The major objective of the Land Use Element is to provide suitable spaces for all land use, but especially urban uses which must relate closely to each other and to public facilities. The Land Use Element designates the amount and location of land allocated for urbanization before the year 2000. The designated urban areas are extensions of the existing cities which have a full range of public utilities and services. The other small communities of the County are not designated as urban areas because they do not have the numbers of people to support a wide range of urban facilities. The development of small isolated residential areas creates several public problems other than the reduction of open space.
Some urban development disrupts rural activities and spoils the land's scenic qualities.
Another problem is the premature creation of lots which don't sell and can't be build upon. Many isolated residential developments are difficult to provide with public services. It is true that such subdivision con increase property tax revenues. However, they can be a fiscal drain on the County when enough scattered development has taken place to require such services as road improvement, snow removal, schools, waste disposal, police and fire protection. The County's agricultural land is located on the Sacramento Valley floor and in the low foothills of the Sierra Nevada.