SAN DIEGO — San Diego County’s efforts to create a plan to let development and environmental preservation live comfortably side-by-side in North County took a big step forward when the Department of Planning and Land Use released its first draft North County Multiple Species Conservation Plan (MSCP) for public comment on February 19.

The public, stakeholders and interested groups will have 45 days to submit comments. A second draft will be sent out with the plan’s Environmental Impact Report this fall.

The final North County plan is expected to be brought to County Supervisors for a...