For example, a site may be located in a Rural Lands land use category with a Flood Hazard combining designation. The Official Maps show the precise location where land use categories and combining designations are applied. The Framework for Planning defines the goals for the county and provides a comprehensive overview of the county's land use policies. It designates the general distribution and intensity of uses of land for housing, commercial, industry, open space, education, public facilities, and other categories of public and private uses. It also contains Table O, a matrix that specifies the uses that are allowed in each land use category, as well as a definition for each type of use.
Framework also sets the guidelines for amendments to the general plan.
The Area Plans are 15 separate reports containing policies, programs, land use regulations and maps for geographic areas of the county. Within each area plan are development standards - called planning area standards, that set special requirements. Each area plan has an unofficial set of maps showing land use categories and the combining designations. They are included only to give a general idea of the area's land use categories. This guide does not include instructions for using this document.