Until 2002, Oakley relied on the land use and circulation policies of Contra Costa County, principally the Contra Costa County General Plan (1991), the County-prepared Oakley Redevelopment Project/Redevelopment Area Planned Unit District (PUD; 1999), and Oakley Old Town Specific Plan (1996).
The Design & Development Plan builds on both the PUD and the Specific Plan, incorporating a number of their recommendations for development, capital improvements, and conceptual improvements for widening Route 4.