California Attorney General Jerry Brown and the City Council of Stockton, California, are working to stop sprawl through the city’s new general plan. Stockton, a city that sits in one of California’s agricultural hubs, has steadily grown in population and size over the years, and is expected to double in the next 25 to 30 years. The sprawl issue was raised in a legal effort by the Sierra Club to prevent development outside the city.

To prevent sprawl and do their part for environmental protection, the City Council approved in a 4-3 vote earlier this week to increase development like retail and housing within the existing city limits. The general plan requires more than 4,000 new homes to be built in the city’s downtown area, an effort that should lessen transportation pressure by locating homes and jobs in close proximity.

By not developing outside the city limits, 1 million acres of agricultural land will be spared in a region sensitive to farming issues. Supporters anticipate that the plan will help curb air pollution, as Stockton employees would not have to travel into the city for work.

Attorney General Brown took the plan one step further by introducing green building goals and energy and water efficiency. He hopes the Stockton General Plan will set an example for other California cities looking to do their part for a smarter relationship with the environment.