Frequently Asked Questions

Environmental justice is the response to the disproportionate burden of hazardous or degraded environments that low-income and racial minority communities tend to bear. These tend to include closer proximity to freeways, landfills, hazardous waste facilities, poor working conditions, and other negative social/environmental conditions compared to the general population. Historically, these communities did not have as many meaningful opportunities to participate in the planning process, sometimes leading to discriminatory practices, such as redlining, that segregated communities and pushed low-income and racial minority populations to areas with poor air quality, pollution, and other health hazards. Environmental justice policies and programs work to overcome these trends and undo the effects of discrimination in land use decisions.

State law requires cities and counties with disadvantaged communities to identify environmental justice policies in their General Plan. The Hanford 2035 General Plan does not currently include an Environmental Justice Element. Once drafted and adopted, this Environmental Justice Element will be incorporated into the City's General Plan.

Every city, town, and county in California must have a general plan, which is the local government’s long-term framework or “constitution” for future growth and development. The general plan contains the goals and polices upon which the City Council and Planning Commission will base their land use decisions for the city. The City of Hanford's General Plan is designed to address the issues facing the City through the year 2035.

General plans are made up of a collection of “elements,” or topic categories. There are nine mandatory elements: land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, noise, safety, air quality, and environmental justice. 

Learn more about the City’s existing 2035 General Plan.

Design standards, as their name implies, regulate the design of newly developed structures. Unlike design guidelines, design standards are objective and can therefore make permit application outcomes more predictable for everyone, including developers, permit applicants, decision making bodies, City staff, and members of the public. In other words, objective standards allow applicants to know the requirements that will apply to a proposed project so that they can design a project that meets those standards. The City of Hanford is looking to develop objective design standards for single-family projects (such as the development of homes).

Subdivision regulations set forth procedures and requirements for the division or merging of land into parcels. Proper subdivision regulations ensure that new developments on subdivided land are provided adequate utilities, services, access, and public improvements.

The updated Subdivision Ordinance will streamline the land division process while encouraging efficient development. The updated Ordinance will facilitate the creation of smaller, more affordable lots in infill areas, encouraging higher-density housing near transit and reducing the need for car travel.