East Palo Alto adopted a new General Plan in 2016 with strong provisions for health, including a Health and Equity element. Now the city is updating its development code to implement the policies of the General Plan. The City accepted comments on the development code through November 13th, and Get Healthy San Mateo County submitted a comment letter offering our support to implement a health indicator tracking system and healthy design guidelines and suggested language promoting healthy food and transportation demand management policies. The code will go to the Planning Commission for a study session on December 11. The City Council is set to adopt the code in February of next year.

The Health and Equity element outlines goals to track health over time in the community, promote land use and development patterns that encourage health, support bicycle and pedestrian safety, improve access to healthy food, and work to prevent displacement of residents. The General Plan’s goals and policies go a long way towards making East Palo Alto a healthier and more equitable place.