The state planning priorities, which are intended to promote equity, strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and promote public health and safety in the state, including in urban, suburban, and rural communities, shall be as follows:

(a) To promote infill development and equity by rehabilitating, maintaining, and improving existing infrastructure that supports infill development and appropriate reuse and redevelopment of previously developed, underutilized land that is presently served by transit, streets, water, sewer, and other essential services, particularly in underserved areas, and to preserving cultural and historic resources.

(b) To protect environmental and agricultural resources by protecting, preserving, and enhancing the state’s most valuable natural resources, including working landscapes such as farm, range, and forest lands, natural lands such as wetlands, watersheds, wildlife habitats, and other wildlands, recreation lands such as parks, trails, greenbelts, and other open space, and landscapes with locally unique features and areas identified by the state as deserving special protection.

(c) To encourage efficient development patterns by ensuring that any infrastructure associated with development, other than infill development, supports new development that does all of the following:

(1) Uses land efficiently.

(2) Is built adjacent to existing developed areas to the extent consistent with the priorities specified pursuant to subdivision (b).

(3) Is located in an area appropriately planned for growth.

(4) Is served by adequate transportation and other essential utilities and services.

(5) Minimizes ongoing costs to taxpayers.

(Amended (as added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1016) by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1109, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.)