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How will Shasta County Grow? The following snapshots of Shasta County's development 'footprint' are shown in 10 year increments through the year 2050.
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- Download Detailed PDF File HERE (4MB)
The 'Current Trend' scenario is based on existing trends, policies, and practices played out to 2050. The location of new development follows rules of 'attraction' and 'discouragment'.
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-Download Detailed PDF File HERE (8MB)
The 'Current Trend' scenario is seen here from a different perspective. Height corresponds to the density of development. Colors represent different land use types.
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This video illustrates how the development 'footprint' of Shasta County will expand over time.
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Areas of 'Economic Activity' are based on the level of attraction (i.e. the opportunity for commerce and employment) and accessibility (i.e. the distance from homes and intervening congestion).
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Here we see the location and severity of traffic congestion along the I-5 corridor and surrounding valley floor areas. Congestion is categorized like a report card from Level of Service 'A' (i.e. free flow) to 'F' (i.e. gridlock).
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Performance measures help 'tell the story' of how future growth and development will impact the lives of Shasta County residents. **See also interactive performance measure icons to the right.
What It Means>>
Under the ‘Current Trend’ scenario, most growth will occur in the valley floor and lower foothills. Among new households, 17% will be multifamily or condos, 56% will be single family homes in neighborhoods (average 1/4 acre lots), and 27% will either be large lot (average 4 acre per residence) or rural style (average 10 acre per residence) development. The location of new development is strongly influenced by access to existing roads and highways and the availability of water and sewer service (in more rural areas, the feasibility of on-site septic and well systems).
The I-5 corridor and surrounding areas will generally blend into one large metro-area. The separation between cities and towns will become less noticeable over time. Much of what is considered open space in the valley floor will gradually disappear as development occurs in a more-or-less contiguous manner. Outer lying areas will continue to have a rural quality, but oak woodlands and other indigenous characteristics of the landscape will be interrupted or modified by development.
Redding will continue to be the center of economic activity for jobs and commerce. Most commercial activity will be grouped in large, regional centers along major freeways and highways.
What are the implications>>
- Although the population and ‘footprint’ of development will roughly double, the number of acres of environmentally sensitive lands impacted by development will nearly triple as less sensitive areas are quickly used up. Compliance with environmental quality laws will help minimize the degree of impact, but by 2050, over 66 square miles of environmentally sensitive lands will be directly affected in some manner by new development.
- Improvements in vehicle and fuel technology will help maintain acceptable air quality, but wildfires and air pollution migrating from other regions will continue to impact the condition of our air.
- Carbon dioxide emissions from cars and trucks – the primary culprit in climate change – will increase by nearly 200%. Although vehicles will be more fuel efficient in the future, on average we'll be driving more miles per day and wasting more fuel idling on congested roadways..
- Costly extensions and expansions to streets and highways, water and sewer facilities, and basic utility services will increase both the public and private costs of development. Infrastructure costs per new home varies greatly - from about $20,000 for high density development, to over $100,000 required for the typical rural residence.
- The separation of residential development from employment, schools, shopping, and other destinations - combined with the dispersed nature of development - will limit mobility choices and increase the dependance on regional freeways and highways for everyday trips. Interstate 5 along the valley floor will become severely congested during commute hours (well below service level 'F') and spill over onto local streets and roads.
