Vision and Guiding Principles
A general plan’s vision and guiding principles provide direction and introduce key themes. All the goals, policies, and implementation programs must be consistent with the vision and guiding principles.
- What is a Vision? A vision statement is an aspirational description of what the community would like to be in the future. It is a summary of high-level goals to be achieved by the updated General Plan. The vision provides the foundation for more specific goals, policies, and programs developed during the update process. The visioning process is valuable in identifying issues important to the community and in providing early direction for alternatives development and analysis.
- What are Guiding Principles? At the heart of the General Plan are “Guiding Principles” that express the key values and aspirations for Siskiyou County’s future and act as guideposts for the goals, policies, and implementation measures contained within the General Plan. These principles expand on the main ideas contained in the vision statement so that important concepts are given more weight. Guiding principles are purposefully broadly stated to guide the County throughout development of the updated General Plan.
The following Vision and Guiding Principles was developed by the Project Team in direct response to the Community Workshop Series #1, the Technical Advisory Committee Meeting #2, the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors Joint Study Session #2, comments from the Karuk Tribe, and final comments from the Board of Supervisors. The Vision and Guiding Principles were presented to the Board of Supervisors on April 15, 2025, and were subsequently approved.
Vision Statement
To build a sustainable, prosperous future for all, Siskiyou County strives to improve the lives of workers and residents alike by focusing on the following priorities:
- Maintaining the County’s rural heritage, including the right to farm, the right to gather traditional foods, and open range.
- Diversifying new and emerging industries and expanding business opportunities based on agriculture, the natural resources economy, outdoor recreation, and local tourism.
- Increasing housing stock while preserving the unique character of our communities.
- Emphasizing and preserving private property rights while encouraging sound stewardship of renewable resources and working landscapes.
- Continuing coordination and collaboration with tribal partners.
- Increasing support for local schools and creating educational opportunities for rural communities.
- Prioritizing local community interests, including wildfire and natural hazard mitigation, while providing efficient, cost-effective government services
Guiding Principles
- Hazards, Safety, and Wildfire Preparedness
- Protecting communities from natural hazards.
- Maintaining community health and safety through disaster preparedness and hazard mitigation.
- Fostering community resilience.
- Natural Resources and Scenery
- Responsibly managing natural resources and open spaces.
- Maintaining public access to recreational opportunities.
- Promoting sustainable water resource management practices to encourage agriculturally based economic development, conservation of fish and wildlife habitat, and recreation.
- Economic Development
- Incentivizing economic development.
- Expanding employment and educational opportunities, including workforce development.
- Boosting local tourism.
- Supporting renewable energy.
- Expanding the natural resource economy.
- Encouraging locally owned businesses.
- Sense of Community and Unique Lifestyle
- Prioritizing rural communities and lifestyles.
- Fostering the unique characteristics of our communities.
- Land Use, Housing, and Infrastructure
- Incentivizing development to meet current and future housing needs.
- Providing efficient, competent, and cost-effective government services.
- Encouraging development near cities and employment centers.
- Continuing to support local schools and health facilities.
- Investing in local infrastructure.
