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General Plan 2040
On November 13, 2024, the Moraga Town Council adopted General Plan 2040. The final, adopted plan and related technical appendices and EIR Addendum may be downloaded at the links below. The first hyperlink below opens the full document. The remaining hyperlinks open individual chapters or elements.
General Plan 2040 (Full Document, except appendices)
Chapters
0. Cover and Table of Contents
2. Framework and Guiding Principles
3. Sustainability and Climate Change
6. Housing Summary (click here for the complete Housing Element)
9. Open Space and Parks Element
11. Safety and Resilience Element
General Plan Environmental Review Documents
The EIR Addendum for the General Plan may be downloaded at the first link below. The second link below is to the EIR for the Comprehensive Advanced Planning Initiative, which was adopted on January 25, 2023.
EIR Addendum (November 13, 2024)
EIR for Comprehensive Advanced Planning Initiative
2023-2031 Housing Element
The Housing Element is part of the Moraga General Plan but is adopted on a separate timeline established by the State of California. For more information on the Housing Element, including links to the document and background reports, click here.
Background Information on the General Plan
The General Plan is a state-mandated document that includes the Town’s policies for future growth and development. Moraga adopted its first General Plan in 1979. That Plan was updated in 1990 and 2002. While the 2002 Plan was amended several times, the 2023-2024 update was the first comprehensive update in more than 20 years.
The General Plan is organized into chapters called “elements.” The elements required by state law are land use, transportation, housing, open space, conservation, noise, and safety. Under Measure J, jurisdictions in Contra Costa County are also required to adopt growth management elements. Depending on local demographics, some communities are also required to adopt environmental justice elements.
Each element includes maps, background information on the subject, goals for the future, and policies and actions to guide local decisions. Town actions related to development, zoning, capital improvements, community services, and many other topics must be consistent with the General Plan.
There is no statutory requirement for how often the General Plan is updated, but most communities use a planning period of 15 to 25 years. The long-term horizon gives the community a chance to think long-term about what it wishes to preserve and what it wishes to change. The Plan can be amended once its adopted, but major updates are usually a once-in-a-generation activity. The Housing Element is the only part of the General Plan that must be updated on a specific timeline—State law requires new Housing Elements every eight years. The Housing Element is also the only part of the General Plan that must be formally certified by the State.
Community engagement is an essential part of the Plan Update process. Throughout 2022, 2023, and 2024, the Town held workshops, conducted surveys, met with civic organizations and HOAs, and convened meetings with Town Boards and Commissions and the Town Council to assemble the General Plan. Visit the Make Moraga Home link on this website to learn more about the engagement process.