Swearengin on sprawl prevention
There are three important steps the City of Fresno needs to take in the next administration to prevent sprawl.
Implement the General Plan. This is a must. The General Plan accommodates 75% of our city’s growth over the next 20 years within our current urban boundary that was established in 1983. We’ve got to maintain our commitment to implementation of the General Plan.
Work with Surrounding Communities to Adopt Greenbelts and Clearly Defined Urban Boundaries. It is imperative that the City of Fresno work with its neighboring cities to adopt clearly defined urban boundaries and promote “greenbelts” that separate our communities from one another. Otherwise, we are in danger of creating “run on” cities – a sprawling metropolitan area with no distinguishable boundaries.
Support and Implement Policy Recommendations from Long-Term Planning Efforts. There are some unprecedented, long-term planning efforts under way in Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley right now. They include the Regional Blueprint, the Fresno Activity Centers Study, the Public Transportation Infrastructure Study, the South East Growth Area, and the Metro Rural Loop feasibility study. These planning efforts will be completed within the next 18 to 36 months and have the potential to help shape the development of the four-county Central San Joaquin Valley for the next 50 years. It is imperative that the next Mayor of Fresno support the completion of these plans and then put into place the policies needed to implement these plans. I am not the type of leader who lets plans sit on shelves. I will ensure that we move from the planning stages to the implementation stages. We will have a window of opportunity in the next administration to preserve transportation corridors, agricultural land, and urban boundaries. Making those decisions today will serve our community and region for fifty years or more.