Our Mission:
We support growth that is both economically responsible and responsive to the needs of current and future residents of Chico, while 1) protecting surrounding wildlands from urban sprawl; 2) safeguarding our waterways from overuse and degradation; and 3) preserving our agricultural lands. Through these efforts we strive to maintain the unique setting that defines our community while fostering sustainable development for generations to come.
Our Vision:
As Chico grows through thoughtful infill and revitalization efforts, we envision compact, mixed use, walkable neighborhoods at the heart of our city’s future. These neighborhoods foster a powerful sense of community, creating spaces where both residents and businesses can flourish. Chico offers a healthy, prosperous, resilient place to live with a high quality of life and a unique sense of place.
Our Values & Goals
We are a non-partisan group, committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment for all members of the Chico community.
As stewards of our natural resources, we recognize the impact of our decisions today on future generations. With this responsibility in mind, we actively seek innovative solutions to community land use challenges, focusing on building long-term resilience and slowing the expansion of the human footprint. By embracing forward-thinking approaches, we aim to strengthen the financial stability of our city and its residents.
Our Policy Commitments
- Expanding affordable housing options to meet the diverse needs of our community.
- Updating zoning codes to reflect conservation of our wildlands.
- Promoting healthy lifestyles through thoughtful planning and community initiatives.
- Empowering neighborhood voices and fostering a keen sense of community engagement.
- Championing safe, accessible, and connected transportation systems that provide mobility for all residents.
- Chico is a place we are proud to call home, and we are dedicated to ensuring that our city continues to thrive for generations to come.
Smart Growth Advocates of Chico honor and acknowledge that present day Chico stands on lands that were originally occupied by the first people of this area, the Mechoopda, and we recognize their distinctive relationship to this land—the flora, the fauna and the waters that run through our town.
We Advocate Smart Growth
Mixed land use: Neighborhoods include housing and businesses and services that serve the people that live in the neighborhood. This reduces the necessity for traveling to get to goods and services, thereby lessening GHG emiited by cars.
Diverse types of housing: Low, medium and high income housing share the benefits of a strong tax base and the services it provides, such as good schools. Also socially beneficial in encouraging people to work across class divisions.
Walkable neighborhoods: Trees, green spaces, wide sidewalks and bike lanes and slowed traffic create a neighborhood where people enjoy walking. Instead of malls, stores come right up to sidewalks and huge asphalt parking lots are eliminated. On-street parking provides a buffer from cars; businesses get increased attention; people have greater interaction.
Community and stakeholder interaction: Developer cooperate with the people live in the community to learn what they want. Businesses and community members share an interest in the success of businesses.
Compact building: Build UP, not OUT to protect open spaces, create walkability, and save land for farms and recreation.
Sense of place: Neighborhoods can create their own character, their own identity. People like being in their neighborhood and are proud of it and want to take care of it,
Protection of the land: When a community grows up--not out into sprawl--farm land, recreational land, and conservation land is protected. Green spaces are protected within the city and outside the city.
Transit-oriented development: Trolleys, small buses, light rail can all provide alternatives for driving cars. Bike-sharing services can also help eliminate the use of cars.
Develop existing communities: Infill creates a compact city, rather than going out to the edges of cities. Use urban growth boundaries to keep the city compact. Use abandoned warehouses and factories as places for new development.
Review zoning and other building restrictions: Encourage new, interesting, and inovative uses of land for new buildings or renovations of old building.
Adapted from Smart Growth
by Vance Kite
What We Want:
Open Space, Plant and Creature Habitat, Clean Streams, Vernal Pools
(See What Is Smart Growth?)
