Alameda County supervisors adopt open‑space amendment to align general plan with SB 14‑25

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted July 9 to adopt amendments to the county general plan’s open‑space element that staff said are intended to document compliance with state Senate Bill 14‑25.

Planning Department analyst Ally Abbers told the board the amendment compiles existing policies into an Appendix B so that the open‑space element “catalogs its existing compliant policies and incorporates them by reference into the open space element.” She said the county’s current general‑plan policies already address equitable access to open space, climate resilience and so‑called rewilding opportunities and that the draft amendment does not create new policies.

The adoption implements a CEQA notice of exemption; staff argued the update is administrative and would not result in a reasonably foreseeable physical change to the environment. Abbers listed outreach and prior approvals, including advisory‑committee hearings and a unanimous planning commission recommendation.

Public commenters broadly supported protecting open space while asking the board to consider agricultural viability as part of implementation. Charmi Upparel, a Pleasanton resident, said the county may already be “going far beyond what the state requires” and urged staff to consider flexible uses that keep agricultural land economically viable, such as farm‑to‑table enterprises or small events.

Supervisors questioned timing — the law required updates by Jan. 1, 2026 — and how the amendment treats agriculture and regional open‑space providers such as East Bay Regional Parks. Planning staff and county counsel said the amendment consolidates existing policies and that the county’s prior documents (including the East County Area Plan and the environmental‑justice element) supply the policy content the statute requires.

Supervisor Tam moved and Supervisor Miley seconded the motion to adopt the CEQA exemption and the open‑space amendments. On roll call Supervisors Marquez, Tam and Miley voted Aye; Supervisor Fortunato Bass was excused; the board president voted yes. The board approved the resolution and directed staff to finalize Appendix B and related filings.

What happens next: staff will file the CEQA notice of exemption, incorporate Appendix B into the open‑space element, and continue coordinating updates with other county planning documents and special‑district policies.