Best Management Practices (BMPs) for reducing pollution. Participate in BMPs pilot studies to identify new pollution control measures.

PROGRAM N-28: Continue public education programs on water quality issues, including Best Management Practices (BMPs) for residents, businesses, contractors, and City employees.

PROGRAM N-29: Actively participate in programs such as the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program to improve the quality of stormwater runoff.

PROGRAM N-30: Conduct regular street-sweeping to minimize road surface pollutant runoff.

PROGRAM N-31: Evaluate spill response, cleanup, and follow-up investigation procedures to reduce the impacts of toxic spills on water quality in the City’s creeks and San Francisco Bay.

PROGRAM N-32: Actively work to reduce the amount of metals contained in brake pads, tires, and other automotive parts, thereby reducing urban runoff pollution from metals. Continue Palo Alto’s leadership role in encouraging the re-engineering of vehicles to reduce pollution from metals.

PROGRAM N-33: Study the impacts on storm water pollution of architectural copper and con- sider limiting its use, if warranted.

POLICY N-22: Limit the amount of impervious surface in new development or public improvement projects to reduce urban runoff into storm drains, creeks, and San Francisco Bay.

PROGRAM N-34: Evaluate the use of permeable paving materials that allow for natural percolation and site drainage.

POLICY N-23: Reduce the discharge of toxic materials into the City’s sanitary sewer collection system by promoting the use of Best Management Practices.

PROGRAM N-35: Work with commercial and industrial dischargers to recover metals onsite rather than discharging them into the sanitary sewer system.

POLICY N-24: Improve storm drainage performance by constructing new system improvements where necessary and replacing undersized or otherwise inadequate lines with larger lines or parallel lines.

PROGRAM N-36: Complete improvements to the storm drainage system consistent with the priorities outlined in the City's 1993 Storm Drainage Master Plan, provided that an appropriate funding mechanism is identified and approved by the City Council.

POLICY N-25: Reduce pollutant levels in City wastewater discharges.

PROGRAM N-37: Monitor wastewater treatment industry practices relating to the use of chlorine to disinfect wastewater.

Back to the goals.

AIR QUALITY

POLICY N-26: Support regional, state, and federal programs that improve air quality in the Bay Area.

PROGRAM N-38: Provide City input on significant proposals for air quality legislation and state implementation plans.

PROGRAM N-39: Assist the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) in its efforts to achieve compliance with existing air quality regulations.

PROGRAM N-40: Expand the use of alternative fuels for City vehicles and establish a program to encourage expanded use of such fuels in private vehicles. To support this program, encourage the development of alternative fuel infrastructure (for instance, electric plug-ins) in parking facilities and other key locations around the City.

PROGRAM N-41: Support legislative programs that result in the removal of the oldest and dirtiest vehicles on the roadway

POLICY N-27: Reduce emission of particulates from wood burning stoves, construction activity, automobiles, and other sources.

PROGRAM N-42: Require all new wood-burning stoves or fireplace inserts to comply with EPA- approved standards.

PROGRAM N-43: Provide a homeowner hand out outlining low emission alternatives to wood-burning stoves or fireplaces.

PROGRAM N-44: Develop public information programs to educate the public on Best Management Practices in the use of wood burning appliances, including reduction of wood burning during critical periods of poor air quality.

POLICY N-28: Encourage developers of new projects in Palo Alto, including City projects, to provide improvements that reduce the necessity of driving alone.

PROGRAM N-45: Recommend revisions to proposed projects as needed to reduce air quality impacts, including improvements that reduce single occupant vehicle use.

POLICY N-29: All potential sources of odor and/or toxic air contaminants should be adequately buffered, or mechanically or otherwise mitigated to avoid odor and toxic impacts that violate relevant human health standards.

Back to the goals.

NOISE

POLICY N-39: Encourage the location of land uses in areas with compatible noise environments. Use the guidelines in the table “Land Use Compatibility for Community Noise Environment” to determine compatibility.

• The guideline for maximum outdoor noise levels in residential areas is an Ldn of 60 dB. This level is a guideline for the design and location of future development and a goal for the reduction of noise in existing development. However, 60 Ldn is a guideline which cannot necessarily be reached in all residential areas within the constraints of economic or aesthetic feasibility. This guideline will be primarily applied where outdoor use is a major consideration (e.g., backyards in single family housing developments, and recreational areas in multiple family housing projects). Where the City determines that providing an Ldn of 60 dB or lower outdoors is not feasible, the noise level in outdoor areas intended for recreational use should be reduced to as close to the standard as feasible through project design.
• The indoor noise level as required by the State of California Noise Insulation Standards must not exceed an Ldn of 45 dB in multiple family dwellings. This indoor criteria shall also apply to new single family homes in Palo Alto.
• Interior noise levels in new single family and multiple family residential units exposed to an exterior Ldn of 60 dB or greater should be limited to a maximum instantaneous noise level of 50 dB in the bedrooms. Maximum instantaneous noise levels in other rooms should not exceed 55 dB.

       Noise exposure can be determined based on the noise contour map included in this plan, or more detailed noise measurements, if appropriate

POLICY N-40: Evaluate the potential for noise pollution and ways to reduce noise impacts when reviewing development and activities in Palo Alto and surrounding communities.

POLICY N-41: When a proposed project is subject to CEQA, the noise impact of the project on existing residential land uses should be evaluated in terms of the increase in existing noise levels and potential for adverse community impact, regardless of existing background noise levels. If an area is below the applicable maximum noise guideline, an increase in noise up to the maximum should not necessarily be allowed. A project should be considered to cause a significant degradation of the noise environment if it meets any of the following criteria:

• The project would cause the average 24 -hour noise level (Ldn) to increase by 5. 0 dB or more in an existing residential area, even if the Ldn would remain below 60 dB;
• The project would cause the Ldn to increase by 3.0 dB or more in an existing residential area, thereby causing the Ldn in the area to exceed 60 dB;
• The project would cause an increase of 3.0 dB or more in an existing residential area where the Ldn currently exceeds 60 dB.

POLICY N-42: The City may require proposals to reduce noise impacts of development on adjacent properties through appropriate means including, but not limited to, the following:

• Construct noise walls when compatible with aesthetic concerns.
• Screen and control noise sources such as parking, outdoor activities and mechanical equipment.
• Increase setbacks for noise sources from adjacent dwellings.
• Whenever possible, retain fences, walls or landscaping that serve as noise buffers although design, safety and other impacts must be addressed.
• Use soundproofing materials and double-glazed windows.
• Control hours of operation, including deliveries and trash pickup, to minimize noise impacts.

POLICY N-43: Protect the community and especially sensitive noise receptors, including schools, hospitals, and senior care facilities, from excessive noise.

PROGRAM N-56: Participate in appropriate public forums to ensure that future activities at large commercial airports in the region do not negatively effect noise levels in Palo Alto.

PROGRAM N-57: Encourage the Joint Powers Board to pursue technologies to reduce train whistle noise in communities served by Caltrain.

PROGRAM N-58: Continue to work to reduce noise impacts created by events and activities taking place in adjoining communities.

PROGRAM N-59: Evaluate the feasibility of adopting noise criteria in the purchase of new City vehicles and equipment.

PROGRAM N-60: Update the Noise Ordinance to provide for clear interpretation of the regulations, and to review the appropriateness of existing standards. Strictly enforce the Noise Ordinance.

PROGRAM N-61: Evaluate changes to the Noise Ordinance to reduce the impact of leaf blower noise.

Back to the goals.

ENERGY

POLICY N-44: Maintain Palo Alto’s long-term supply of electricity and natural gas while addressing environmental and economic concerns.

POLICY N-45: Continually evaluate and revise forecasts for electric power demand. Pursue adequate low cost supplies to meet this demand by participating in cost-effective programs offered by Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) or other suppliers and marketers of energy.

PROGRAM N-62: Implement gas and electric rate structures that encourage energy conservation and that are in balance with other rate- making objectives, such as pro- viding competitive rates. Set rates to achieve a balance between actual service costs, market prices, and the goal of promoting conservation and efficient use. Continue to provide a baseline service rate.

PROGRAM N-63: Implement energy efficiency programs.

PROGRAM N-64: Encourage continuation of public education programs addressing energy conservation and efficiency.

PROGRAM N-65: Incorporate cost-effective energy conservation measures into construction, maintenance, and City operation and procurement practices.

POLICY N-46: Retain the ability to purchase supplemental gas and electric power from other potential providers to remain competitive in the marketplace.

POLICY N-47: Optimize energy conservation and efficiency in new and existing residences, businesses, and industries in Palo Alto

POLICY N-48: Encourage the appropriate use of alternative energy technologies.

PROGRAM N-66: Incorporate state and federal energy efficiency standards and policies in relevant City codes, regulations, and procedures.

PROGRAM N-67: Provide information and advice on the use of alternative energy technologies, including the relative costs and benefits of different types of fuel, to all customers.

PROGRAM N-68: Monitor other utilities that successfully use alternative energy sources and seek funding for similar projects that would be appropriate in Palo Alto.

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