Buildings and Land Use Sector Introduction · use sector as a result of climate change, and the extent to which these vulnerabilities have been addressed by jurisdiction’s and other

Silicon Valley 2.0 - Climate Preparedness Gap Analysis

Buildings and Land Use Sector 19

Buildings and Land Use Sector Introduction: The buildings and land-use sector in Santa Clara County consists of the built environment (i.e.,

residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental structures) as well as non-building properties (e.g.,

parking lots and other high-use urban landscapes). This chapter identifies existing plans, programs, and

other initiatives at the city and county-level, that will help reduce the potential impacts of climate

change on the buildings and land-use activities within the Santa Clara county region. It should be noted

that this review focused on efforts described within jurisdictions’ general plans, municipal codes, and

emergency response plans.

Subsequent sections in this chapter describe the various vulnerabilities faced by the buildings and land-

use sector as a result of climate change, and the extent to which these vulnerabilities have been

addressed by jurisdiction’s and other organizations within the region.

Climate Change Vulnerabilities in the Buildings and land-use sector: The buildings and land-use sector in Santa Clara County is vulnerable to four climate change variables:

Changes in precipitation

Sea level rise

Storm-surge

Wildfires

(It is noted that while building systems will utilize additional energy during extreme heat events, it is the

people living or working within the buildings that are vulnerable rather than the buildings themselves.)

For more information on the nature and projected trends in these variables, refer to the Silicon Valley

2.0 Climate Variable Memorandum. Table 1 summarizes which assets and functions in the sector could

be affected by climate change, as well as the nature of impacts.

Table 1: Climate Change Variables and Impacts relevant to the Buildings and Land-use sector in Santa Clara County

Climate Change Variable Assets/Services Affected Nature of Impact

Changes in Precipitation Patterns

All residential, commercial, industrial, mixed-use, and governmental/institutional parcels

- Loss of function due to temporary inundation

- Physical damage to property

Sea level rise and Storm Surge


- Loss of function due to permanent inundation from long-term sea level rise, or short-term inundation from storm surge


Wildfires All residential, commercial, industrial, mixed-use, and governmental/institutional parcels

- Loss of function



20 Buildings and Land Use Sector

Existing Efforts to Address Buildings and Land Use sector Vulnerabilities

to Climate Change: This section provides an overview of existing buildings and land-use sector climate change preparedness

efforts in the county. The section is organized by climate change variable and specific type of asset

vulnerability. An overview of the asset vulnerability is provided, followed by descriptions of the existing

effort(s), the level of implementation (i.e., vulnerability assessment, risk assessment, strategy

development, or strategy implementation), and the relevant organizations.

Efforts Addressing Changes in Precipitation

Description of Building and Land Use Sector Vulnerability

Changes in precipitation patterns are projected to impact the buildings and land-use sector in Santa

Clara County, particularly via changes in rainfall intensity and storm frequency, which could result in

increased riverine flooding in the region and localized flooding related to storm-water management

system being overwhelmed. While overall annual precipitation in Santa Clara County is not projected to

change by mid-century, more precipitation is projected to occur in winter in the form of stronger

storms. These stronger storms could result in flooding of various assets in the buildings and land-use

sector, leading to physical and functional damages. Storms could also have direct impacts that have a

variety of emergency management implications at the time of the event, as well longer-term

implications for land use and infrastructure planning.

Existing Climate Change Preparedness Efforts

In order to protect the buildings and land-use sector against the impacts of flooding from storms,

jurisdictions in Santa Clara County have put in place the following policies, procedures, and actions.

Incorporation of Climate Change Considerations into New Development Project Design

Description: Some cities in Santa Clara county are explicitly taking climate change into

consideration in decision-making around new development. For example, the City of San Jose

requires evaluation of projected inundation for proposed projects in areas that will be exposed

to future coastal or riverine flooding as a result of climate change. For projects that are or will

be affected by sea level rise, the City requires incorporation of mitigation measures prior to their

approval. Other cities considering more stringent flood protection measures in light of climate

change are the Cities of Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Sunnyvale. The City of Mountain View’s

Sustainability Task Force Final Report (2008) recommends that the City should place a

moratorium on additional city infrastructure or other city investments in the existing flood zone

and nearby areas likely to be in the flood zone during the useful life of the investment.

Development will only be approved once flood protection sufficient to protect the investment

from a 100-year event during its lifetime has been designed, and construction is fully funded.

Similarly, the City of Sunnyvale’s Draft Climate Action Plan recommends that proposed

development projects analyze and disclose possible impacts of climate change on the project

area, thereby building on the City’s existing requirement to protect property from 100-year

flood events.



Implementation level: Adaptation Policy Implementation

Relevant agencies: City of San Jose, City of Mountain View, City of Sunnyvale, FEMA

Documentation of efforts:

o City of San Jose General Plan

<http://www.sanjoseca.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/474>

o City of Mountain View Sustainability Task Force Final Report <

http://www.mountainview.gov/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=5122>

o City of Sunnyvale Draft Climate Action Plan <

http://www.pmcworld.com/client/sunnyvale/documents/cap/Sunnyvale-CAP_draft-11-

2011.pdf>

Improved Construction Standards for Future Climate Change-Related Flood Protection

Description: Per the recommendations of Mountain View’s Sustainability Task Force Report, the

City is considering strengthening the building standards and other site construction

requirements to account for flooding potential at the end of the expected life of the building,

given that sea level rise is a slow-moving climate change variable, and will result in inundation in

the future.

Implementation level: Adaptation Strategy Development

Relevant agencies: City of Mountain View, City of Saratoga


o City of Mountain View Sustainability Task Force Final Report

Parallel Efforts with Potential Climate Change Preparedness Benefits

Development/Access Restrictions in Flood-Prone Areas

Description: Cities in Santa Clara County enforce restrictions on development in areas that are

prone to flooding. For example, the City of Saratoga’s Floodplain Management Plan has

provisions for preventing future development of areas along stream channels, such that the

areas can be used for flood prevention projects as necessary. Similarly, in compliance with

watercourse protection regulations, the City of Los Altos has put in place special setbacks and

development restrictions along creeks that have a history of flooding.

Implementation level: Parallel Effort with Potential Climate Change Preparedness Benefits

Relevant agencies: City of Saratoga, City of Los Altos


o City of Saratoga General Plan Safety Element

<http://www.saratoga.ca.us/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=7077>

o City of Los Altos General Plan

< http://www.losaltosca.gov/communitydevelopment/page/adopted-plans>

Relocation of Facilities

Description: The City of San Jose General Plan has polices in place to locate critical or public

facilities (such as the Water Pollution Control Plant, local hospitals, police and fire service

facilities, and schools) above the 500-year floodplain or protect such facilities up to the

http://www.sanjoseca.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/474

http://www.mountainview.gov/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=5122

http://www.pmcworld.com/client/sunnyvale/documents/cap/Sunnyvale-CAP_draft-11-2011.pdf

http://www.pmcworld.com/client/sunnyvale/documents/cap/Sunnyvale-CAP_draft-11-2011.pdf

http://www.saratoga.ca.us/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=7077

http://www.losaltosca.gov/communitydevelopment/page/adopted-plans



magnitude 500-year flood. In cases where enhanced flood protection is preferred over

relocation, construction features for critical facilities are required to follow FEMA guidelines,

and may include freeboard requirements, elevation above the 500-year floodplain, and elevated

access ramps.


Relevant agencies: City of San Jose



Support for Funding Opportunities

Description: Cities in Santa Clara County have included in their general plan, various policies and

recommendations to set aside funding for flood protection projects. For example, the City of

San Jose supports State and Federal legislation which provides funding for the construction of

flood protection improvements in urbanized areas. Similarly, the City of Campbell has a

provision in its General Plan to collect adequate fees for the maintenance of its storm drainage

system. Lastly, the City of Mountain View General Plan specifically recommends developing

permanent or ad hoc sources of funding to implement storm-water best practices in the City.


Relevant agencies: City of San Jose



o City of Campbell General Plan

<http://www.ci.campbell.ca.us/Planning/Forms&Reports/GeneralPlanFinalVersion2002.

pdf>

o City of Mountain View General Plan

<http://www.mountainview.gov/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=10702>

Maintenance of Flood Control Facilities

Description: The Cities of San Jose and Mountain View have polices in place to develop (or

maintain) new (or existing) flood protection infrastructure. For example, the City of San Jose

General Plan requires the maintenance of flood retention facilities in cooperation with the Santa

Clara Valley Water District in order to protect areas from the occurrence of 100-year flood

events or less frequent flood events when required by the State. Under circumstances where

existing retention facilities are not adequate, the General Plan also requires the City to

cooperate with the Santa Clara Valley Water District to develop additional flood retention

facilities. Similarly, the City of Mountain View General Plan also requires development of flood

retention areas to specifically address effects of sea level rise. In addition to flood retention

facilities, cities in Santa Clara County also have similar requirements for other types of flood

protection infrastructure. For example, the City of San Jose has policies in place to

develop/maintain levees per the design specifications of FEMA’s levee re-certification program

in collaboration with local, regional, state and federal agencies. Lastly, cities such as Saratoga

http://www.ci.campbell.ca.us/Planning/Forms&Reports/GeneralPlanFinalVersion2002.pdf

http://www.ci.campbell.ca.us/Planning/Forms&Reports/GeneralPlanFinalVersion2002.pdf

http://www.mountainview.gov/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=10702



also have provisions in their general plan to regulate the construction of flood barriers on

surrounding areas, given that they can potentially increase flood hazards in adjacent areas.


Relevant agencies: City of San Jose, City of Mountain View, City of Saratoga





Maintenance/Improvement of Floodplain Storage Capacity

Description: Cities in Santa Clara County are taking steps to maintain natural waterways as a

means of flood control. For example, the Cities of San Jose, Mountain View, Cupertino, Palo

Alto, and Los Gatos encourage the preservation and restoration of urban creeks and rivers in

their respective general plans to maintain existing floodplain storage. Similarly, the City of

Saratoga’s Floodplain Management Plan, includes provisions to control the alteration of natural

floodplains and streams.


Relevant agencies: City of San Jose, City of Mountain View, City of Cupertino, City of Palo Alto,

City of Saratoga, City of Los Gatos




o City of Cupertino General Plan < http://www.cupertino.org/index.aspx?page=709>

o City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan

<http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/topics/projects/landuse/compplan.asp>

o City of Saratoga Floodplain Management Plan

<http://www.saratoga.ca.us/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=7077>

o City of Los Gatos General Plan < http://www.losgatosca.gov/index.aspx?NID=27>

Maintenance/Improvement of Storm-water Percolation

Description: Cities in Santa Clara County have various measures in place to reduce storm-water

runoff by improving percolation. For example, the City of San Jose’s General Plan encourages

the reduction of impervious surfaces within city boundaries as a part of redevelopment and

roadway improvements through the selection of appropriate materials, site planning, and street

design. Similarly, the City of Mountain View’s General Plan encourages the development of

green streets and sustainable streetscapes using techniques such as bio-swales, bio-retention,

and permeable pavements.


Relevant agencies: City of San Jose, City of Mountain View




http://www.cupertino.org/index.aspx?page=709

http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/topics/projects/landuse/compplan.asp

http://www.saratoga.ca.us/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=7077

http://www.losgatosca.gov/index.aspx?NID=27



Flood Protection Incentives via Insurance

Description: Cities in Santa Clara County are voluntarily participating in programs that encourage

responsible development through insurance incentives. For example, the cities of San Jose,

Mountain View, Saratoga, and Los Altos participate in the National Flood Insurance Program

(NFIP) Community Rating System, which encourages floodplain management activities that

exceed minimum NFIP requirements through discounted insurance premium rates.


Relevant agencies: City of San Jose, City of Mountain View, City of Saratoga, City of Los Altos,

FEMA





o City of Los Altos General Plan

o FEMA NFIP Community Rating System <http://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-

program-community-rating-system>

Incorporation of Flooding Considerations into New and Existing Development Project Design

Description: Cities in Santa Clara County are incorporating flooding considerations into decision-

making involving new development, or modifications to existing development. For example, the

City of San Jose requires evaluation of projected inundation for proposed projects in areas

prone to historical coastal or riverine flooding (e.g. FEMA designated floodplains or Special Flood

Hazard Areas). Per City guidelines, proposed development in FEMA-designated floodplains must

be designed to provide protection from 100-year flood events or whatever designated

benchmark FEMA may adopt in the future. New development may also need to provide

protection for less frequent flood events when required by the State. Additionally, cities such as

San Jose, Palo Alto, Campbell and Los Altos implement FEMA requirements for proposed

development in Special Flood Hazard Areas as marked in Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Other

cities that evaluate potential impacts of flooding on proposed development include the Cities of

Saratoga and Campbell.


Relevant agencies: City of San Jose, City of Mountain View, City of Sunnyvale, City of Palo Alto,

City of Campbell, City of Saratoga, FEMA



o City of Palo Alto General Plan

o City of Sunnyvale General Plan



http://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-community-rating-system

http://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-community-rating-system



Improved Building Construction Standards for Flood Protection

Description: In cases where existing flood control facilities such as levees do not provide

adequate protection against flooding, cities such as Mountain View and Saratoga have taken

measures to improve the resilience of built infrastructure against flooding through more

stringent building design requirements. For example, the City of Mountain View requires that all

buildings (residential, multi-use, commercial, or city-owned) be elevated above anticipated

flood levels in the event of a levee failure. Similarly, the City of Saratoga’s Floodplain

Management Plan includes construction standards for proposed development in flood prone

areas, such as anchoring, building with flood resistant materials, and elevating.






Runoff Management via Permitting

Description: Cities in Santa Clara County have mechanisms in place to reduce urban runoff from

project sites. For example, the Cities of San Jose and Mountain View require implementation of

Municipal Regional Storm-water Permits issued by the State Water Resources Control Board

following the completion of projects in order to manage runoff flow and volume from project

sites. Such criteria include maintenance operations such as street sweeping, and storm-drain

cleaning.






Drainage System Maintenance/Construction

Description: Cities in Santa Clara County have programs in place to minimize flooding hazards by

maintaining storm-water drainage systems. For example, the City of San Jose General Plan

requires maintenance of the City’s storm drainage infrastructure in a manner that reduces flood

hazards. Any modifications to the storm-water drainage system are required to ensure drainage

capacity for a 10-year storm event. Additionally, the City of San Jose also maintains a Storm

Drainage Master Plan, and partners with agencies to develop broader Watershed Management

Plans to model the City’s hydrology. Similarly, the City of Palo Alto’s General Plan and the City of

Saratoga’s General Plan Safety Element Update specifically identifies insufficient storm drainage

systems that contribute to flooding in low-lying areas, as well as actions to build new drainage

systems in these areas.


Relevant agencies: City of San Jose, City of Palo Alto, City of Saratoga, Other Partner Agencies





o City of San Jose Storm Drainage Master Plan

<http://bairwmp.org/projects/city-of-san-jose-citywide-storm-drain-master-plan>



Inclusion of Flood Protection Features in Green Building Ordinances

Description: Many cities in Santa Clara County have developed Green Building Ordinances,

which go beyond minimum State requirements for flood control. For example, the City of

Mountain View’s Green Building ordinance requires the implementation of specific storm-water

management techniques during the construction of projects, such as the installation of

retention basins. Additionally, the ordinance also requires implementation of efforts to prevent

surface water from entering buildings via options such as swales, drains, retention gardens and

other systems.






Efforts Addressing Sea Level Rise and Accompanying Storm Surge


Rising sea levels will lead to permanent inundation and loss of function of coastal development and

infrastructure in Santa Clara County. Additionally, increasingly strong storms (particularly wind strength,

wave height, barometric pressure changes, and rainfall/runoff rates into the ocean) that are projected

to accompany sea level rise have the potential to cause physical damage to infrastructure. Recent

analysis from the USGS indicates that Santa Clara County is among the counties in the Bay Area most

exposed to storm surge.

The value of assets at risk on San Francisco Bay is substantially higher than along the Pacific coast.

Studies estimate that under a sea level rise scenario of 1.4 meters, the replacement value of buildings

vulnerable to 100-year flood events is over $7 billion1. Among various building and land-use sectors in

Santa Clara County, the residential sector is at the greatest risk. In summary, the buildings and land-use

sector consists of several assets which are likely to be physically and functionally damaged as a result of

sea level rise and accompanying storm surge.


In order to protect the buildings and land-use sector against the impacts of flooding from sea level rise

and storm surge, a few jurisdictions in Santa Clara County have put in place the guidance, policies, and

procedures described below. Given that sea level rise and storm surge has the ability to impact multiple

1 Pacific Institute, 2012, The Impacts of Sea Level Rise on the San Francisco Bay, California Energy Commission,

Publication number: CEC-500-2012-014

http://bairwmp.org/projects/city-of-san-jose-citywide-storm-drain-master-plan



sectors at a large geographic scale, most efforts related to sea level rise preparedness are occurring via

regional collaborations, and are not specific to building and land use sector assets. These other efforts

are described in the Shoreline Protection Infrastructure Chapter of this document.

Incorporation of Climate Change Considerations into New Development Project Design

(same as described in Changes in Precipitation section above)

Description:

Some cities in Santa Clara county are explicitly taking climate change into consideration in

decision-making around new development. For example, the City of San Jose requires

evaluation of projected inundation for proposed projects in areas that will be exposed to future

coastal or riverine flooding as a result of climate change. For projects that are or will be affected

by sea level rise, the City requires incorporation of mitigation measures prior to their approval.

Other cities considering more stringent flood protection measures in light of climate change are

the Cities of Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Sunnyvale. The City of Mountain View’s

Sustainability Task Force Final Report (2008) recommends that the City should place a

moratorium on additional city infrastructure or other city investments in the existing flood zone

and nearby areas likely to be in the flood zone during the useful life of the investment unless

and until flood protection sufficient to protect the investment from a 100-year event during its

lifetime has been designed and construction is fully funded. Similarly, the City of Sunnyvale’s

Draft Climate Action Plan recommends that proposed development projects analyze and

disclose possible impacts of climate change on the project area, thereby building on the City’s

existing requirement to protect property from 100-year flood events.

Implementation level: Adaptation Policy Implementation

Relevant agencies: City of San Jose, City of Mountain View, City of Sunnyvale, FEMA



o City of Mountain View Sustainability Task Force Final Report <

o City of Sunnyvale Draft Climate Action Plan

Improved Construction Standards for Future Climate Change-Related Flood Protection

(same as described in Changes in Precipitation section above)

Description: Per the recommendations of Mountain View’s Sustainability Task Force Report, the

City is considering strengthening the building standards and other site construction

requirements to account for coastal or riverine flooding potential at the end of the expected life

of the building, given that sea level rise is a slow-moving climate change variable, and will result

in inundation the future.

Implementation level: Adaptation Strategy Development






Efforts Addressing Wildfire


Typically, natural wildfire patterns are driven by conditions such as droughts, temperature,

precipitation, wind, and the availability of fuel (biomass). Climate change is projected to increase the

frequency of wildfire events, the extent of burned areas across the State, and the duration of fire

seasons. Fire seasons are projected to begin earlier in the spring due to drier and warmer spring

conditions on average, potentially requiring longer annual need for firefighting services. Greater inter-

annual variability in temperature and precipitation may also affect fire intensity. For example, multiple

wet years can result in larger fuel buildup in landscapes. This may result in increasingly intense and

frequent fires if followed by drought years. Fire risk will also vary depending on population growth and

land use characteristics including rates of residential expansion and infrastructure into fire prone areas

over the next century. Studies indicate that an increase in wildfire risk to residential property will

accompany climate change due to exurban growth and increased susceptibility of landscapes and

vegetation to fire due to climate change. The Bay Area and Santa Clara County have been identified as

one of the more risk prone areas in the State. Generally, a 1- to 7-fold increase in fire risk to residential

properties across Santa Clara County has been shown for low and high population growth scenarios by

late-century.


This analysis did not identify any explicit policies, procedures, and actions aimed at preparing the region

for the increase in the frequency of wildfires that is anticipated to occur due to climate change.

Parallel Efforts with Potential Climate Change Preparation Benefits

In order to protect the buildings and land-use sector against the existing threat of wildfire, many

jurisdictions in Santa Clara county have put in place the following policies, procedures, and actions.

While these policies do not explicitly address future climate change they may benefit climate change

preparedness efforts.

Development/Access restrictions in fire hazard zones

Description: Cities in Santa Clara County use restrictions on development and access as a means

of preventing wildfires. For example, the General Plans for the Cities of San Jose and Palo Alto

contain provisions for minimizing development in high fire-hazard zones via the permitting

process and via low-density zoning respectively. Additionally, the City of San Jose general plan

also recommends reduced public-road access to high fire-hazard areas.


Relevant agencies: City of San Jose, City of Palo Alto






Revised Building design standards in fire hazard zones

Description: In accordance with the State building codes, cities enforce building design

standards for proposed development in high fire-hazard zones, which include specific

requirements for building material and exterior exposure protection.


Relevant agencies: All local jurisdictions


o City of San Jose General Plan (as an example)

Vegetation Management practices

Description: Most jurisdictions in Santa Clara county with wild urban interfaces have specific

vegetation management requirements for wildfire prevention. For example, the general plans

of San Jose and Saratoga require the use of best practices on defensible space vegetation

management in order to protect structures at/near the urban/wild-land interface.


Relevant agencies: City of San Jose, City of Saratoga




Education/Communication/Outreach

Description: Cities in Santa Clara County have existing public outreach efforts to reduce fire

hazards through behavioral best practices. These efforts are conducted in collaboration with

local, regional, and state agencies.


Relevant agencies: City of San Jose, City of Palo Alto, Santa Clara County FireSafe Council




Efforts Addressing Multiple Climate Change Variables Some of the adaptation efforts, initiated by local jurisdictions, simultaneously address more than one

type of climate change vulnerability. In some cities, policies, procedures, and actions have been

developed to provide an overarching framework for addressing a variety of natural disasters that might

be exacerbated as a result of climate change. These efforts are described below.

Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation into Existing Plans

Description: Cities in Santa Clara County are considering how climate change adaptation can be

integrated with existing local long-term planning efforts. For example, the City of Sunnyvale’s

Draft Climate Action Plan recommends the integration of climate change adaptation into future

updates of the City Zoning Code, Building Code, General Plan, and other related documents.

Similarly, the City of Palo Alto’s Comprehensive Plan Amendment recommends that the Capital

Improvement Plan should prioritize infrastructure improvements that address adaptation of



critical facilities to climate change. Additionally, the City of Palo Alto’s Plan Amendment also

calls for the preparation of a Climate Adaptation Strategy to identify the ways in which Palo Alto

can respond to the predicted changes to its physical environment associated with climate

change. Other cities such as San Jose and Mountain View have already included climate change

considerations in their general plans.

Implementation level: Adaptation Strategy Planning

Relevant agencies: City of San Jose, City of Mountain View, City of Sunnyvale, City of Palo Alto





o City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Amendment

Emergency Response Planning

Description: Cities in Santa Clara County have existing emergency preparedness and emergency

response plans which include measures for addressing natural disasters such as wildfires and

floods. Examples of such cities include San Jose, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Campbell, and

Monte Sereno. In addition, some cities in Santa Clara County have recognized the critical role of

emergency service departments in preparing for and responding to climate-related natural

disasters, and are encouraging city-level emergency response planning efforts to incorporate

climate change considerations. For example, the City of Sunnyvale’s Draft Climate Action Plan

recommends that the City Office of Emergency Services be trained and informed regularly on

potential climate change risks and hazards, and that the City Emergency Plan and Emergency

Preparedness Workbook be updated to address climate change impacts

Implementation level: Adaptation Strategy Planning

Relevant agencies: City of San Jose, City of Palo Alto, City of Mountain View, City of Campbell,

City of Monte Serrano, City of Sunnyvale







o City of Monte Sereno General Plan

<http://www.montesereno.org/clientuploads/Online%20Documents/Planning/FinalGen

eralPlan032010.pdf>

Monitoring/Measuring

Description: Some cities in Santa Clara County, such as the City of San Jose, City of Palo Alto, and

City of Santa Clara have a requirement in their general plans to monitor changes to climate

change variables such as sea level, temperature, precipitation, wildfires, etc. Additionally, the

http://www.montesereno.org/clientuploads/Online%20Documents/Planning/FinalGeneralPlan032010.pdf

http://www.montesereno.org/clientuploads/Online%20Documents/Planning/FinalGeneralPlan032010.pdf



City of Santa Clara General Plan also has a provision to evaluate the effects of climate change, as

well as identify strategies to address impacts, particularly sea level rise.

Implementation level: Vulnerability Assessment

Relevant agencies: City of San Jose, City of Palo Alto, City of Santa Clara




o City of Santa Clara General Plan < http://santaclaraca.gov/index.aspx?page=1263>

Regional Collaboration

Description: Cities in Santa Clara County recognize the importance of collaborating with

regional, state, and federal agencies to plan for resilience against anticipated impacts of climate

change. All of the cities in Santa Clara county, as well as the County itself, have prepared Local

Hazard Mitigation Plans to address regional natural disasters, some of which may be

exacerbated by climate change (e.g. flooding and sea level rise). The need for regional

collaboration has also been identified in individual city planning efforts. For example the City of

Sunnyvale’s Draft Climate Action Plan recommends collaboration with regional agencies to

analyze and prepare for climate impacts.

Implementation level: Overall Climate Change Adaptation Planning

Relevant agencies: Santa Clara County, all cities in Santa Clara County


o Santa Clara County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update, 2011

< http://www.sccgov.org/sites/oes/PlansPublications/Pages/LHMP.aspx>


Key Actors and Decision Makers for Climate Change Adaptation Planning

and Implementation While buildings and land-use are primarily under the direct control of local jurisdictions, other regional,

state, and federal agencies have a part to play in the development of effective climate change

preparedness strategies necessary to protect the sector. These agencies are identified below, along with

a description of their roles.

Federal Regulatory Agencies:

FEMA: FEMA is responsible for coordinating the federal government’s role in preparing for,

preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from disasters, including

those that are likely to increase in frequency or magnitude as a result of climate change. FEMA

plays a critical role in protecting the buildings and land-use sector at the local scale, as FEMA

designates flood zones according to varying levels of flood risk and type of flooding. These zones

are depicted on the published Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) or Flood Hazard Boundary Map

(FHBM)

http://santaclaraca.gov/index.aspx?page=1263

http://www.sccgov.org/sites/oes/PlansPublications/Pages/LHMP.aspx



State Regulatory Agencies

California State Water Control Board: The State Water Board’s mission is to preserve, enhance

and restore the quality of California’s water resources, and ensure their proper allocation and

efficient use for the benefit of present and future generations. The Board’s Storm-water

Program includes a municipal program which regulates storm-water discharges from local

drainage systems, thereby playing an important role in maintaining the flood protection abilities

of drainage systems.

CALFIRE: CALFIRE is responsible for the fire protection and stewardship of over 31 million acres

of California's privately-owned wild lands. CALFIRE also provides varied emergency services in 36

of the State's 58 counties via contracts with local governments. This department will play an

important role in building the capacity of local governments to address the increasing frequency

and magnitude of wildfires as a result of climate change.

Regional Entities

Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG): ABAG is a joint powers agency representing local

governments in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Santa Clara County. ABAG serves several

regional and sub-regional planning functions, and operates a variety of service programs for

local governments in areas where economies of scale are an important factor in reducing costs.

ABAG coordinates periodic updates to Santa Clara County’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan per the

directive of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. ABAG’s most recent update to this plan

includes an assessment of the vulnerability of Santa Clara County to various climatic changes.

ABAG’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan sets the stage for regional adaptation planning in Santa

Clara County (see http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/mitigation/plan.html).

Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD): The District manages an integrated water resources

system that includes water supply, flood protection and stewardship of streams in Santa Clara

County. One of the District’s core responsibilities is to protect the County from flooding via

ongoing stream maintenance and construction of flood protection projects.

Local Governments

Local governments have the ability to advance climate change adaptation planning at the

community scale. Local governments can incorporate climate change considerations into their

locally enforceable general plans. Specifically with regard to the buildings and land-use sector,

local governments can influence land-use and zoning policies in their communities by making

revisions to building codes and zoning codes. Along with Santa Clara County, the cities in the

County will play a crucial role in the implementation of local level adaptation strategies that will

be identified as part of the Silicon Valley 2.0 process.

Summary of Existing Efforts to address Vulnerabilities This section summarizes the existing efforts in the buildings and land-use sector to address impacts on

buildings and land-use sector assets and services from specific climate change variables relevant to

Santa Clara County (see Table 4). These efforts indicate the level of existing capacity in the buildings and

http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/mitigation/plan.html



land-use sector to withstand climate change impacts. The identification of these existing efforts is

critical in determining the extent of additional capacity needed in the buildings and land-use sector to

build resilience against climate change. Efforts to address climate change impacts vary across the

County. For example, cities like San Jose have been successful in mainstreaming climate change

adaptation into their general plans. Other cities such as Sunnyvale have stand-alone climate action plans

which focus primarily on climate change mitigation, but also identify efforts to promote climate change

adaptation. Many of the cities in Santa Clara County have not taken climate change into consideration

in the formulation of plans, policies, and actions which govern their buildings and land-use sectors.

However, many existing plans, policies, and actions that are in place in these cities are consistent with

the climate change adaptation planning process. Examples of these efforts are summarized below.

Table 2: Existing Efforts to Address Buildings and Land-use Sector Climate Change Vulnerabilities

Climate Change Variable Asset

Macro-category of Effort Description of Effort

Climate Change Preparedness

Category Stakeholder

Changes in Precipitation

All residential, commercial,

industrial, mixed-use, and governmental/

institutional parcels

Policy/Planning/ Operations

Incorporation of climate change considerations into new

development project design

Adaptation Policy

Implementation Cities


As above Policy/Planning/

Operations

Improved construction standards for future climate change-related

flood protection

Adaptation

Strategy Development

Cities



Operations Restrictions on access and/or

development in flood-prone zones

Parallel

Effort with Climate

Preparedness Benefits

Cities


As above Retreat Contingency planning for

relocation of critical facilities

Parallel

Effort with Climate


Cities


As above Financing Support for funding flood

protection efforts

Parallel

Effort with Climate


Cities


As above

New (Existing) Flood Protection

Infrastructure Construction

(Maintenance)

Maintenance of existing flood protection infrastructure such as

retention basins or levees, or construction of new infrastructure

as necessary

Parallel

Effort with Climate


Cities, SCVWD





Operations

Incorporation of climate change considerations into new and existing development project

design

Parallel

Effort with Climate


Cities


As above Restoration of Natural Flood

Protection Systems

Maintenance/improvement of floodplain storage capacity via

restoration of water bodies

Parallel

Effort with Climate


Cities


As above Storm-water Management

Maintenance/Improvement of groundwater percolation

Parallel

Effort with Climate


Cities



Regulation of storm-water runoff from proposed development sites

via permitting

Parallel

Effort with Climate


Cities, SWRCB



Operations

Modification of flood insurance rates to incentivize flood

protection

Parallel

Effort with Climate


Cities, FEMA



Operations New building construction

standards for flood protection

Parallel

Effort with Climate


Cities



New storm-water infrastructure construction/maintenance

Parallel

Effort with Climate


Cities



Operations

Inclusion of flood protection features in green building

ordinances

Parallel

Effort with Climate


Cities

Sea Level Rise & Strom

Surge As above


Incorporation of climate change considerations into new

development project design

Adaptation Policy

Implementation Cities

Sea Level Rise & Strom

Surge As above


Improved construction standards for future climate change-related

flood protection

Adaptation

Strategy Development

Cities



Wildfires As above Vegetation

management

Implementation of vegetation management best practices, such

as maintenance of defensible space

Parallel

Effort with Climate


Cities

Wildfires As above Policy/Planning/

Operations Restrictions on access and/or

development in fire hazard zones

Parallel

Effort with Climate


Cities

Wildfires

As above


Revised building design standards in fire hazard zones

Parallel

Effort with Climate


Cities

Wildfires

As above

Education/Communication/Outreach

Public outreach efforts to reduce fire hazards through behavioral

best practices.

Parallel

Effort with Climate


Cities, CALFIRE

All As above Regional

Collaboration

Collaboration among local, regional, state, and federal

agencies to build resilience in the buildings and land-use sector

against climate change impacts

Overall climate change

adaptation planning

Cities, Santa Clara County, Other Public

Agencies

All As above Policy/Planning/

Operations

Mainstreaming climate change adaptation into general plans,

capital improvement plans, climate action plans, etc.

Strategy Planning

Cities, Santa Clara County

All As above Policy/Planning/

Operations

City-wide and County-wide emergency preparedness and

response services

Strategy Planning


All As above Monitoring/ Measuring

Periodic monitoring of changes to climate change variables

Vulnerability Assessment


Summary of Existing Gaps in Climate Change Preparedness Efforts in the

Buildings and land-use sector Table 5 provides a summary of existing efforts and gaps in climate change preparedness in the buildings

and land-use sector within the Santa Clara county region. The table lists the existing vulnerabilities of

various assets in the buildings and land-use sector to climate change variables, along with an

identification of whether climate change preparedness efforts are in place to address these

vulnerabilities, as well as a qualitative rating of the level of those climate change preparedness efforts.



Table 3: Level of Climate Change Preparedness Efforts in the Buildings and Land Use Sector

Climate Change Variable Assets/Services Affected Nature of Impact

Existing Climate Change

Preparedness Efforts?

Level of Regional Climate Change

Preparedness

Changes in Precipitation Patterns


- Loss of function due to temporary inundation


Yes Very Low

Sea level Rise and

Storm Surge

All residential, commercial, industrial, mixed-use, and governmental/institutional parcels located near the coast

- Loss of function due to permanent inundation from long-term sea level rise,

- Loss of function due to short-term inundation from storm surge,

- Physical damage to property from storm surge

Yes Very Low

Wildfires All residential, commercial, industrial, mixed-use, and governmental/institutional parcels

- Loss of function


No None, but

Parallel Efforts Exist

The analysis provided in this chapter indicates that few explicit climate change preparedness efforts

have been initiated in the sector. The Silicon Valley 2.0 regional plan will identify key strategies and

policies that could be adopted by local jurisdictions to improve the regions level of preparedness. The

plan will build upon those initiatives identified in this chapter.