PREPARED BY: SANDRA CASTANEDA DATE OF MEETING: 10/27/2026
SUBJECT:
TITLE
CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER AMENDING THE SAFETY AND NOISE ELEMENT OF THE SAN PABLO GENERAL PLAN 2035 TO ADDRESS APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES FOR HOME HARDENING, DEFENSIBLE SPACE, AND ENSURING ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY AND EMEREGENCY ACCESS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE NEW FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAPS ADOPTED BY THE CONTRA COSTA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT. THIS IS A CITY INITIATED GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND IT APPLIES TO THE ENTIRE SAN PABLO PLANNING AREA
CEQA: This amendment to the Safety and Noise Element of the General Plan is covered under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to the San Pablo General Plan EIR (State Clearinghouse #2008082069). On a separate and independent basis, the proposed text amendments are exempt from CEQA review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment.
Recommendation
Conduct public hearing; adopt Resolution
Body
REQUESTED ACTION
This is a City-initiated request to have the Planning Commission conduct a public hearing and provide a recommendation to the City Council on the adoption of an amendment to the Safety and Noise Element of the San Pablo General Plan 2035 (the “Amendment”). The amendment would ensure compliance with Senate Bill (SB) 379, Assembly Bill (AB) 747, and other applicable State laws.
The Planning Commission should hold a public hearing, take public comment on the Amendment, and make a recommendation to the City Council on adoption of the Amendment.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
Any potential environmental impacts of the proposed amendment to the Safety and Noise Element of the General Plan were previously evaluated by the San Pablo General Plan EIR (State Clearinghouse #2008082069) in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as the proposed amendment does not authorize any additional construction or buildout and is instead intended to reduce wildfire risks. On a separate and independent basis, the proposed text amendments are exempt from CEQA review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15308 and 15061(b)(3) because the amendment is intended to enhance and protect the environment from wildfire risks, and since it does not authorize any construction or other groundbreaking activities, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment.
BACKGROUND
The City’s General Plan is a state-required long-range policy document that provides guidance to decision makers regarding the allocation of resources, and the future physical form and character of development for the City outlining a long-range vision and provides steps to achieve this vision in the form of goals and policies. State law identifies seven universally required elements (e.g., land use, circulation, housing, conversation, open space, noise, and safety) along with several provisionally mandatory or optional elements that may be included (e.g., environmental justice).
In July 2025, the City Council adopted a comprehensive update to the General Plan including the Safety and Noise Element, which is now the City’s current General Plan 2035. In May 2026, the City Council adopted the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) and incorporated it into the Safety and Noise Element of General Plan 2035, as current state law makes cities eligible for certain grants and benefits if LHMPs are included in local Safety Elements.
The proposed Safety and Noise Element amendment will recognize the recent addition of Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (Very High FHSZ) within the City. Very High FHSZs are newly mapped areas designated by the State as having the highest susceptibility to wildfires. These 2025 maps were subsequently adopted by the Contra Costa Fire Protection District (Con Fire) and are currently in effect for the City of San Pablo. Although the General Plan now recognizes the new Very High FHSZs mapping, the designation of Very High FHSZs within the city limits triggers a mandatory review of the Safety Element by CAL FIRE. To maintain compliance with state law requirements, including those in Government Code Section 65302(g), the Safety Element must be updated to clearly address the city’s new hazard zones. This proposed Safety Element amendment will establish new requirements for wildfire protection, emergency evacuation routes, and pre- and post-disaster planning. The amendment includes new implementing and guiding policies that focus on these new requirements. Some examples include informing property owners of wildfire risks and measures to reduce those risks, collaborating with Con Fire to require proactive weed abatement, bush thinning, and removal services in new and existing development in Very High Fire Hazard Zones and coordination East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) and Con Fire to ensure adequate planning for emergency management. Additionally, this amendment establishes new sections in the Safety and Noise Element that address Emergency Evacuation, Emergency Preparedness and Community Resiliency to Hazards and Climate Change.
GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT REQUIREMENTS AND PROCESS
The General Plan and all Elements thereof are required to be internally consistent and to contain goals and policies that are compatible. State Law also prohibits the city from amending the mandatory elements of the General Plan (including the Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element) more than 4 times per year and requires any amendment to the General Plan to be in the public interest. The proposed Amendment is in the public’s interest in that it will ensure compliance with state law requirements for Safety Elements by providing sufficient information related to evacuation capacity, safety, and viability of evacuation routes under a range of emergency scenarios, together with measures to address associated risks. In addition, the proposed safety element is undergoing review by CAL Fire to provide guidance and implementation of best practices for resilience to wildfire and other hazards.
Following the Planning Commission’s review and recommendation, staff will introduce the Amendment to the City Council Public Safety Standing Committee (PSSC) on November 18, 2026. The CAL Fire Board of Forestry and Fire Protection will then consider the Amendment on December 8, 2026. Staff will evaluate any comments and recommendations received from the PSSC and the CAL Fire Board of Forestry and Fire Protection prior to introducing the proposed Amendment to City Council in the form of an ordinance for formal adoption at the subsequent available meeting.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission review the attached Resolution; hold a public hearing to receive public comment; provide feedback to staff; and adopt the Resolution recommending that the San Pablo City Council amend the Safety and Noise Element of the San Pablo General Plan 2035.
ATTACHMENTS
Att. A- Resolution PC26-12
Att. B- Proposed Safety & Noise Element Amendment
Att. C- Proof of Publication