Climate change added to Modesto planning

Concerns about climate change stand to reshape Modesto's future environmental impact reports under a policy the City Council approved Monday.

By a 4-3 vote, the council expanded an ongoing update of Modesto's primary planning document to incorporate references to global warming.

The move is targeted at complying with a 2006 state law that requires reductions in emissions that contribute to global warming, such as carbon dioxide.

Smaller cities in Stanislaus County, such as Hughson and Waterford, addressed aspects of global warming in recent revisions to their general plans, the documents that describe where and how the communities can grow.

Their general plans now encourage builders to develop energy-efficient homes, plant trees and create walking-friendly neighborhoods.

The work that Modesto approved piggybacks on a $937,280 contract the council awarded in September to bring the city's general plan and master environmental impact report into compliance with new studies that describe demands on roads, sewers and storm drains.

Patrick Kelly, planning division manager, said including the global warming study would add about $11,500 to the contract.

Council members Janice Keating, Will O'Bryant and Kristin Olsen voted against incorporating the climate change discussion into the general plan update.

They argued that it made more sense to consider climate change when the city completely revises the general plan, a task the city is expected to undertake soon after it completes the more limited contract it launched in September. Also, the state has not detailed what it expects of local governments under the climate change law.

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