Solano supervisors get detailed briefing on targeted general plan update; Measure T, housing, ag protections and infrastructure top priorities

Solano County staff on Item 27 presented a framed scope for a targeted update of the county’s 2008 general plan and sought direction on key priorities including economic development in unincorporated areas, housing strategy, utility and infrastructure planning, and agricultural protections.

James Musick, director of the Department of Resource Management, said the general plan “is the comprehensive policy document” that serves as the county’s legal framework for growth, development and resource management and that staff is proposing a targeted update rather than a full rewrite. Musick asked the board to identify priorities staff should emphasize in the Request for Proposals (RFP) for consulting assistance and in early public outreach.

Why it matters: The general plan shapes land use, zoning consistency, and infrastructure decisions that affect housing, local jobs, farmland protection and the county’s fiscal position for decades. Board members and many speakers said they want updates that protect farmland while creating revenue‑generating economic opportunities and affordable housing, and they emphasized that public utilities and water/sewer capacity are central constraints.

What staff presented and board discussion

- Priorities and policy areas: Staff proposed concentrating on economic development (including targeted sites in Interstate‑80 corridor and northeast Dixon service area), housing (partnering with cities on a regional…