The Community Development Element provides direction for land use in Marin County, general direction countywide for location and types of development, and specific designations for land in unincorporated areas under County jurisdiction. This part of the Countywide Plan links community development, natural environment and health and safety concerns into the land use policies and designations of the plan. The Element addresses Countywide issues as well as specific planning area issues. The following graphic illustrates this policy framework:

Community Development Element Policy Framework:

• Countywide Character and Development Pattern:  Defines overall development goals for the County and strategies for the location of development, environmental corridors, land use and economic development, and energy conservation.
• Countywide Planning Framework and Growth Management:  Provides a framework for coordinated planning among all jurisdictions and establishing land use types (open space, residential, commercial, etc.) and standards for the density and intensity of development for unincorporated areas.
• Plans for the Seven Planning Areas:  Provides detailed objectives and policies for West Marin and the six planning areas located within the eastern urban corridor of the County (with West Marin and the unincorporated portions of each planning area as the focus of greatest detail).

Key issues which the Community Development Element addresses include the following:

• Choices about how to use the remaining land in the City-Centered Corridor.
• Maintaining a balance between jobs, housing, retail development, and open space.
• The timing and funding of infrastructure to serve projected development.

Primary recommendations include:

• Retaining the environmental corridors designated in the 1973 and 1982 Countywide Plans;
• Calling for balanced communities which provide a mix of housing, jobs, shopping, recreation, and educational facilities;
• Providing a framework for cooperative inter-jurisdictional planning and coordination and for countywide growth management;
• Establishing land use designations for land in unincorporated areas.

The Element includes policies advocating the location of jobs and housing in close proximity to each other and coordination of residential and commercial development with the transportation network and transit system. Policies encourage a coordinated countywide approach to economic development which provides diverse local employment opportunities, reduces the need for commuting, and allows live/work space and cottage industries. A group of policies advocate energy conservation, increasing energy efficiency in new and existing structures, use of renewable energy sources, and water conservation.

Countywide planning and growth management policies designate planning areas and activity centers, specify the relationship of the Countywide Plan with community plans, city general plans, special district plans, and the plans of neighboring counties. Growth management policies are focused around coordination of activities to manage growth so that transportation, water, and sewer facilities are adequate to serve projected housing and job development. Coordinated planning is accomplished through review by the Countywide Planning Agency of each jurisdiction's general plan standards for transportation, housing, environmental quality, and community facilities.

Land use categories, densities, and intensities are established for land in the unincorporated area of the county. Categories include: single-family residential, multi-family residential, commercial, public, and agricultural. Land use and demographic data are summarized for seven planning areas, including both cities and unincorporated areas. The seven planning areas are: Novato, Las Gallinas Valley, San Rafael Basin, Upper Ross Valley, Lower Ross Valley, Richardson Bay, and West Marin. Land use policy maps provide specific designations for lands under County jurisdiction.