Signed into law in 2016, SB 1000 is the Planning for Healthy Communities Act. SB 1000 requires local jurisdictions to include an Environmental Justice Element within their General Plan. By centering environmental justice in this process, SB 1000 works to create places to support a healthier and more equitable community for all who live, work, and play, with a focus on Disadvantaged Communities.
As the first region to develop a regionally specific SB 1000 Toolkit in California, this resource aims to support cities and other interested parties in San Bernardino County in building the Environmental Justice Element and to easily identify health and environmental inequities. The toolkit aims to increase access to healthy living opportunities to a wider audience to promote a more inclusive decision-making process.
The toolkit was specifically made for San Bernardino County with input from non-profit organizations and agencies within the region. There are three components of the element – goals, policies, and actions. The toolkit includes language for each of the components and includes regional existing conditions analysis such as air pollution, warehouse development, and public transportation. Cities within the region can use the sample language as a starting point to build the Environmental Justice Element to match their local community’s vision and needs.
On May 23, 2024, the toolkit won an American Planning Association (APA) Excellence Award in the Best Practices category for the Inland Empire Section. The APA Awards recognize great planning work that is completed throughout the region. The SB 1000 Toolkit will move on to compete at the APA Awards at the State level. To explore SBCTA’s SB 1000 toolkit, visit sb1000toolkit.com.
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