Contra Costa County is a large, diverse region of farms and orchards, historic communities, high-density transit-oriented neighborhoods, suburban subdivisions, and extensive open space. In the western part of the county, several major refineries and other highly polluting industries operate in close proximity to communities of color and low-income residents.

PlaceWorks led a General Plan Update centered around strengthening the dozens of unincorporated communities throughout the county through extensive community-scale engagement and community-specific policy guidance. With substantial involvement from the County’s health services staff and partnerships with community-based organizations, we developed policy guidance for the explicit purpose of undoing the wrongs of the past. The County prioritized its investment in and protections for the communities that have suffered from a lack of investment and a disproportionate burden of pollution and health impacts.

Most of the more than 100 meetings took place in and focused on individual communities. Utilizing this feedback, PlaceWorks prepared a vision for what each community wants to be in 2040 and community-specific policy guidance so that future decisions support that vision.