HomeMy WebLinkAbout072291 CC/PC Jnt. AgendaAGENDA
TEMECULA CITY COUNCIL
AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
TO BE HELD JOINTLY WITH THE TEMECULA PLANNING COMMISSION
TEMECULA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL, PERFORMING ARTS ROOM
MONDAY, JULY 22, 1991 - 7:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER:
Flag Salute
ROLL CALL:
PRESENTATIONS/
PROCLAMATIONS
Mayor Ronald J. Parks
Commission Chairman Chiniaeff
COUNCILMEMBERS: Birdsall, Lindemans, Moore, Mur~oz,
Parks
COMMISSIONERS: Blair, Fahey, Ford, Hoagland, Chiniaeff
PUBLIC COMMENTS
A total of 1 5 minutes is provided so members of the public can address the Council
on items that are not listed on the Agenda or on the Consent Calendar. Speakers are
limited to two (2) minutes each. If you desire to speak to the Council about an item
not listed on the Agenda or on the consent Calendar, a pink "Request To Speak' form
should be filled out and filed with the City Clerk.
When you are called to speak, please come forward and state your name and address.
For all other agenda items a 'Request To Speak' form must be filed with theCity Clerk
before the Council gets to that item. There is a five (5) minute time limit for individual
speakers.
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
All matters listed under Consent Calendar are considered to be routine and all will be
enacted by one roll call vote. There will be no discussion of these items unless
members of the City Council request specific items be removed from the Consent
Calendar for separate action.
21~ge~da/07229 $ 1 07118191
2
Consideration of Prooosed Handbill Ordinance
(Placed on the agenda at the request of Councilmember Moore)
RECOMMENDATION
1.1 Consider a proposed ordinance and if desired, direct staff to place it on the
Council agenda for introduction and first reading.
General Plan Process
2.3 15 min.
2.4 35 min.
2.1 Introduction 5 min. · Gary Thornhill, Planning Director
· Susan DeSantis, The Planning Center
2.2 Overview of the General Plan Process 15 min.
· AI Bell, The Planning Center
Review of Schedule, Guidance Package and
Participation Program for Citizens and City
Officials
· Jim Ragsdale, The Planning Center
Discussion of the Preliminary Vision Statement
· AI Bell, The Planning Center
2.5 Break 15 min.
2.6 Identification of Key Issues 60 min.
2.7 Preview of Next Joint PC/CC Workshop/Summary 5 min.
2.8 Public Comments 30 min.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
ADJOURNMENT
Next regular meeting: July 23, 1991, 7:00 PM, Temporary Temecula Community
Center, 27475 Commerce Center Drive, Temecula, California
21.ge~lW072291 2 07/18/~1
APPROVAL
CITY ATTORNEY
FINANCE OFFICER
CITY MANAGER
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
CiTY OF TEMECULA
AGENDA REPORT
City Council/City Manager
Tony Elmo, Chief Building Official
July, 3-F~, 1991
Consideration of an Ordinance to Prohibit the Placement of
Hand Bills on Automobiles within the City of Temecula.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approval of an Ordinance prohibiting the placement of handbills on automobiles within
the City of Temecula.
DISCUSSION:
This Ordinance was developed in response to the concerns of Council regarding the
proliferation of Hand Bills posted on private automobiles parked within the City. This
Ordinance will prohibit the placing, scattering or similar distribution method, of any
Hand Bill upon or in vehicles, or on Public and Private Property. Nothing in this
Ordinance shall prohibit the handing or transmittal of any Hand Bill to the owner of
such vehicle or private property. Violators of the provisions of this Ordinance shall
be considered a misdemeanor and subject to punishment in accordance with Section
1 .O1.200. et seq. of this code.
1
ggd/ORNl17490(03/15/90-3)
ORDINANCE NO. 91-
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF TEMECULA ADDING CHAPTER 4.10,
"HAND BILLS," TO THE TEMECULA MUNICIPAL
CODE~O PROHIBIT THE PLACEMENT OF HAND
BILLSON AUTOMOBILE WITHIN THE CITY OF
TEMECULA.
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the
placement of hand bills on vehicles parked within the City
of Temecula poses a substantial risk that drivers will drive
off with the hand bills still on the windshield; and,
WHEREAS, having hand bills placed on windshields of
vehicles which subsequently are driven with the same still
on_~he windshield poses a danger of obstructing vision and
interfering with the proper operation of windshield wipers
creating a direct threat to the public safety; and,
WHEREAS, the placement of hand bills on automobiles
poses a threat to property damage of such vehicles; and,
WHEREAS, the placement of hand bills on vehicles
parked within the City increases the likelihood that such
· hand bills will ultimately become litter which is unsightly
and increasing City clean-up and maintenance costs.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TEMECULA DOES
HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 4.10, "Hand Bills," is hereby
added to the Temecula Municipal Code, which shall read as
follows:
"CHAPTER: 4.10
Hand Bills
Sections:
4.10.010
4.10.020
4.10.030
4.10.040
4.10.050
Hand Bill Defined.
Placing of Hand Bills on
Vehicles Prohibited.
Distribution on Public
Property.
Distribution on Private
Property.
Posting.
-1-
ggd/ORNl17490(03/15/90-3)
4.10.060
4.10.070
Posting Private Property to
Prevent Hand Bills.
Exemptions.
4.10.010 Hand Bill Defined. 'Hand bill' for
purposes of this Chapter, includes any printed or written
advertising matter, any sample or device, dodger, circular,
leaflet, pamphlet, newspaper, paper, booklet, or other
printed matter or literature.
4.10.020 Placing of Hand Bills on Vehicles
Prohibited. It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor, subject
to punishment in accordance with Section 1.01.200 et seq. of
this Code, for any person either directly or indirectly, to
distribute, deposit, place, throw, scatter, or cast any hand
bill or bills in or upon any automobile or other vehicle.
The provisions of this Section shall not be deemed to
prohibit the handling, transmitting, or distribution of any
hand bill to the owner or other occupant of any automobile
or other vehicle.
4.10.030 Distribution on Public Property. It
shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor, subject to punishment
in accordance with Section 1.01.200 et seq. of this Code,
for any person either directly or indirectly, to deposit,
place, throw, scatter, or cast any hand bills in or on any
· public thoroughfare, park, ground, or other public place
within the City. The provisions of this Section shall not
be deemed to prohibit the handling, transmitting, or
distribution of any hand bill to any person willing to
accept such hand bill.
4.10.040 Distribution on Private Property. It
shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor, subject to punishment
in accordance with Section 1.01.200 et seq. of this Code,
for any person either directly or indirectly, to distribute,
deposit, place, throw, scatter, or cast any hand bills in or
upon any private yard, grounds, walks, porches, steps,
mailboxes, vestibules, houses, residence, 'buildings, or any
other private property. The provisions of this Section
shall not be deemed to prohibit the handling, transmitting,
or distribution of any hand bill to the owner or occupant of
any private yard, ground, walk, porch, steps, mailbox,
vestibule, house, residence, building, or other private
property.
-2-
~,~d/ORNlt7490(03/15/90-3)
4.10.050 Posting. It shall be unlawful and a
misdemeanor, subject to punishment in accordance with
Section 1.01.200 et seq. of this Code, for any person to
post, print, stick, stamp, tack, or otherwise afix, or cause
the same to be done, any hand bill, notice, placard, bill,
poster, sticker, banner, sign, advertisement, or other
device calculated to attract the attention of the public, in
or upon any street right-of-way, park, parkland, public
sidewalk, cross walk, curb, curbstone, lamp post, hydrant,
street sign, post, tree, electric or telephone line or pole,
or upon any fixture of the fire alarm, police, or telephone
system, or lighting system of the City, or on mailboxes, on
the exterior of parked vehicles or trailers within the
street right-of-way, unless a permit to do so is previously
granted by the City Council.
4.10.060 Posting Private Property to Prevent
Hand Bills. It shall be lawful for the owner or the
occupant of any property to place a sign in a conspicuous
place near the entrance thereof indicating that no hand
bills are desired; and, when the property is so signed or
posted, it shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor, subject to
punishment in accordance with Section 1.01.200 et seq. of
this Code, for any person to go upon the premises or
property so posted and distribute, deposit, place, throw,
scatter, or cast any hand bill.
4.10.070 Exemptions. The provisions of this
Chapter shall not be deemed to apply to the distribution of
the United States Mail, nor to the delivery of any hand bill
to any person who has requested delivery of the same; nor to
the posting of legal notices by public officers or attorneys
in the manner and places prescribed by law; nor to the
permanent signs painted on buildings or signs advertising
the business conducted on the premises when a permit
therefore has been obtained; nor to the official numbers
insignia, or wording placed upon such buildings, structures,
hydrants, poles, posts, sidewalks, cross walks, curbs,
curbstones, or fixtures, by or with the consent of the owner
or person in charge or control thereof."
SECTION 2. SEVERABILITY. The City Council hereby
declares that the provisions of this Ordinance are severable
and if for any reason a court of competent jurisdiction
shall hold any sentence, paragraph, or section of this
Ordinance to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the
validity of the remaining parts of this Ordinance.
SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the
adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be
3
jud/ORNI17490(03/15/90-3)
posted as required by law.
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE This Ordinance shall
be in full force and effect thirty (30) days after its
passage. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of
this Ordinance and cause copies of this Ordinance to be
posted in three designated posting places.
SECTION 5. A summary of this Ordinance shall be
published in a newspaper published and circulated in said
City at least five (5) days prior to the City Council
meeting at which the proposed Ordinance is to be adopted. A
certified copy of the full text of the proposed Ordinance
shall be posted at City Hall. Within fifteen (15) days
after adoption of the Ordinance, the summary with the names
of those City Council members voting for and against the
Ordinance shall be published again, and the City Clerk shall
post a certified copy of the full text of such adopted
Ordinance.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this
, 1991.
day of
RON PARKS
MAYOR
ATTEST:
JUNE S. GREEK
City Clerk
-4-
APPROVAL
CITY ATTORNEY
FINANCE OFFICER
CITY MANAGER ~V~
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
CITY OF TEMECULA
AGENDA REPORT
City Council/City Manager
Planning Department
July 22, 1991
Joint Planning Commission/City Council
General Plan Workshop
PREPARED BY:
RECOMMENDAT ION:
Steve Jiannino
Conduct First General Plan Workshop
DISCUSSION:
The General Plan consultant. The Planning Center, will
discuss the General Plan process and key issues with the
City Council and the Planning Commission in accordance
with the format outlined in the attached agenda,
SJ:ks
S?AFFP. I~\WOPJ(SHOP \ks
The
California
General Plan
Glossary
Published by
The California Planning Roundtable
Naphtali H. Knox, AICP, and Charles E. Knox, Editors
1990
Published by the Californin Plnnning Roundtable
at Palo Alto, California
1990
Permission to reproduce all or part of this document is granted
Introduction
Glossary: n. A collection of ...terms limited to a special area of knowledge or usage.
-Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, 1981.
This is a glossary of words and phrases commonly used in preparing and writing general plans
in California. This is not a planning "dictionary" - "a reference book listing alphabetically terms
of names important to a particular subject or activity along with discussion of their meanings and
applications." -Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, 1981.
To some people, the expressions and terms used in the planning process are new; others know
what they mean, but interpret them with variations. In the course of their work, the editors and
publishers of this Glossary have had to answer questions from citizens, planning commissioners
and staff, and members of city councils and boards of supervisors as to just what is meant by
terms such as "developer," "duet," "affordable housing," and "handicapped." Because a general
plan is such a comprehensive and overriding policy document, all participant involved in
preparing a plan should have a common understanding of what some of the more frequently used
terms mean.
The California Planning Roundtable believes the practice of general plan preparation can be
enhanced by putting a glossary of terms into the hands of commissioners and citizens at the
outset of the work. We believe a newcomer to the process will gain a higher level of planning
knowledge just by reading through the Glossary. Second, we hope that this "generic" Glossary
will be adapted by each community to fit local conditions and terms and adopted as pan of that
community's General Plan. Indeed, th~ absence of definitions will undercut the usefulness of the
General Plan to effectively guide land use decisions. All key terms should be defined. The
definitions will assist all readers in understanding the significance of various Plan components.
The definitions in this Glossary were developed over a period of years. In addition to their
review by members of the California Planning Roundtable, the definitions were compared with
those used in other standard reference books, including the Real Estate Dictionary (John Talamo,
JD, Financial Publishing Co, Boston, 1979); The Illustrated Book of Development Definitions
(Harvey S. Moskowitz and Carl G. Linbloom, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey,
1981); and A Survey of Zoning Definitions (Tracy Burrows, Ed., Planning Advisory Service
Report No. 421, American Planning Association, Chicago, 1989).
From the last of these, we paraphrase some wise admonitions and caveats:
There is no standardized list of necessary definitions. In adapting this Glossar3' to your
community, define only those terms that are necessary to clarify the intent of the General
Plan. Do not define terms that are not used in the Plan, its Environmental Impact
Report, its technical appendices, or its adopting resolutions.
Remember that the purpose of defining a term is to clarify meaning and eliminate
ambiguity. Therefore, the term itself should not appear in the definition, and synonyms
should be avoided: Whatever ambiguity exists in the term may also exist in the synonym.
This glossary is not an exhaustive list of essential definitions. The definitions given are
by no means the only ones acceptable, nor are they necessarily the most complete or the
best. They are a starting point for your local General Plan Glossary. They should be
tailored to meet the needs of your community.
ABBREVIATIONS TYPICALLY USED IN GENERAL PLANNING
ADT:
ALUC:
CBD:
CC&Rs:
CDBG:
CEQA:
CFD:'
CHFA:
CIP:
CNEL:
dB:
dBA:
EIR:
EIS:
FAUS:
FEMA:
FHWA:
FIRM:
FAR:
FIR:
FmHA:
GMI:
HCD:
HUD:
JPA:
LAFCo:
Ldn:
L,q:
LOS:
NEPA:
OPR:
PUD:
UBC:
UHC:
UMTA:
SRO:
TDM:
TDR:
TSM:
VMT:
Average daily trips made by vehicles or persons in a 24-hour period
Airport Land Use Commission
Central Business District
Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions
Community Development Block Grant
California Environmental Quality Act
A Mello-Roos Community Facilities District
California Housing Finance Agency
Capital Improvements Program
Community Noise Equivalent Level
Decibel
"A-weighted" decibel
Environmental Impact Report (State)
Environmental Impact Statement (Federal)
Federal Aid to Urban Systems
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Highway Administration
Flood Insurance Rate Map
Floor Area Ratio
Fiscal Impact Report
Farmers Home Administration
Gross Monthly Income
Housing and Community Development Department of the State of California.
U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
Joint Powers Authority
Local Agency Formation Commission
Day and Night Average Sound Level
Sound Energy Equivalent Level
Level of Service
National Environmental Policy' Act
Office of Planning and Research, State of California
Planned Unit Development
Uniform Building Code
Uniform Housing Code
Urban Mass Transportation Administration
Single Room Occupancy
Transportation Demand Management
Transfer of Development Rights
Transportation Systems Management
Vehicle Miles Traveled
Acceptable Risk
A hazard which is deemed to be a tolerable exposure to danger given the expected
benefits to be obtained. Different levels of acceptable risk may be assigned according to
the potential danger and the criticalhess of the threatened structure. The levels may range
from "near zero" for nuclear plants and natural gas transmission lines to "moderate" for
open space, ranches and low-intensity warehouse uses.
Access/Egress
The ability to enter a site from a roadway and exit a site onto a roadway by motorized
vehicle.
Acres~
Gloss
The entire acreage of a site. Most communities calculate gross acreage to the centerline
of proposed bounding streets and to the edge of the right-of-way of existing or dedicated
streets.
Acres,
Net
The portion of a site that can actually be built upon. The following generally are not
included in the net acreage of a site: public or private road rights-of-way, public open
space, and flood ways.
Adaptive Reuse
The conversion of obsolescent or historic buildings from their original or most recent use
to a new use. For example, the conversion of former hospital or school buildings to
residential use, or the conversion of an historic single-family home to office use.
Adverse Impact
A negative consequence for the p. hy. sicaL, .social, or economic environment resulting from
an action or project.
Affordable Housing
Housing capable of being purchased or rented by a household with very low, low, or
moderate income, based on a honsehold"s ability to make monthly payments necessary
to obtain housing. Housing is considered affordable when a household pays less than 30
percent of its gross monthly income (GMI) for housing including utilities.
Agency
The governmental entity,
carrying out regulations.
department, office, or administrative unit responsible for-
Agricultural Preserve
Land designated for agriculture or conservation. (See "Williamson Act.")
Agriculture
Use of land for the production of food and fiber, including the growing of crops and/or
the grazing of animals on natural prime or improved pasture land.
Agriculture-related Business
Feed mills, dairy supplies, poultry processing, creameries, auction yards, veterinarians and
other businesses supporting local agriculture
Air Pollution
Concentrations of substances found in the atmosphere which exceed naturally occurring
quantities and are undesirable or harmful in some way.
Airport.related Use
A use which supports airport operations including, but not limited to, aircraft repair and
maintenance, flight instruction, and aircraft chartering.
Alley
A narrow service way, either public or private, which provides a secondary means of
public access not intended for general traffic circulation. Alleys typically are located
along rear property lines.
Alluvial
Soils deposited by stream action.
Alquist. Priolo Act, Seismic Hazard Zone
A seismic hazard zone designated by the State of California within which specialized
geologic investigations must be prepared prior to approval of certain new development.
Atnbient
Surrounding on all sides; used to describe measurements of existing conditions with
respect to traffic, noise, air and other environments.
Annex~ v.
To incorporate a land area into an existing district or municipality, with a resulting change
in the boundaries of the annexing jurisdiction.
Apartment
(1) One or more rooms of a building used as a place to live, in a building containing at
least one other unit used for the same purpose. (2) A separate suite, not owner occupied,
which includes kitchen facilities and is designed for and rented as the home, residence,
or sleeping place of one or more persons living as a single housekeeping unit.
Approach Zone
The air space at each end of a landing strip that define~ the glide path or approach path
of an aircraft and which should be free from obstruction.
Appropriate
An act, condition, or state which is considered suitable.
Aquifer
An underground, water-bearing layer of earth, porous rock, sand, or gravel, through which
water can seep or be held in natural storage. Aquifers generally hold sufficient water to
be used as a water supply.
Arable
Land capable of being cultivated for farming.
Archaeological
Relating to the material remains of past human life, culture, or activities.
Architectural Control; Architectural Review
Regulations and procedures requiring the exterior design of structures to be suitable,
harmonious, and in keeping with the general appearance, historical character, and/or style
of surrounding areas. A process used to exercise control over the design of buildings and
their settings. (See "Design Review.")
Area Median Income
Aa used in State of California housing law with respect to income eligibility limits
established by the U.S. Department.of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), "area"
means metropolitan area or nonmetropolitan county. In non-metropolitan areas, the "area
median income" is the higher of the county median family income or the statewide
non-metropolitan median family income.
Arterial
Medium-speed (30-40 mph), medium-capacity (10,000-35,000 average daily trips)
roadway which provides intra-community travel and aeee~s to the county-wide highway
system. Access to community arterials should be provided at collector roads and local
streets, but direct access from parcels to existing arterials is common.
Artesian
An aquifer in which water is confined under preasure between layers of impermeable
material. Wells tapping into an artesian stratum will flow naturally without the use of
pumps. (See "Aquifer.")
6
Article 34 Referendum
Article 34 of the Constitution of the State of California requires passage of a referendum
within a city or county for approval of the development or acquisition of a publicly
financed housing project where more than 49 percent of the units are set aside for
low-income households.
Assessment District
(See "Benefit Assessment District.")
Auto Mall
A single location that provides sales space and centralized services for a number of
automobile dealers, and which may include such related services as auto insurance dealers
and credit institutions that provide financing opportunities.
Automobile-intensive Use
A use of a retail area which depends on exposure to continuous auto traffic.
Base Flood
In any given year, a 100-year flood that has 1% likelihood of occurring, and is recognized
as a standard for acceptable risk.
Baylands
Areas along a bay that are permanently wet or periodically covered with shallow water,
such as saltwater and freshwater marshes, open or closed brackish marshes, swamps,
mudfiats, and fans.
Bed and Breakfast
Usually a dwelling unit, but sometimes a small hotel, which provides
breakfast for temporary overnight occupants.
lodging and
Below.market-rate (BMR) Housing Unit
Any housing unit specifically priced to be sold or rented to low- or moderate-income
households for an amount less than the fair-market value of the unit. The U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development sets standards for determining which
households qualify as "low income" or "moderate income."
Benefit Assessment District
An area within a public agency"s boundaries which receives a special benefit from the
construction of one or more public facilities. A Benefit Assessment District has no legal
life of its own and cannot act by itself. It is strictly a financing mechanism for providing
public infrastructure as allowed under the Streets And Highways Code. Bonds may be
issued to finance the improvements, subject to repayment by assessments charged against
the benefitting properties. Creation of a Benefit Assessment District enables property
7
owners in a specific area to cause the construction of public facilities or to maintain them
(for example, a downtown, or the grounds and landscaping of a specific area) by
contributing their fair share of the construction and/or installation and operating costs.
Bicycle Lane (Class II facility)
A corridor expressly reserved for bicycles, existing on a street or roadway in addition to
any lanes for use by motorized vehicles.
Bicycle Path (Class I facility)
A paved route not on a street or roadway and expressly reserved for bicycles traversing
an otherwise unpaved area. Bicycle paths may parallel roads but typically are separated
from them by landscaping.
Bicycle Route (Class 1II facility)
A facility shared with motorists and identified only by signs, a bicycle route has no
pavement markings or lane stripes.
Bikeways
A term that encompasses bicycle lanes, bicycle paths, and bicycle routes.
Biomass
Plant material, used for the production of such things as fuel alcohol and non-chemical
fertilizers. Biomass sources may be plants grown especially for that purpose or waste
products from livestock, harvesting, milling, or fi'om agricultural production or processing.
Biotic
Community
A group of living organisms characterized by a distinctive combination of both animal
and plant species in a particular habitat.
Blight
A condition of a site, structure, or area that may cause nearby buildings and/or areas to
decline in attractiveness and/or utility.
Buffer Zone
An area of land separating two distinct land uses which acts to soften or mitigate the
effects of one land use on the other.
Building
Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.
Building, Maximum Height
The vertical distance from the average contact ground level of a building to the highest
point of the coping of a fiat roof or to the deck line of a mansard roof or to the mean
height level between caves and ridge for a gable, hip, or gambrel roof. The exact
definition varies by community. For example, in some communities building height is
measured to the highest point of the roof, not including elevator and cooling towers.
Business Services
A subcategory of commercial land use which permits establishments primarily engaged
in rendering services to other business establishments on a fee or contract basis, such as
advertising and mailing; building maintenance; personnel and employment services;
management and consulting services; protective services; equipment rental and leasing;
photo finishing; copying and printing; travel; office supply; and similar services.
Busway
A vehicular right-of-way or portion thereof"often an exclusive lane"which is reserved
exclusively for buses.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
A State law requiring State and local agencies to regulate activities with consideration for
environmental protection. If a proposed activity has the potential for a significant adverse
environmental impact, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) must be prepared and
certified as to its adequacy before taking action on the proposed project. General Plans
require the preparation of a "program EIR."
California Housing Finance Agency (CttFA)
A State agency, established by the Housing and Home ,Finance Act of 1975, which is
authorized to sell revenue bonds .and generate funds for the development, rehabilitation,
and conservation of low-and moderate-income housing.
Caltrans
California Department of Transportation.
Capital Improvements Program (CIP)
A program, administered by a city or county government and reviewed by its planning
commission, which schedules permanent improvements, usually for a minimum of five
years in the future, to fit the projected fiscal capability of the local jurisdiction. The
program generally is reviewed annually, for conformance to and consistency with the
general plan.
Carbon Dioxide
A colorless, odorless, non-poison gas that is a normal pan of the atmosphere.
Carbon Monoxide
A colorless, odorless, highly poisonous gas produced by automobiles and other machines
with internal combustion engines that imperfectly burn fossil fuels such as oil and gas.
Carrying Capacity
The level of land use, human activity, or development for a specific area that can be
accommodated permanently without an irreversible change in the quality of air, water,
land, or plant and animal habitats. May also refer to the upper limits beyond which the
quality of human life, health, welfare, safety, or community character within an area will
be impaired. Carrying capacity usually is used to determine the potential of an area to
absorb development.
Central Business District (CBD)
The major comme: ,i downtown center of a community. General guidelines for
delineating a downtc .~. area are defined by the U.S. Census of Retail Trade, with specific
boundaries being set by the local municipality.
Channelization
(1) The straightening and/or deepening of a watercourse for purposes of storm-runoff
control or ease of navigation. Channelization often includes lining of stream banks with
a retaining material such as concrete. (2) At the intersection of roadways, the directional
separation of traffic lanes through the use of curbs or raised islands which limit the paths
that vehicles may take through the intersection.
City
City, with a capital "C," generally refers to the government or administration of a city.
City, with a lower case %" may mean any city, or may refer to the geographical area of
a city (e.g., the city's bikeway ~ystem~)'
Clear
Zone
That section of an approach zone of an airport where the plane defining the glide path is
50 feet or less above the center-line of the runway. Land use is restricted.
Clustered Development
Development in which a number of dwelling units are placed in closer proximity than
usual, or are attached, with the purpose of retaining an open space area.
Cogeneration
The harnessing of heat energy, that normally
electricity"usually through the burning of waste.
would be wasted, to generate
10
Collector
Relatively-low-speed (25-30 mph), relatively-low-volume ($,000-20,000 average daily
trips) street which provides circulation within and between neighborhoods. Collectors
usually serve short trips and are intended for collecting trips from local streets and
distributing them to the arterial network.
Combined Sewer/Combination Sewer
A sewerage system that carries both sanitary sewage and stormwater runoff.
Commercial
A land use classification
commodities and services.
which permits facilities for the buying and selling of
Community Care Facility
Elderly housing licensed by the State Health and Welfare Agency, Department of Social
Services, typically for residents who are frail and need supervision. Services normally
include three meals daily, housekeeping, security and emergency response, a full activities
program, supervision in the dispensing of medicine, personal services such as assistance
in grooming and bathing, but no nursing care. Sometimes referred to as residential care
or personal care. (See "Congregate Care.")
Community Child Care Agency
A non-profit agency established to organize community resources for the development and
improvement of child care services.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
A grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) on a formulh basi~ for entitlement communities, and by the State
Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for non-entitled
jurisdictions. This grant allots money to cities and counties for housing rehabilitation and
community development, including public facilities and economic development.
Community Facilities District
Under the Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 (Govemment Code Section
53311 et seq), a legislative body may create within its jurisdiction a special district that
can issue tax-exempt bonds for the planning, design, acquisition, construction, and/or
operation of public facilities, as well as provide public services to district residents.
Special tax assessments levied by the district are used to repay the bonds.
Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL)
A 24-hour energy equivalent level derived from a variety of single-noise events, with
weighting factors of 5 and 10 dBA applied to the evening (7:00 to 10:00 pm) and
nighttime (10:00 pm to 7:00am) periods, respectively, to allow for the greater sensitivity
to noise during these hours.
11
Community Park
Land with full public access intended to provide recreation opportunities beyond those
supplied by neighborhood parks. Community parks are larger in scale than neighborhood
parks but smaller than regional parks.
Community Redevelopment Agency
A local agency created under California Redevelopment Law, or a local legislative body
which has elected to exercise the powers granted to such an agency, for the purpose of
planning, developing, re-planning, redesigning, clearing, reconstructing, and/or
rehabilitating all or part of a specified area with residential, commercial, industrial. and/or
public (including recreational) structures and facilities. The redevelopment agency"s plans
must be compatible with adopted community general plans.
Community Service Area
A geographic subarea of the city used for the planning and delivery of parks, recreation,
and other human services based on an assessment of the service needs of the population
in that subarea.
Commuteshed
The area from which people do or might commute from their homes to a specific
workplace destination, given specific assumptions about maximum travel time or distance.
Comparison Goods
Retail goods for which consumers will do comparison shopping before making a
purchase. These goods tend to have a style factor and to be "larger ticket" items such as
clothes, furniture, appliances and automobiles.
Compatible
Capable of existing together without conflict or ill effects.
Condominium
A structure of two or more units, the interior spaces of which are individually owned; the
balance of the property (both land and building) is owned in common by the owners of
the individual units.
Congestion Management Plan (CMP)
A mechanism employing growth management techniques, including traffic level of service
requirements, development mitigation programs, transportation systems management, and
capital improvement programming, for the purpose of controlling and/or reducing the
cumulative regional traffic impacts of development. AB 471, effective June 5, 1990, if
Gann Limit changes are approved by the voters, requires all cities, and counties that
include urbanized areas, to adopt and annually update a Congestion Management Plan.
12
Congregate Care
Apartment housing, usually for seniors, in a group setting that includes independent living
and sleeping accommodations in conjunction with shared dining and recreational facilities.
(See "Community Care Facility.")
Conservation
The management of natural resources to prevent waste, destruction, or neglect. The state
mandates that a Conservation Element be included in the general plan.
Consistent
Frcc from variation or contradiction. Programs in the General Plan arc to bc consistent,
not contradictory or preferential. State law requires consistency between a general plan
and implementation measures such as the zoning ordinance.
Convenience Goods
Retail items generat~y necessary or desirable for everyday living, usually purchased at a
convenient nearby location. Because these goods cost relatively little compared to
income, they are often purchased without comparison shopping.
Cordon Count
A measurement of all travel (usually vehicle trips, but sometimes person trips) in and out
of a defined area (around which a "cordon" is drawn).
Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs)
A term used to describe restrictive limitations which may be placed on property and its
use, and which usually are made a condition of holding title or lease.
Criterion
A standard upon which a judgment or decision may be based. (See "Standards.")
Critical Facility
Facilities housing or serving many people which are necessary in the event of an
earthquake or flood, such as hospitals, fire, police, and emergency service facilities, utility
"lifeline" facilities, such as water, electricity, and gas supply, sewage disposal, and
communications and transportation facilities.
Cul-de-sac
A short street or alley with only a single means of ingress and egress at one end and with
a large turnaround at its other end.
Cumulative Impact
As used in CEQA, the total impact resulting from the accumulated impacts of individual
projects or programs over time.
13
dB
Decibel; a unit used to express the relative intensity of a sound as it is heard by the
human ear.
dBA
The "A-weighted" scale for measuring sound in decibels; weighs or reduces the effects
of low and high frequencies in order to simulate human hearing. Every increase of 10
dBA doubles the perceived loudness though the noise is actually ten times more intense.
Dedication
The turning over by an owner or developer of private land for public use, and the
acceptance of land for such use by the governmental agency having jurisdiction over the
public function for which it will be used. Dedications for roads, parks, school sites, or
other public uses often are made conditions for approval of a development by a city.
Dedication, In lieu of
Cash payments which may be required of an owner or developer as a substitute for a
dedication of land, usually calculated in dollars per lot, and referred to as in lieu fees or
in lieu contributions.
Defensible space
(1) In fire-fighting and prevention, a 30-foot area of non-combustible surfaces separating
urban and wildland areas. (2) In urban areas, open spaces, entry points, and pathways
configured to provide maximum opportunities to rightful users and/or residents to defend
themselves against intruders and criminal activity.
Density
The number of permanent residential dwelling units per ai:re of !and. Densities specified
in the General Plan may be expressed in units per gross acre or per net developable acre.
(See "Acres, Gi'oss," and "Developable Acres, Net.")
Density Bonus
The allocation of development rights that allow a parcel to accommodate additional
square footage or additional residential units beyond the maximum for which the parcel
is zoned, usually in exchange for the provision or preservation of an amenity at the same
site or at another location. Under Califomia"s housing laws, a housing development that
provides 20% of its units for lower income households, or 10% of its units for very
low-income households, is entitled to a density bonus. (See "Development Rights, ~
Transfer of.")
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Density, Control of
A limitation on the occupancy of land. Density can be controlled through zoning in the
following ways: use restrictions, minimum lot-size requirements, floor area ratio, land
use-intensity ratios, setback and yard requirements, minimum house-size requirements,
ratios comparing number and types of housing units to land area, limits on units per acre,
and other means. Allowable density often serves as the major distinction between
residential districts.
Density, Employment
A measure of the
employees/acre).
number of employed
persons per specific area (for example,
Density Transfer
A way of retaining open space by concentrating densities"usually in compact areas
adjacent to existing urbanization and utilities"while leaving unchanged historic, sensitive,
or hazardous areas. In some jurisdictions, for example, developers can buy development
rights of properties targeted for public open space and transfer the additional density to
the base number of units permitted in the zone in which they propose to develop.
Design Review; Design Control
The comprehensive evaluation of a development and its impact on neighboring properties
and the community as a whole, from the standpoint of site and landscape design,
architecture, materials, colors, lighting, and signs, in accordance with a set of adopted
criteria and standards. "Design Control" requires that certain specific things be done and
that other things not be done. Design Control language is most often found within a
zoning ordinance. "Design Review" usually refers to a system set up outside of the
zoning ordinance, whereby projects are reviewed against certain standards and criteria by
a specially established design rev/cw board or committee. (See "Architectural Control.")
Destination Retail
Retail businesses that generate a special purpose trip and which do not necessarily benefit
from a high-volume pedestrian location.
Detention Dam/Basin/Pond
Dams may be classified according to the broad function they serve, such as s~orage,
diversion, or detention. Detention dams are constructed to retard flood runoff and
minimize the effect of sudden floods. Detention dams fall into two main types. In one
type, the water is temporarily stored, and released through an outlet structure at a rate
which will not exceed the carrying capacity of the channel downstream. Often, the basins
arc planted with grass and used for open space or recreation in periods of dry weather.
In the other type, most often called a Retention Pond, the water is held as long as
possible and may or may not allow for the controlled release of water. In some cases,
the water is allowed to seep into the permeable banks or gravel strata in the foundation.
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This latter type is sometimes called a Water-Spreading Dam or Dike because its main
purpose is to recharge the underground water supply. Detention dams are also
constructed to trap sediment. These are often called Debris Danas.
Developable Acres, Net
The portion of a site which can be used for density calculations. Some communities
calculate density based on gross acreage. Public or private road rights-of-way are not
included in the net developable acreage of a site.
Developable Land
Land which is suitable as a location for structures and which can be developed free of
hazards to, and without disruption of, or significant impact on, natural resource areas.
Developer
An individual who or business which prepares raw land for the construction of buildings
or builds or causes to be built physical building space for use primarily by others, and in
which the preparation of the land or the creation of the building space is in itself a
business and is not incidental to another business or activity.
Development
The physical extension and/or construction of urban land uses. Development activities
include: subdivision of land; construction or alteration of structures, roads, utilities, and
other facilities; installation of septic systems; grading; deposit of refuse, debris, or fill
materials; and clearing of natural vegetation cover (with the exception of agricultural
activities). Routine repair and maintenance activities are exempted.
Development Fee
(See "Impact Fee.")
Development Rights
The right to develop land by a land owner who maintains fee-simple ownership over the
land or by a party other than the owner who has obtained the rights to develop. Such
rights usually are expressed in terms of density allowed under existing zoning. For
example, one development right may equal one unit of housing or may equal a specific
number of square feet of gross floor area in one or more specified zone districts. (See
"Interest, Fee" and "Interest, Less-than-fee," and "Development Rights, Transfer of
[TDR].")
Development Rights, Transfer of (TDR)
Also known as "Transfer of Development Credits," a program which can relocate
potential development from areas where proposed land use or environmental impacts are
considered undesirable (the "donor" site) to another ("receiver") site chosen on the basis
of its ability to accommodate additional units of development beyond that for which it
was zoned, with minimal environmental, social, and aesthetic impacts. (See "Development
Rights.")
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Discourage, v.
To advise or persuade to refrain from.
Discretionary Decision
A~ used in CEQA, an action taken by a governmental agency which calls for the exercise
of judgment in deciding whether to approve and/or how to carry out a project.
Distribution Use
(See "Warehousing Use.")
Diversion
The direction of water in a stream away from its natural course (i.e., as in a diversion that
removes water from a stream for human use).
Duet
A detached building designed for occupation as the residence of two families living
independently of each other, with each family living area defined by separate fee title
ownership.
Duplex
A detached building under single ownership which is designed for occupation as the
residence of two families living independently of each other.
Dwelling Unit
A room or group of rooms (including sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation facilities,
but not more than one kitchen), which constitutes an independent housekeeping unit,
occupied or intended for occupancy by one household on a long-term basis.
Easement
Usually the right to use property owned by another for specific purposes or to gain access
to another property. For example, utility companies often have easements on the private
property of individuals to be able to in~tall and maintain utility facilities.
Easement, Conservation
A tool for acquiring open space with less than full-fee purchase, whereby a public agency
buys only certain specific rights from the land owner. These may be positive rights
(providing the public with the opportunity to hunt, fish, hike, or fide over the land) or
they may be restrictive rights(limiting the uses to which the land owner may devote the
land in the future.)
Easement, Scenic
A tool that allows a public agency to use an owner"s land for scenic enhancement, such
as roadside landscaping or vista preservation.
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Ecology
The interrelationship of living things to one another and their environment; the study of
such interrelationships.
Economic Base
Economic Base theory essentially holds that the structure of the economy is made up of
two broad classes of productive effort"basic activities which produce and distribute goods
and services for export to firms and individuals outside a defined localized economic area,
and nonbasic activities whose goods and services are consumed at home within the
boundaries of the local economic area. ViewcA another way, basic activity exports
products and brings new dollars into the area; non-basic activity recirculates dollars within
the area. This distinction holds that the reason for the growth of a particular region is its
capacity to provide the means of payment for raw materials, food, and services which the
region cannot produce itself and also support the nonbasic activities which are principally
local in productive scope and market area. (See "Industry, Basic" and "Industry,
Non-basic.")
Economic Development Commission (EDC)
An agency charged with seeking economic development projects and economic expansion
at higher employment densities.
Ecosystem
An interacting system formed by a biotic community and its physical environment.
Elderly Housing
Typically one- and two-bedroom apartments designed to meet the needs of persons 62
years of age and older or, if more than 150 units, persons 55 years of age and older, and
restricted to occupancy by them. (See "Congregate Care.?)
Eminent Domain
The right of a public entity to acquire private property for public use by condemnation,
and the payment of just compensation.
Emission Standard
The maximum amount of pollutant legally permitted to be discharged from a single
source, either mobile or stationary.
Encourage, v.
To stimulate or foster a particular condition through direct or indirect action by the
private sector or government agencies.
Endangered Species
A species of animal or plant is considered to be endangered when its prospects for
survival and reproduction are in immediate jeopardy from one or more causes.
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Energy Benefit, Net
The difference between the energy produced and the energy required for production,
including the indirect energy consumed in the manufacture and delivery of components.
Enhance, v.
To improve existing conditions by increasing the quantity or quality of beneficial uses.
Environment
CEQA defines environment as "the physical conditions which exist within the area which
will be affected by a proposed project, including land, air, water, mineral, flora, fauna,
noise, objects of historic or aesthetic significance." This General Plan uses environment
to include social and economic conditions.
Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
A report that assesses all the environmental characteristics of an area and determines what
effects or impacts will result if the area is altered or disturbed by a proposed action. (See
"California Environmental 0uality Act.")
Environmental Impact Statement (ELS)
Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1974, a statement on the effect of
development proposals and other major actions which significantly affect the environment.
Erosion
(1) The loosening and transportation of rock and soil debris by wind, rain, or running
water. (2) The gradual wearing away of the upper layers of earth.
Exaction
A contribution or payment required. as. an authorized' precondition for receiving a
development permit; usually refers to mandatory dedication (or fee in lieu of dedication)
requirements found in many subdivision regulations.
Expansive Soils
Soils which swell when they absorb water and shrink as they dry.
Export-employment Use
An activity which produces and/or distributes goods and services for export to firms and
individuals outside of the city (or county). (See Economic Base.)
Expre~way
A divided multi-lane major arterial street for through traffic with partial control of access
and with grade separations at major intersections.
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Family
1. Two or more persons related by birth, marriage, or adoption [U.S. Bureau of the
Census]. 2. An individual or a group of persons living together who constitute a bona
fide single-family housekeeping unit in a dwelling unit, not including a fraternity, sorority,
club, or other group of persons occupying a hotel, lodging house or institution of any kind
[California].
Farmers Home Administration (FmHA)
A federal agency providing loans and grants for improvement projects and low-income
housing in rural areas.
Fast-food Restaurant
Any retail establishment intended primarily to provide short-order food services for
on-site dining and/or take-out, including self-serve restaurants (excluding cafeterias where
food is consumed on the premises), drive-in restaurants, and formula restaurants required
by contract or other arrangement to offer standardized menus, ingredients, and fast-food
preparation.
Fault
A fracture in the earth's crust forming a boundary between rock masses that have shifted.
Feasible
Capable of being done, executed, or managed successfully from the standpoint of the
physical and/or financial abilities of the implementer(s).
Feasible, Technically
Capable of being
technology exists.
implemented because the industrial, mechanical, or application
Field Act
Legislation, passed after a 1933 Long Beach earthquake that collapsed a school, which
established more stringent structural requirements and standards for construction of
schools than for other buildings.
Finding(s)
The result(s) of an investigation and the basis upon which decisions are made. Findings
are used by government agents and bodies to justify action taken by the entity.
Fire Hazard Zone
An area where, due to slope, fuel, weather, or other fire-related conditions, the potential
loss of life and property from a fire necessitates special fire protection measures and
planning before development occurs.
20
Fire.resistive
Able to withstand specified temperatures for a certain period of time, such as a one-hour
fire wall; not fireproof.
Fiscal
Impact Analysis
A projection of the direct, current public costs and revenue resulting from population or
employment change to the local jurisdiction(s) in which the change is taking place.
Enables local govemments to evaluate relative fiscal merits of general plans, specific
plans, or projects.
Fiscal
Impact Report (FIR)
A report projecting the public costs and revenues that will result from a proposed program
or development. (See "Fiscal Impact Analysis.")
Flood,
100-Year
The magnitude of a flood expected to occur on the average every 100 years, based on
historical data. The 100-year flood has a 1/100, or one percent, chance of occurring in
any given year.
Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)
For each community, the official map on which the Federal Insurance Administration has
delineated areas of special flood hazard and the risk premium zones applicable to that
community.
Flood
Plain
The relatively level !and area on either side of the banks of a stream regularly subject to
flooding. That part of the flood plain subject to a one percent chance of flooding in any
given year is designated as an ."aga-,of.special flood hazard" by the Federal Insurance
Administration.
Flood Plain Fringe
All land between the floodway and the upper elevation of the 100-year flood.
Floodway
The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be
reserved in order to discharge the "base flood" without cumulatively increasing the water
surface elevation more than one foot. No development is allowed in floodways.
Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
The maximum gross floor area permitted on a site divided by the total net area of the site,
expressed in decimals to one or two places. For example, on a site with 1.0,000 net sq.
ft. of land area, a Floor Area Ratio of 1.0 will allow 10,000 gross sq. ft. of building floor
area to be built. On the same site, an FAR of 1.5 would allow 15,000 sq. ft. of floor
21
area; an FAR of 2.0 would allow 20,000 sq. ft.; and an FAR of 0.5 would allow only
5,000 sq. ft. Also commonly used in zoning, FARs typically are applied on a
parcel-by-parcel basis as opposed to an average FAR for an entire land use or zoning
district.
Freeway
A high-speed, high-capacity, limited-access transportation facility serving regional and
county-wide travel. Such roads are free of tolls, as contrasted with "turnpikes" or other
"toll roads" which are now being introduced into Southern California. Freeways generally
are used for long trips between major land use generators. At Level of Service "E," they
carry approximately 1,875 vehicles per lane per hour, in both directions. Major streets
cross at a different grade level.
Friction Factor
Constraint applied in a traffic model to introduce an approximation of conditions that
exist on city streets. These conditions reduce the speed of traffic and the desirability of
specific links in the network upon which the traffic model distributes trips. Examples are
frequency of low-speed curves, frequency of driveways, narrowness of lanes, and lack of
turning lanes at intemections.
Gateway
A point along a roadway entering the city at which a motorist gains a sense of having left
the environs and of having entered the city.
General Plan
A compendium of a city"s or a county"s policies regarding its long-term development, in
the form of maps and accompanying text. The General Plan is a legal document required
of each local agency by the State of California Government Code Section 65301 and
adopted by the City Council. In California, the General Plan has 7 mandatory elements
(Circulation, Conservation, Housing, Land Use, Noise, Open Space, Safety and Seismic
Safety) and may include any number of optional elements (such as Air Quality, Economic
Development, Hazardous Waste, and Parks and Recreation). The General Plan may also
be called a "City Plan," "Comprehensive Plan," or "Master Plan."
Geologic Review
The analysis of geologic hazards, including all potential seismic hazards, sudace ruptures,
liquefaction, landsliding, mudsliding, and the potential for erosion and sedimentation.
Geological
Pertaining to rock or solid matter.
Goal
A general, overall, and ultimate purpose, aim, or end toward which the City will direct
effort.
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Granny Flat
(See "Second Unit.")
Grasslands
Land reserx, ed for pasturing or mowing, in which grasses are the predominant vegetation.
Greenhouse Effect
A term used to describe the warming of the Earth"s atmosphere due tO accumulated
carbon dioxide and other gases in the upper atmosphere. These gases absorb energy
radiated from the Earth"s surface, "trapping" it in the same manner as glass in a
greenhouse traps heat.
Groundwater
Water under the earth"s surface, often confined to aquifers capable of supplying wells and
springs.
Groundwater Recharge
The natural process of infiltration and percolation of rainwater from land areas or streams
through permeable soils into water-holding rocks which provide underground storage
("aquifers").
Growth Management
The use by a community of a wide range of techniques in combination to determine the
amount, type, and rate of development desired by the community and to channel that
growth into designated ar~as. Growth management policies can be implemented through
growth rates, zoning, capital improvement programs, public facilities ordinances, urban
limit lines, standards for levels of service, and other programs. (See "Congestion
Management Plan.")
Guidelines
General statements of policy direction around which specific details may be later
established.
Guideway
A roadway system that guides the vehicles using it as well as supporting them. The
"monorail" is one such system. The most familiar and still most used guideway is the
railroad. Most guideway transit systems make use of wayside electrical power for
propulsion.
Habitat
The physical location or type of environment in which an organism or biological
population lives or occurs.
23
Handicapped
A person determined to have a mobility impairment or mental disorder expected to be of
long or indefinite duration. Many such impairments or disorders are of such a nature that
a person"s ability to live independently can be improved by appropriate housing
conditions.
Hazardous Material
Any material that, because of its quantity, concentration, or physical or chemical
characteristics, poses a significant present or potential hazard to human health and safety
or to the environment if released into the workplace or the environment. The term
includes, but is not limited to, hazardous substances and hazardous wastes.
High-Occupancy Structure
All pre-1935 buildings with over 25 occupants, and all pre-1976 buildings with over 100
occupants.
High Occupancy Vehicle (I-IOV)
Any vehicle other than a driver-only automobile (e.g., a vanpool, a bus, or two or more
persons to a car).
Highway
High-speed, high-capacity, limited-access transportation facility serving regional and
county-wide travel. Highways may cross at a different grade level.
Hillsides
Land which has an average percent of slope equal to or exceeding fifteen percent.
Historic; Historical
An historic building or site is on~ which is noteworthy ~o~ its significance in local, state,
or national history or culture, its architecture or design, or its works of art, memorabilia,
or artifacts.
Historic Preservation
The preservation of historically significant structures and neighborhoods until such time
as, and in order to facilitate, restoration and rehabilitation of the building(s) to a former
condition.
I-Iome
Occupation
A commercial activity conducted solely by the occupants of a particular dwelling unit in_
a manner incidental to residential occupancy.
Hotel
A structure in which there are five (5) or more guest rooms or suites where lodging with
or without meals is provided for compensation and where no provision is made for
cooking in any individual guest room or suite.
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Household
~1 those persons"related or unrelated"who occupy a single housing unit. (See "Family.")
Households, Number of
The count of all year-round housing units occupied by one or more persons. The concept
of household is important because the formation of new households generates the demand
for housing. Each new household formed creates the need for one additional housing unit
or requires that one existing housing unit be shared by two households. Thus, household
formation can continue to take place even without an increase in population, thereby
increasing the demand for housing.
Housing and Community Development Department of the State of California (HCD)
The State agency that has principal responsibility for assessing, planning for, and assisting
communities to meet the needs of low- and moderate-income households..
Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of (HUD)
A cabinet-level department of the federal government which administers housing and
community development programs.
Housing UnR
The place of permanent or customary abode of a person or family. A housing unit may
be a single-family dwelling, a multi-family dwelling, a condominium, a modular home,
a mobile home, a cooperative, or any other residential unit considered real property under
State law. A housing unit has, at least, cooking facilities, a bathroom, and a place to
sleep. It also is a dwelling that cannot be moved without substantial damage or
unreasonable cost. (See "Dwelling Unit," "Family," and "Household.,')
Hydrocarbons · . '.
A family of compounds containing carbon and hydrogen in various combinations. They
are emitted into the atmosphere from manufacturing, storage and handling, or combustion
of petroleum products and through natural processes. Certain hydrocarbons interact with
nitrogen oxides in the presence of intense sunlight to form photochemical air pollution.
Impact
The effect of any direct man-made actions or indirect repercussions of man-made actions
on existing physical, social, or economic conditions.
Impact Fee
A fee, also called a development fee, levied on the developer of a project by a city,
county, or other public agency as compensation for otherwise-unmitigated impacts the
project will produce. California Government Code Section 5,*990 specifies that
development fees shall not exceed the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service
for which the fee is charged. To lawfully impose a development fee, the public agency
must verify its method of calculation and document proper restrictions on use of the fund.
25
Impervious Surface
Surface through which water cannot penetrate, such as roof, road, sidewalk, and paved
parking lot. The amount of impervious surface increases with development and
establishes the need for drainage facilities to car~y the increased runoff.
Implementation
Actions, procedures, programs, or techniques that carry out policies.
Improvement
The addition of one or more structures or utilities on a vacant parcel of land.
Incubator Space
Retail or industrial space that is affordable to new, low-margin businesses.
Industrial
The manufacture, production, and processing of consumer goods. Industrial is often
divided into "heavy industrial" uses, such as construction yards, quarrying, and factories;
and "light industrial" uses, such as research and development and less intensive
warehousing and manufacturing.
Industrial Park
A planned assemblage of buildings designed for "Workplace Use." (See "Workplace
Use.")
Industry, Basic
The segment of economic activity that brings dollars to a region from other areas.
Traditional examples are man.ufa. ctufing, mining and agriculture. The products of all of
these activities are exported (sold)'to other regions. The money thus brought into the
local economy is used to purchase locally-provided goods and services as well as items
that are not available locally and which must be imported from other regions. Other, less
traditional examples of basic industry are tourism, higher education, and retirement
activities that also bring new money into a region.
Industry, Non.basic
The segment of economic activity that is supported by the circulation of dollars within
a region. Examples are the wholesale, retail, and service functions that supply goods and
services to local sources of demand such as businesses, public agencies, and households.
InfiH Development
Development of vacant land (usually individual lots or !eft-over properties) within areas
which are already largely developed.
26
tfrastTucture
Public services and facilities, such as sewage-disposal systems, water-supply systems,
other utility systems, and roads.
In Lieu Fee
(See "Dedication, In lieu of.")
Institutional Use
(1) Privately owned and operated activities which are institutional in nature, such as
hospitals, museums, and schools; (2) churches and other religious institutions; and (3)
other nonprofit activities of an education, youth, welfare, or philanthropic nature which
can not be considered a residential, commercial, or industrial activity.
Inter.agency
Indicates cooperation between or among two or more discrete agencies in regard to a
specific program.
Interest, Fee
Entitles a land owner to exercise complete control over use of land, subject only to
government land use regulations.
Interest, Less-than.fee
The purchase of interest in land rather than outright ownership; includes the purchase of
development rights via conservation, open space, or scenic easements. (See "Development
Rights," "Easement, Scenic," "Lsase," and "L~asehold Interest.")
Intermittent Stream
A stream that normally flows for at least thirty (30) days after the last major rain of the
season and is dry a large part of the year.
Issues
Important unsettled community matters or problems that are identified in a community"s
general plan and dealt with by the plan"s goals, objectives, policies, plan proposals, and
implementation programs.
Joint Powers Authority (J-PA)
A legal arrangement that enables two or more units of government to share authority in
order to plan and carry out a specific program or set of programs that serves both units.
27
Land Banking
The purchase of !and by a local government for use or resale at a later date. "Banked
lands" have been used for development of low- and moderate-income housing, expansion
of parks, and development of industrial and commercial center~. Federal rail-banking law
allows railroads to bank unused rail corridors for future rail use while allowing interim
use as trails.
Landmark
Refers to a building, site, object, structure, or significant tree, having historical,
architectural, social, or cultural significance and marked for preservation by the local,
state, or federal government.
Landscaping
Planting"including trees, shrubs, and ground covers"suitably designed, selected, installed,
and maintained as to enhance a site or roadway permanently.
Landslide
A general term for a falling mass of soil or rocks.
Land Use
The occupation or utilization of land or water area for any human activity or any purpose
defined in the General Plan.
Land Use Classification
A system for classifying and designating the appropriate use of properties.
Land Use Element
A required element of the General Plan which uses text and maps to designate the future
use or reuse of land within a given jurisdiction"s planning area. The land use clement
serves as a guide to the structuring of zoning and subdivision controls, urban renewal and
capital improvements programs, and to official decisions regarding the distribution and
intensity of development and the location of public facilities and open space.
Land Use Regulation
A term encompassing the regulation of land in general and often used to mean those
regulations incorporated in the General Plan, as distinct from zoning regulations (which
are more specific).
Ldn
Day-Night Average Sound Level. The A-weighted average sound level for a given area
(measured in decibels) during a 24-hour period with a 10 dB weighting applied to
night-time sound levels. The La is approximately numerically equal to the CNEL for
most environmental settings.
28
A contractual agreement by which an owner of real property (the lessor) gives the right
of possession to another (a lessee) for a specified period of time (term) and for a specified
consideration (rent).
Leasehold Interest
(1) The interest which the lessee has in the value of the lease itself in condemnation
award determination. (2) The difference between the total remaining rent under the, lease
and the rent the lessee would currently pay for similar space for the same time period.
The energy equivalent level, defined as the average sound level on the basis of sound
energy (or sound pressure squared). The L~ is a "dosage" type measure and is the basis
for the descriptors used in current standards, such as the 24-hour CNEL used by the State
of California.
Level of Service (LOS)
(1) A scale that measures the amount of traffic a roadway may be capable of handling on
a roadway or at the intersection of roadways. Levels range from A to F, with A
representing the highest level of service, as follows:
Level of Service A
Indicates a relatively free flow of traffic, with little or no limitation on vehicle movement
or speed.
Level of Service B
Describes a steady flow of traffic,.w!th only slight delays iri vehicle movement and speed.
All queues clear in a single signal cycle.
Level of Service C
Denotes a reasonably steady, high-volume flow of traffic, with some limitations on
movement and speed, and occasional backups on critical approaches.
Level of Service D
The level where traffic nears an unstable flow. Intersections still function, but short
queues develop and ears may have to wait through one cycle during short pealcs.
Level of Service E
Traffic characterized by slow movement and frequent (although momentary) stoppages.
This type of congestion is considered severe, but is not uncommon at peak traffic hours,
with frequent stopping, long-standing queues, and blocked intersections.
29
Level of Service F
Describes unsatisfactory stop-and-go traffic characterized by "traffic jams" and stoppages
of long duration. Vehicles at signalized intersections usually have to wait through one
or more signal changes, and "upstream" intersections may be blocked by the long queues.
(2) Some communities in California are developing standards for levels of service relating
to municipal functions such as police, fire, and library service. These standards are
incorporated in the General Plan or in separate "Level of Service Plans."
Life.cycle Costing
A method of evaluating a capital investment that takes into account the sum total of all
costs associated with the investment over the lifetime of the project.
Light
(duty) Rail Transit (LRT)
"Street cars" or "trolley cars" that typically operate entirely or substantially in mixed
traffic and in non-exclusive, at-grade rights-of-way. Passengers typically board vehicles
from the street level (as opposed to a platform that is level with the train) and the driver
may collect fares. Vehicles are each electrically self-propelled and usually operate in one
or two-car trains.
Linkage
A program designed to off. set the impact of employment on housing need within a
community, whereby project approval is conditioned on the provision of housing units or
the payment of an equivalent in-lieu fee. The linkage program must establish the
cause-and-effect relationship between a new commercial or industrial development and
the increased demand for housing.
Liquefaction
The transformation of loose water-saturated granular materials (such as sand or silt) from
a solid into a liquid state. A type of ground failure that can occur during an earthquake.
Local Agency Fornmtion Commission (LAFCo)
A five-member commission within each county that reviews and evaluates all proposals
for formation of special districts, incorporation of cities, annexation to special districts or
cities, consolidation of districts, and merger of districts with cities. Each county"s
LAFCo is empowered to approve, disapprove, or conditionally approve such proposals.
The five laMeCo members generally include two county supervisors, two city council
members, and one member representing the general public.
Lot
(See "Site.")
3O
Lot of Record
A lot which is part of a recorded subdivision or a parcel of land which has been recorded
at the county recorder"s office containing property tax records.
Low.income Household
A household with an annual income usually no greater than 80 percent of the area median
family income adjusted by household size, as determir,~d by a survey of incomes
conducted by a city or a county, or in the absence of suc. survey, based on the latest
available eligibility limits established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) for the Section 8 housing program. (See "Area.")
A statistical descriptor indicating peak noise levels"the sound level exceeded ten percent
of the time. It is a commonly used descriptor of community noise, and has been used in
Federal Highway Administration standards and the standards of some cities.
Manufactured Housing
Houses which are constructed entirely in the factory, and which since 1976 have been
regulated by the federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards under the
administration of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). (See
"Mobile Home" and "Modular Unit.")
Marsh
Any area designated as marsh or swamp on the largest scale United States Geologic
Survey topographic map most recently published. A marsh usually is an area periodically
or permanently covered with shallow water, either fresh or saline.
May
That which is permissible.
Mean Sea Level
The average altitude of the sea surface for all tidal stages.
Median Strip
The dividing area, either paved or landscaped, between opposing lanes of traffic on a
roadway.
Merealii Intensity Scale
A subjective measure of the observed effects (human reactions, structural damage,
geologic effects) of an earthquake. Expressed in Roman numerals from I to XII.
Microclimate
The climate of a small, distinct area, such as a city street or a building"s courtyard; can
be favorably altered through functional landscaping, architecture, or other design features.
31
Mineral Resource
Land on which known deposits of commercially viable mineral or aggregate deposits
exist. This designation is applied to sites determined by the State Division of Mines and
Geology as being a resource of regional significance, and is intended to help maintain the
quarrying operations and protect them from encroachment of incompatible !and uses.
~Jnimize, v.
To reduce or lessen, but not necessarily to eliminate.
Mining
The act or process of extracting resources, such as coal, oil, or minerals, from the earth.
Minipark
Small neighborhood park of approximately one acre or less.
Ministerial (Administrative) Decision
An action taken by a governmental agency which follows established procedures and rules
and does not call for the exercise of judgment in deciding whether to approve a project.
Mitigate, v.
To ameliorate, alleviate, or avoid to the extent reasonably feasible.
Mixed.use
Properties on which various uses, such as office, commercial, institutional, and residential,
are combined in a single building or on a single site in an integrated development project
with significant functional interrelationships and a coherent physical design.
Mobile Home
A structure, transportable in one or more sections, built on a permanent chassis and
designed for use as a single-family dwelling unit and which (1) has a minimum of 400
square feet of living space; (2) has a minimum width in excess of 102 inches; (3) is
connected to all available permanent utilities; and (4) is tied down (a) to a permanent
foundation on a lot either owned or leased by the homeowner or (b) is set on piers, with
wheels removed and skirted, in a mobile home park under a lease with a minimum period
of one year. (See "Manufactured Housing" and "Modular Unit.")
Moderate-income Household
A household with an annual income between the lower income eligibility limits and 120
percent of the area median family income adjusted by household size, usually as
established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the t
Section 8 housing program. (See "Area" and "Low-income Household.")
32
Modular Unit
A factory-fabricated, transportable building or major component de.signed for use by itself
or for incorporation with similar units on-site into a structure for residential, commercial,
educational, or industrial use. A modular unit does not have any chassis for future
movement. (See "Mobile Home" and "Manufactured Housing.")
Motel
A structure in which there are five (5) or more guest rooms or suites where lodging with
or without meals is provided for compensation. Quite often, provision is made for
cooking in individual guest rooms or suites. (See "Hotel.")
Multiple Family Building
A detached building designed and used exclusively as a dwelling by three or more
families occupying separate suites.
Multiplier Effect
The recirculation of money through the economy multiplies its impact on jobs and
income. For example, money paid as salaries to industrial and office workers is spent on
housing, food, clothes and other locally-available goods and services. This spending
creates jobs in housing construction, retail stores (e.g., grocery and drug stores) and
professional offices. The wage paid to workers in those industries is again re-spent,
creating still more jobs. Overall, one job in basic industry is estimated to create
approximately one more job in non-basic industry.
Must
That which is mandatory.
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
The prescribed level of pollutants in the outside air that cannot be exceeded legally during
a specified time in a specified geographical area.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
An act passed in 174 establishing federal legislation for national environmental policy,
a council on environmental quality, and the requirements for environmental impact
statements.
National Flood Insurance Program
A federal program which authorizes the sale of federally subsidized flood insurance in
communities where such flood insurance is not available privately.
National Historic Preservation Act
A 1966 federal law that established a National Register of Historic Places and the
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and which authorized grants-in-aid for
preserving historic properties.
33
National Register of Historic Places
The official list, established by the National Historic Preservation Act, of sites, districts,
buildings, structures, and objects significant in the nation"s history or whose artistic or
architectural value is unique.
Natural State
The condition existing prior to development.
Necessary
Essential or required.
Need
A condition requiring supply or relief.
or on behalf of the community.
The City may act upon findings of need within
Neighborhood Park
City-owned land intended to serve the recreation needs of people living or working within
one-half mile radius of the park.
Neighborhood Unit
According to one widely-accepted concept of planning, the neighborhood unit should be
the basic building block of the city. It is based on the elementary school, with other
community facilities located at its center and arterial streets at its perimeter. The distance
from the school to the perimeter should be a comfortable walking distance for a
school-age child; there would be no through traffic uses. Limited industrial or
commercial would occur on the perimeter where arterials inter~ect. This was the model
for American suburban development after World War II.
Nitrogen Oxide(s)
A reddish brown gas that is a byproduct of combustion and ozone formation processes.
Often referred to as NOX, this gas gives smog its "dirty air" appearance.
Noise
Any sound which is undesirable because it interferes with speech and hearing, or is
intense enough to damage hearing, or is otherwise annoying. Noise, simply, is "unwanted
sound."
Noise Attenuation
Reduction of the level of a noise source using a substance, material, or surface, such as
earth berms and/or solid concrete walls.
Noise Contour
A line connecting points of equal noise level as measured on the same scale. Noise levels
greater than the 60 L~ contour (measured in dBA) require noise attenuation in residential
development.
Non-attainment
The condition of not achieving a desired or required level of performance. Frequently
used in reference to air quality.
Non.conforming Use
A use which was valid when brought into existence, but by subsequent regulation
becomes no longer conforming. "Non-conforming use" is a generic term and includes (1)
non-conforming structures (by virtue of size, type of construction, location on land, or
proximity to other structures), (2) non-conforming use of a conforming building, (3)
non-conforming use of a non-conforming building, and (4) non-conforming use of land.
Thus, any use lawfully existing on any piece of property that is inconsistent with a new
or amended General Plan, and that in turn is a violation of a zoning ordinance amendment
subsequently adopted in conformance with the General Plan, will be a non-conforming
use. Typically, non-conforming uses are permitted to continue for a designated period
of time, subject to certain restrictions.
Objective
A specific statement of desired future condition toward which the City will expend effort
in the context of striving to achieve a broader goal. An objective should be achievable
and, where possible, should be measurable and time-specific. The State Government
Code ("65302) requires that general plans spell out the "objectives," principles, standards,
and proposals of the general plan. "The addition of 100 units of affordable housing by
1995" is an example of an objective.".
Office
General business offices, medical and professional offices, administrative or headquarters
offices for large wholesaling or manufacturing operations, and research and development.
Official County Scenic Highway
A segment of state highway identified in the Master Plan of State Highways Eligible for
Official Scenic Highway Designation and designated by the Director of the Department
of Transportation (Caltrans).
Open
Space land
Any parcel or area of land or water which is essentially unimproved and devoted to an
open space use for the purposes of (1) the preservation of natural resources, (2) the
managed production of resources, (3) outdoor recreation, or (4) public health and safety.
35
Orchard
A group of fruit trees, either small and diverse for home use, or large and uniform (i.e.,
one variety) for revenue; such a collection must be planted, managed and renewed by the
householder or farmer and should not be confused with a naturally occurring grove.
Citrus plantations are customarily called groves.
Outdoor Advertising Structure
Any device used or intended to direct attention to a business, profession, commodity,
service, or entertainment conducted, sold, or offered elsewhere than upon the lot where
such device is located.
Outdoor Recreation Use
A privately owned or operated use providing facilities for outdoor recreation activities.
Outer Approach Zone
Airspace in which an air-traffic controller initiates radar monitoring for incoming flights
approaching an airport.
Overlay
A land use designation on the Land Use Map, or a zoning designation on a zoning map,
which modifies the basic underlying designation in some specific manner.
Ozone
A tri-atomic form of oxygen (O~) created naturally in the upper atmosphere by a
photocbemieal reaction with solar ultraviolet radiation. In the lower atmosphere, ozone
is a recognized air pollutant that is not emitted directly into the environment, but is
formed by complex chemical r.ea.ctions.between oxides of nitrogen and reactive organic
compounds in the presence of sunlight, and becomes a major agent in the formation of
smog.
Para.transit
Refers to transportation services and which operate vehicles, such as buses, jitneys, taxis,
and vans for senior citizens, and/or mobility-impaired.
Parcel
A lot, or contiguous group of lots, in single ownership or under single control, usually
considered a unit for purposes of development.
Parking Area, Shared
A public or private parking area used jointly by two or more uses.
Parking Area, Public
An open area, excluding a street or other public way, used for the parking of automobiles
and available to the public, whether for free or for compensation.
36
Parking Management
An evolving TDM technique designed to obtain maximum utilization from a limited
number of parking spaces. Can involve pricing and preferential treatment for HOVs,
non-peak period users, and short-term users. (See "High Occupancy Vehicle" and
"Transportation Demand Management.")
Parking Ratio
The number of parking spaces provided per 1,000 square of floor area, e.g., 2:1 or "two
per thousand."
Parking Space, Compact
A parking space (usually 7.5 feet wide by 16 feet long when perpendicular to a driveway
or aisle) permitted in some localities on the assumption that many modern cars are
significantly smaller, and require less room, than a standard automobile. A standard
parking space, when perpendicular to a driveway or aisle, is usually 8.5 feet wide by 18
feet long.
Parks
Open space lands whose primary purpose is recreation.
"Neighborhood Parks.")
(See "Community Park." and
Parkway
An expressway or freeway designed for non-commercial traffic only; usually located
within a strip of landscaped park or natural vegetation.
Parkway Strip
A piece of land located between the rear of a curb and the front of a sidewalk, usually
used for planting low ground cover and/or street trees, also known as "planter strip."
Patio Unit
A detached single family unit typically situated on a reduced-sized lot, which orients
outdoor activity within rear or side yard patio areas for better utilization of the site for
outdoor living space.
Payback Period
The number of years required to accumulate savings equal to the value of a proposed
investment.
Peak Hour/Peak Period
For any given roadway, a daily period during which traffic volume is highest, usually
occurring in the morning and evening commute periods. Where "F" Levels of Service
are encountered, the "peak hour" may stretch into a "peak period" of several hours"
duration.
37
Performance Standards
Zoning regulations that permit uses based on a particular set of standards of operation
rather than on particular type of use. Performance standards provide specific criteria
limiting noise, air pollution, emissions, odors, vibration, dust, dirt, glare, heat, /ire
hazards, wastes, traffic impacts, and visual impact of a use.
Personal Services
Services of a personal convenience nature, as opposed to products which are sold to
individual consumers, as contrasted with companies. Personal services include barber and
beauty shops, shoe and luggage repair, fortune tellers, photographers, laundry and cleaning
services and pick-up stations, copying, repair and fitting of clothes, and similar services.
Physical Diversity
A quality of a site, city, or region in which are found a variety of architectural styles,
natural landscapes, and/or land uses.
Picnic Area, Group
Two or more picnic tables reserved for use by 10 or more persons equipped with picnic
tables, barbecue stands, and may be provided with a roofed shelter.
Planned Unit Development (PUD)
A description of a proposed development, consisting at a minimum of a map and adopted
ordinance setting forth the regulations governing, and the location and arrangement of all
proposed uses and improvements to be included in the development.
Planning and Research, Office of (OPR)
A governmental division of the State of California which has among its responsibilities
the preparation of a set of guidelines for use by local jur. isdictions in drafting General
Plans.
Planning Area
The Planning Area is the land area addressed by the General Plan. Typically, the
Planning Area boundary coincides with the Sphere of Influence which encompasses land
both within the City Limits and potentially annexable land.
Policy
A specific statement of principle or of guiding actions which implies clear commitment
but is not mandatory. A general direction that a governmental agency sets to follow, in
order to meet its goals and objectives before undertaking an action program. (See
"Program.")
Pollutant
Any introduced gas, liquid, or solid that makes a resource unfit for its normal or usual
purpose.
38
Pollution
The l~resence of matter or energy whose nature, location, or quantity produces undesired
environmental effects.
Pollution, Non. Point
Sources for pollution which are less definable and usually cover broad areas of land, such
as agricultural land with fertilizers which are carried from the land by runoff, or
automobiles.
Pollution, Point
In reference to water quality, a discrete source from which pollution is generated before
it enters receiving waters, such as a sewer out.fall, a smokestack, or an industrial waste
pipe.
An area in which beneficial uses in their present condition are protected; for example, a
nature preserve or an agricultural preserve. (See "Agricultural Preserve" and Protect.")
Principle
An assumption, fundamental rule, or doctrine that will guide general plan policies,
proposals, standards, and implementation measures. The State Government Code
C65302) requires that general plans spell out the objectives, "principles," standards, and
proposals of the general plan. "Adjacent land uses should be compatible with one
another" is an example of a principle.
Professional Offices
A use providing professional or consulting services in the fields of law, medicine,
architecture, design, engineering,. accounting, and similar. professions, but not including
financial institutions or real estate Or insurance offices.
Program
An action, activity, or strategy carried out in response to adopted policy to achieve a
specific objective. Policies and programs establish the "who," "how" and "when" for
eartying out the "what" and "where" of goals and objectives.
Pro Rata
Refers to the proportionate distribution of the cost of infrastructure improvements
associated with new development to the users of the infrastructure on the basis of -
projected use.
ProtecL v.
To maintain and preserve beneficial uses in their present condition as nearly as possible.
(See "Enhance.")
39
Public and Quasi-public Facilities
Institutional, academic, governmental and community service uses, either publicly owned
or operated by non-profit organizations.
Ranchette
A single dwelling unit occupied by a non-farming household on a parcel of 2.5 to 20
acres which has been subdivided from agricultural land.
Rare or Endangered Species
A species of animal or plant listed in: Sections 670.2 or 670.5, Title 14, California
Administrative Code; or Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 17.11 or Section
17.2, pursuant to the Federal Endangered Species Act designating species as rare,
threatened, or endangered.
Recognize, v.
To officially (or by official action) identify or perceive a given situation.
Recreation, Active
A type of recreation or activity which requires the use of organized play areas including,
but not limited to, softball, baseball, football and soccer fields, tennis and basketball
courts and various forms of children's play equipment.
Recreation, Passive
Type of recreation or activity which does not require the use of organized play areas.
Recycle
The process of extraction and reuse of materials from waste products.
Regional
Pertaining to activities or economies at a scale greater than that of a single .jurisdiction,
and affecting a broad homogeneous area.
Regional Park
A park typically 150-500 acres in size focusing on activities and natural features not
included in most other types of parks and often based on a specific scenic or recreational
opportunity.
Regulation
A rule or order prescribed for management of government.
Research and Development Use
A use engaged in study, testing, design, analysis, and experimental development of
products, processes, or services.
40
Residential
Land designated in the City"s General Plan and zoning ordinance for buildings consisting
only of dwelling units. May be vacant or unimproved. (See "Dwelling Unit.")
Residential, Multiple Family
Usually three or more dwelling units on a single site, which may be in the same or
separate buildings.
Residential, Single-Family
A single dwelling unit on a building site.
Resources, Non-renewable
Refers tO natural resources, such as fossil fuels and natural gas, which, once used, cannot
be replaced and used again.
Restore, v.
To renew, rebuild, or reconstruct to a former state.
Restrict, v.
To check, bound or decrease the range, scope, or incidence of a particular condition.
Retention Basin/Retention Pond
(See '~'Detention Basin/Detention Pond.")
Retrofit, v.
To add materials and/or devices to an existing building or system to improve its operation
or efficiency.
Reverse Annuity Mortgages
A home financing mechanism which enables a homeowner who a senior citizen to release
equity from his or her home. The senior receives periodic payments which can be put
to immediate use. Loans are fixed term and are paid when the house is sold or when the
term expires.
Richter Scale
A measure of the size or energy release of an earthquake at its source. The scale is
logarithmic; the wave amplitude of each number on the scale is 10 times greater than that
of the previous whole number.
Rideshare
A travel mode other than driving alone, such as buses, rail transit, carpools, and vanpools.
Ridgeline
A line connecting the highest points along a ridge and separating drainage basins or
small-scale drainage systems from one another.
41
Right-of-way
The strip of land over which certain transportation and public use facilities are built, such
as roadways, railroads, and utility lines.
Riparian Lands
Riparian lands are comprised of the vegetative and wildlife areas adjacent to perennial
and intermittent streams. Riparian areas are delineated by the existence of plant species
normally found near freshwater.
Risk
The danger or degree of hazard or potential loss.
Runoff
That portion of rain or snow which does not percolate into the ground and is discharged
into streams instead.
Sanitary Sewer
A system of subterranean conduits which carries refuse liquids or waste matter to a plant
where the sewage is treated, as contrasted with storm drainage systems (which carry
surface water) and septic tanks or leech fields (which hold refuse liquids and waste matter
on-site). (See "Combined Sewer" and "Septic System.")
Scenic
liighway Corridor
The visible area outside a highway's right-of-way, generally described as "the view from
the road."
Scenic
Highway/Scenic Route
A highway, road, drive, or street which, in addition to its transportation function, provides
opportunities for the enjoyment of natural and man-made scenic resources and access or
direct views to areas or scenes of exceptional beauty or historic or cultural interest. The
aesthetic values of scenic routes often are protected and enhanced by regulations
governing the development of pwperty or the placement of outdoor advertising. Until the
mid-1980s, general plans in California were required to include a Scenic Highways
element.
School District Lands
Properties owned by public school districts and used for educational, recreational, and
administrative purposes.
Second Unit
A Self-contained living unit, either attached to or detached from, and in addition to, the
primary residential unit on a single lot. Sometimes called "Granny Flat".
42
Section 8 Rental Assistance Program
A federal (HUD) rent-subsidy program which is the main source of federal housing
assistance for low-income households. The program operates by providing "housing
assistance payments" to owners, developers, and public housing agencies to make up the
difference between the "Fair Market Rent" of a unit (set by HUD) and the houschold"s
contribution toward the rent, which is calculated at 30% of the household"s adjusted gross
monthly income (GMI). "Section 8" includes programs for new construction, existing
housing, and substantial or moderate housing rehabilitation.
Seiche
An earthquake-generated wave in an enclosed body of water such as a lake, reservoir, or
bay.
Seismic
Caused by or subject to earthquakes or earth vibrations.
Senior Housing
(See "Elderly Housing.")
Seniors
Persons age 62 and older.
Septic
System
A sewage-treatment system that includes a settling tank through which liquid sewage
flows and in which solid sewage settles and is decomposed by bacteria in the absence of
oxygen. Septic systems are often used for individual-home waste disposal where an urban
sewer system is not available. (See "Sanitary Sewer.")
Setback
The distance between the property line and any structure.
SettLement
The drop in elevation of a ground surface caused by settling or compacting. Differential
settlement is uneven settlement.
Shall
That which is obligatory or necessary.
Shared Living
The occupancy of a dwelling unit by persons of more than one family in order to reduce
housing expenses and provide social contact, mutual support, and assistance. Shared
living facilities serving six or fewer persons are permitted in all residential districts by
"1566.3 of the California Health and Safety Code.
43
'Shoppers Goods
Another name for comparison goods.
Shopping Center
A group of commercial establishments, planned, developed, owned, or managed as a unit,
with off-street parking provided on the site.
Should
Signifies a directive to be honored if at all possible.
Sign
Any representation (written or pictorial) used to identify, announce, or otherwise direct
attention to a business, profession, commodity, service, or entertainment, and placed on,
suspended from, or in any way attached to, any structure, vehicle, or feature of the natural
or manmade landscape.
Signal
Preemption
A system used by emergency vehicles, public transit vehicles and/or trains to change
signal phasing from red to green assigning immediate right. of-way for a specific purpose.
Significant Effect
A beneficial or detrimental impact on the environment. May include, but is not limited
to, significant changes in an area's air, water, and land resources.
Siltation
(1) The accumulating deposition of eroded material. (2) The gradual filling in of streams
and other bodies of water with sand, silt, and clay.
Single.family Dwelling, Attached
A dwelling unit occupied or intended for occupancy by only one household that is
structurally connected with other such dwelling units. (See ".Family.")
Single-family Dwelling, Detached
A dwelling unit occupied or intended for occupancy by only one household that is
strutrurally independent from any other such dwelling unit or structure intended for
residential or other use. (See "Family.")
Single
Room Occupancy (SRO)
A single room, typically 80"250 square feet, with a sink and closet, but which requires
the occupant to share a communal bathroom, shower, and kitchen.
Site
A parcel of land used or intended for one use or a group of uses and having frontage on
a public or an approved private street. A lot.
44
Slope
Land gradient described as the vertical rise divided by the horizontal run, and expressed
in percent.
Soil
The unconsolidated material on the immediate surface of the earth created by natural
forces that serves as natural medium for growing land plants.
Solar Access
The provision of direct sunlight to an area specified for solar energy collection when the
sun"s azimuth is within 45 degrees of true south.
Solar System, Active
A system using a mechanical device, such as a pump or a fan, and energy in addition to
solar energy to transport a conductive medium (air or water) between a solar collector and
the interior of a building for the purpose of heating or cooling.
Solar System, Passive
A system that uses direct heat transfer from thermal mass instead of mechanical power
to distribute collected heat. Passive systems rely on building design and materials to
collect and store heat and to create natural ventilation for cooling.
Solid Waste
General category that includes organic wastes, paper products, metals, glass, plastics,
cloth, brick, rock, soil, leather, rubber, yard wastes, and wood. Organic wastes and paper
products comprise about 75 percent of typical urban solid waste.
Specific Plan ....
A specific plan. is a legal tool for detailed design and implementation of a defined portion
of the area covered by a General Plan. A specific plan may include all detailed
regulations, conditions, programs, and/or proposed legislation which may be necessary or
convenient for the systematic implementation of any General Plan element(s).
Speed, Average
The sum of the speeds of the cars observed divided by the number of cars observed.
Speed, Critical
The speed which is not exceeded by 85 percent of the cars observed.
Sphere of Influence
The probable ultimate physical boundaries and service area of a local agency (city or
district) as determined by the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) of the
County.
45
Standards
(1) A rule or measure establishing a level of quality or quanuty that m~t be complied
with or satisfied. The State Government Code ("65302) requires that general plans spell
out the objectives, principles, "standards," and proposals of the general plan. Examples
of standards might include the number of acres of park land per 1,000 population that the
community will attempt to acquire and improve, or the "intersection Level of Service"
(LOS) that the plan hopes to attain. (2) Requirements in a zoning ordinance that govern
building and development as distinguished from use restrictions"for example, site-design
regulations such as lot area, height limit, frontage, landscaping, and floor area ratio.
Storm
Runoff
Surplus surface water generated by rainfall that does not seep into the earth but flows
overland to flowing or stagnant bodies of water.
Street
Furniture
Those features associated with a street that are intended to enhance that street"s physical
character and use by pedestrians, such as benches, trash receptacles, kiosks, lights,
newspaper racks.
Street
Tree Plan
A comprehensive plan for all city street trees which sets goals for solar access, and
standards for species selection, maintenance, and replacement criteria, and for planting
treea in patterna that will define neighborhood character while avoiding monotony or
maintenance problems.
Streets, Local
(See" Streets, Minor.")
Streets, Major
The transportation network which includes a hierarchy of freeways, arterials, and
collectors to service through traffic.
Streets, Minor
Local streets not shown on the Circulation Plan, Map, or Diagram, whose primary
intended purpose is to provide access to fronting properties.
Streets, Through
Streets which extend continuously between other major streets in the community.
Structure
Anything constructed or erected which requires location on the ground (excluding
swimming pools, fences, and walls used as fences).
46
Subdivision
The division of a tract of land into defined lots, either improved or unimproved, which
can be separately conveyed by sale or lease, and which can be altered or developed.
"Subdivision" includes a condominium project as defined in Section 1350 of the
California Civil Code.
Subdivision Map Act
Division 2 (Sections 66410 et seq) of the California Government code, this act vests in
local legislative bodies the regulation and control of the design and improvement of
subdivisions, including the requirement for tentative and final maps. (See "Subdivision.")
Subregional
Pertaining to a portion of a region.
Subsidence
Settlement over a large area. (See "Settlement.")
Substandard Housing
Residential dwellings which, because of their physical condition, do not provide safe and
sanitary housing.
Substantial
Considerable in importance, value, degree, or amount.
Topography
Configuration of a surface, including its relief and the position of natural and man-made
features.
Tourism
The business of providing se~wices for persons traveling for pleasure, tourism contributes
to the vitality of the community by. providing revenue to local business. Tourism can be
measured through changes in the transient occupancy tax, or restaurant sales.
Traffic Model
A mathematical representation of traffic movement within an area or region based on
observed relationships between the kind and intensity of development in specific areas.
Many traffic models operate on the theory that trips are produced by persons living in
residential areas and are attracted by various non-residential land uses. (See "Trip.*')
Transit
The conveyance of persons or goods from one place to another by means of a local,
public transportation system.
47
Transit-dependent
Refers to pemons unable to operate automobiles or other motorized vehicles, or those who
do not own motorized vehicles. Transit-dependent citizens must rely on transit,
para-transit, or owners of private vehicles for transportation. Transit-dependent citizens
include the young, the handicapped, the elderly, the poor, and those with prior violations
in motor vehicle laws.
Transit, Public
A system of regularly-scheduled buses and/or trains
fee-per-ride basis. Also called "Mass Transit."
available to the public on a
Transition Zone
Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 or more feet above the ground wherein
procedures for aircraft approach have been designated. The transition zone lies closer to
an airport than the outer approach zone and outside of the inner approach zone. (See
"Approach Zone" and "Outer Approach Zone.")
Transportation Demand Management CrDM)
A strategy for reducing demand on the road system by reducing the number of vehicle~
using the roadways and/or increasing the number of persons per vehicle. TDM attempts
to reduce the number of persons who drive alone on the roadway during the commute
period and to increase the number in carpools, vanpools, buses and trains, walking, and
biking. TDM can be an element of TSM (see below).
Transportation Systerm Management {TSM)
A comprehensive strategy developed to addres~ the problems caused by additional
development, increasing trips, and a shortfall in transportation capacity. Transportation
Systems Management focuses on more efficiently utilizing existing highway and transit
systems rather than expanding them. 'ISM measures are characterized by their low cost
and quick implementation time frame, such as computerized traffic signals, metered
freeway ramps, and one-way streets.
Trees,
Heritage
Trees planted by a group of citizens or by the City in commemoration of an event or in
memory of a person figuring significantly in history.
Trees,
Landmark
Trees whose size, visual impact, or association with a historically significant structure or
event have led the City to designate them as landmarks.
Trees,
Street
Trees strategically planted--usually in parkway strips,
enhance the visual quality of a street.
medians, or along streets--to
48
Trip
A one-way journey that proceeds from an origin to a destination via a single mode of
transportation; the smallest unit of movement considered in transportation studies. Each
trip has one "production end," (or origin"often from home, but not always), and one
"attraction end," (destination). (See "Traffic Model.")
Trip Generation
The dynamics that account for people making trips in automobiles or by means of public
transportation. Trip generation is the basis for estimating the level of use for a
transportation system and the impact of additional development or transportation facilities
on an existing, local transportation system. Trip generations of households are correlated
with destinations that attract household members for specific purposes.
Truck
Route
A path of circulation required for all vehicles exceeding set weight or axle limits, a truck
route follows major arterials through commercial or industrial areas and avoids sensitive
areas.
Tsunami
A large ocean wave generated by an earthquake in or near the ocean.
Undevelopable
Specific areas where topographic, geologic, and/or surficial soil conditions indicate a
significant danger to future occupants and a liability to the City are designated as
"undevelopable" by the City.
Undue
Improper, or more than necessary..
Uniform Building Code (LrBC)
A national, standard building code which sets forth minimum standards for construction.
Uniform Housing Code (UHC)
State housing regulations governing the condition of habitable structures with regard to
health and safety standards and which provides for the conservation and rehabilitation of
housing in accordance with the Uniform Building Code (UBC).
Urban
Design
The attempt to give form, in terms of both beauty and function, to selected urban areas
or to whole cities. Urban design is concerned with the location, mass, and design of
various urban components and combines elements of urban planning, architecture, and
landscape architecture.
49
Urban
Limit Line
A boundary, sometimes parcel-specific, located to mark the outer limit beyond which
urban development will not be allowed. It has the aim of discouraging urban sprawl by
containing urban development during a specified period, and its location may be modified
over time.
Urban
Open Space
The absence of buildings or development, usually in well-defined volumes, within an
urban environment.
Urban
Sprawl
Haphazard growth or outward extension of a city resulting from uncontrolled or poorly
managed development.
Use
The purpose for which a lot or structure is or may be leased, occupied, maintained,
arranged, designed, intended, constructed, erected, moved, altered, and/or enlarged as per
the City"s zoning ordinance and General Plan land use designation.
Use, Non-conforming
(See "Non-conforming Use.")
Use Permit
The discretionary and conditional review of an activity or function or operation on a site
or in a building or facility.
Utility Corridors
Rights-of-way or easements for. u.tility .lines on either publicly or privately owned
property. (See "Right-of-way" or "Easement.")
Vacant
Lands or buildings which are not actively used for any purpose.
Variance
A departure from any provision of the zoning requirements for a specific parcel, except
use, without changing the zoning ordinance or the underlying zoning of the parcel. A
variance usually is granted only upon demonstration of hardship based on the peculiarity
of the property in relation to other properties in the same zone district.
Vehicle-Miles Travelled (VMT)
A key measure of overall street and highway use. Reducing VIVIT is often a major
objective in efforts to reduce vehicular congestion and achieve regional air quality goals.
5O
Very Low.income Household
A household with an annual income usually no greater than 50 percent of the area median
family income adjusted by household size, as determined by a survey of incomes
conducted by a city or a county, or in the absence of such a survey, based on the latest
available eligibility limits established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) for the Section 8 housing program. (See "Area.")
View Corridor
The line of sight"identified as to height, width, and distance"of an observer looking
toward an object of significance to the community (e.g., ridgeline, river, historic building,
etc.); the route that directs the viewers attention.
Viewshed
The area within view from a defined observation point.
Volume-to-Capacity Ratio
A measure of the operating capacity of a roadway or intersection, in terms of the number
of vehicles passing through, divided by the number of vehicles that theoretically could
pass through when the roadway or intersection is operating at its designed capacity.
Abbreviated as ""/c." At a v/c ratio of 1.0, the roadway or intersection is operating at
capacity. If the ratio is less than than 1.0, the traffic facility has additional capacity.
Although ratios slightly greater than 1.0 are possible, it is more likely that the peak hour
will elongate into a "peak period." (See "Peak Hour" and "Level of Service.")
Warehousing Use
A use engaged in storage, wholesale, and distribution of manufactured products, supplies,
and equipment, excluding bulk storage of materials which are inflammable or explosive
or which present hazards or cond.iti0~' commonly recognized as offensive.
Wastewater Irrigation
The process by which wastewater that has undergone primary treatment is used to irrigate
land.
Watercourse
Natural or once natural flowing (,perennially or intermittently) water including rivers,
streams, and creeks. Includes natural waterways that have been channelized, but does not
include manmade channels, ditches, and underground drainage and sewage systems.
Watershed
The total area above a given point on a watercourse that contributes water to its flow; the
entire region drained by a waterway or watercourse which drains into a lake, or reservoir.
Waterway
(See "Watercourse.")
51
Wetlands
Transitional areas between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually
at or near the surface, or the land is covered by shallow water.
Wildlife Refuge
An area maintained in a natural state for the preservation of both animal and plant life.
Williamson Act
Known formally as the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, it was designed as an
incentive to retain prime agricultural land and open space in agricultural use, thereby
slowing its conversion to urban and suburban development. The program entails a
ten-year contract between the city and an owner of land whereby the land is taxed on the
basis of its agricultural use rather than the market value. The land becomes subject to
certain enforceable restrictions, and certain conditions need to be met prior to approval
of an agreement.
Workplace Use
The combination of a variety of businesses, from office to research and development to
light industry to warehousing, located in structures built with open floor plans, so as to
leave most interior improvements to the tenants to design to their needs. (See also
"Industrial Park.")
Zero Lot Line
A detached single family unit distinguished by the location of one exterior wall on a side
property line.
Zone,
Combining
A special purpose zone which is superimposed over the regular zoning map. Combining
zones are used for a variety of purposes, such as airport compatibility, flood plain or
wetlands protection, historic designation, or special parking regulations. Also called
"overlay zone."
Zone,
Interim
A zoning designation that temporarily reduces or freezes allowable development in an
area until a permanent classification can be fixed; generally assigned during General Plan
preparation to provide a basis for permanent zoning.
Zone, Study
(See" Zone, Interim.")
52
Zone, Traffic
In a mathematical traffic model the area to be studied is divided into zones, with each
zone treated as producing and attracting trips. The production of trips by a zone is based
on the number of trips to or from work or shopping, or other trips produced per dwelling
unit.
Zoning
The division of a city by legislative regulations into areas, or zones, which specify
allowable uses for real property and size restrictions for buildings within these areas; a
program that implements policies of the General Plan.
Zoning Bonus
(See "Zoning, Incentive.")
Zoning District
A designated section of the City for which prescribed land use requirements and building
and development standards are uniform.
Zoning, Exclusionary
Development regulations which result in the exclusion of low- and moderate-income
and/or minority families from a community.
Zoning, Incentive
The awarding of bonus credits to a development in the form of allowing more intensive
use of land if public benefits "such as preservation of greater than the minimum required
open space, provision for low- and moderate-income housing, or plans for public plazas
and courts at ground level" are included in a project.
Zoning, Inclusionary
Regulations which increase housing choice by providing the opportunity to construct more
diverse and economical housing to meet the needs of low- and moderate-income families.
Often such regulations require a minimum percentage of housing for low- and
moderate-income households in new housing developments and in conversions of
apartments to condominiums.
LAG -0~,GIo~i~.GP
53
CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
General Plan Program
Guidance Package
Working Draft - June 7, 1991
INTRODUCTION
On June 11, 1991 the Temecula City Council approved a consultant contract to assist the City
in preparing its first General Plan. This was the culmination of many months of planning and
organizing by the City to conduct the selection process and gear up for this challenging and
essential step in the City's emergence as a thriving new municipality.
This evolution into a municipal government from the previous unincorporated community
involves the transition of land use/development policy and regulatory/administrative responsibility
from the County of Riverside to the new City of Temecula. While the Southwest Area
Community Plan represents considerable effort and affords some useful guidance in the interim,
it does not speak adequately to the future of a new city.
The time remaining to complete an adequate General Plan and accompanying EIR that is
consistent with state law is 12 months. The Plan must be much more than a response to legal
requirements. The Plan must also capture a vision for the new City that clarifies and unifies its
direction for the future. A further challenge during this period is to'develop a Zoning Code that
properly reflects the policy direction in the Plan.
The purpose of this Guidance Package is to set direction for the planning process to be
accomplished during the next 12 to 15 months so that the schedule can be met with a superior
product in which the City can take pride.
Project guidance will be described in three sections:
PROBLEMS the City faces in shaping its future or which may be encountered in the
planning process which can be identified at this time;
POTENTIALS for positive achievement by the City or strengths available to the planning
process which merit recognition as that process begins; and
PRINCIPLES for conducting the planning process in a cost effective and productive
manner.
These points constitute a mutual understanding between the City and consultant regarding what
is expected from the planning process.
?h e~ Pln n n in a ~.n
CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
PROBLEMS
e
10.
11.
12.
The law prescribes that the General Plan be adopted by June 1, 1992, thus affording little
time to resolve difficult issues which may become evident during the planning process.
An extension of time is possible, but should only be considered as a period for wrapping
up the planning process.
Much of the City is already developed, has development underway or is covered by
specific plans and development agreements, all of which limit the degree of choices
available regarding the physical development pattern.
The Southwest Area Community Plan is advisory only and may not respond to the City's
planning and development priorities, even during the interim period while the General
Plan is being prepared.
The policy/regulatory system inherited from the County is not responsive to the needs of
the City and fails to provide sufficient quality guidance for development.
There is considerable development pressure now, some of which cannot wait for
resolution of the General Plan and Zoning Code for direction, yet which may preclude
certain options if decisions are made before the new Plan takes shape.
The central spine of Interstate (1-15) is overloaded and complicated by a lack of adequate
freeway access which results in a major bottlenecks throughout the City.
Concentration of employment centers in the western portion of the City and residential
development primarily to the east generates considerable traffic movement across the City.
Opportunities for new routes to improve east/west circulation, a new arterial route parallel
to and west of 1-15, and additional connections to 1-15 are limited.
The City is not served by rail, thus placing long term dependence on vehicular access
from the region.
The normal challenges associated with starting up a new municipality consume a great
deal of time and attention on the part of City officials, making efficient use of their time
on General Plan and Zoning Code matters a critical requirement.
Challenging new state and regional program requirements are emerging which demand
City attention, such as the Congestion Management Plan and the Air Quality Management
Plan.
The incorporation of Murietta will inject a dimension of City competition for significant
revenue producing uses as well as territorial jurisdiction.
The Planning C~nt~r .h,h, l'~ 1 oo 1
CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
13.
14.
Provision for recreation areas under County development approval procedures was
inadequate, resulting in a serious shortage of parks.
Inadequate grading standards are responsible for severe terracing of slope areas.
POTENTIALS
The City is now well established and key leadership, advisory and administrative
functions are operating at effective levels.
Though small, the experienced and knowledgeable staff now in place will facilitate
successful collaboration on the planning program.
The limited time within which the General PlarffEIR/Zoning Code must be prepared and
adopted may discourage "excursions" to address topics which are not essential to the type
of General Plan that Temecula needs.
The City has completed a sound mapping program and some land use analysis, which will
provide support for the planning program.
Most of the City is quite new and is generally developed with contemporary quality
features.
The original downtown is the focus of considerable attention and its preservation and
enhancement is broadly supported by the community.
The unique setting and climate of the planning area provide further opportunities for
community enhancement and quality achievement.
A community's most valuable asset--its people--are a well educated and accomplished
population capable of high levels of community involvement and contribution.
The economic base of the City is strong, and compared to many newly incorporated
suburban communities, the economy is particularly healthy.
10.
With its location, accessibility, County Branch Center and economic vitality, the City of
Temecula has the potential for serving as an important regional center in the West
Riverside County/North San Diego County area.
11.
The dynamics of change should provide Temecula with sufficient fiscal resources to
achieve above average levels of service if it chooses to capitalize on the growth forces
it is now experiencing.
CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
PRINCIPLES
The Plan will be completed in time to permit adoption by the legal deadline, unless
otherwise directed by the City. An extension may be pursued at any time during the
planning process as deemed necessary by the City Council to facilitate a superior Plan.
Opportunities will be sought to establish public policies regarding implementation of
existing specific plans and development agreements in such a way that City priorities
reflected in the draft General Plan are accomplished.
The Southwe. q' area Community Plan will be examined and supplemented for interim
guidance on c:,. elopment decisions as well as for adaptation into the new General Plan
where appropriate.
Special attention will be given to improving community access to 1-15 and designing
plans and programs which reduce burdens on those access points as much as possible.
Methods of reducing cross-town automobile and truck traffic will be sought through land
use patterns, alternative transportation modes and demand reduction.
All reasonable possibilities for overcoming the transportation system inadequacies will be
explored, including combinations of measures which reinforce each other.
Criteria for the City's own policy/regulatory system will be developed early in the process
so that a system can be devised whieJa.reaporlds as simply and directly as possible to the
City's needs.
o
A City "Vision Statement" will be developed early in the planning process which, along
with the Southwest Area Community Plan and the "Preferred Land Use Alternative," will
provide interim policy guidance for development decisions.
To the maximum extent possible, joint City Council/Planning Commission work sessions
and frequent staff briefings will keep City officials informed on the General Plan Program
and reduce additional time demands.
10.
Special effort will be made to respond to congestion management and air quality needs
in a cost effective manner as an integral part of the General Plan.
11.
Continued City negotiations with LAFCO and the City of Murietta will provide guidance
to the consultant team on matters of sphere of influence and land use/circulation priorities
within areas of potential City expansion.
12. Alternatives to conventional rail access will be fully explored.
The Plnnntna ~t~nt~r .T~11,~, 1'7 1CICI1
CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
13.
14.
Close coordination between the General Plan consultant and the Parks and Recreation
consultant will occur. Opportunities for joint use of land offering some degree of open
space and recreation value will be fully explored.
Particular attention will be devoted to establishing alternative grading methods that
provide greater sensitivity to the natural land forms.
TEM-01\T~MGOPK. WP
CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
Participation Program for Citizens and City Officials
Roles and Responsibilities
Preliminary Draft - June 4, 1991
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PROGRAM
Purpose of the Program
The City of Temeeula has retained a consultant team (consultant) to assist in the preparation,
analysis and processing of a General Plan/EIR. The City Council considers broad-based
community input to the consultant as essential to the adoption of a sound plan for the City.
Moreover, the Council is specifically interested in knowing the nature and extent of the public's
comments and recommendations throughout the planning process.
The Citizen Participation Program is intended to provide for meaningful input from community
interest groups and individuals as a crucial ingredient in preparing the City's first General Plan.
This is a landmark effort and requires an outstanding level of communication between City
officials, citizens, landowners, and the consultant team. This program offers numerous
opportunities for the public to attend workshops on the General Plan at key milestones during
the plan's preparation. These community outreach meetings include four citywide public
workshops/town hall meetings and four neighborhood meetings to focus attention on issues at the
neighborhood level. Citizens may also provide input during the Planning Commission and City
Council hearing process.
Program Objectives
The Citizen Participation Program has been designed to accomplish the following objectives:
To ensure that the consultant is aware of and understands community concerns, values
and expectations;
To assist the consultant in identifying critical issues that must be addressed in the General
Plan process;
To identify areas of existing or potential conflicts among the various community interests
and assist in finding ways to constructively resolve such conflicts;
4. To foster credibility for the preferred plan when it is prepared;
To keep community organizations and interested citizens informed about the status of the
General Plan process;
CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
6. To capitalize on creative ideas and insights within the Temecula community for input into
the General Plan;
7. To avoid duplication of effort by linking this planning process with other relevant
planning activities that may be underway; and
8. To provide the maximum possible opportunity for citizens in Temecula to voice their
opinions about the future of their City.
What the Citizen Participation Program Is
1. A source of insight on the community, its interests and expectations;
2. A source of ideas to achieve a responsible and responsive plan;
3. A vehicle for achieving a sampling of community opinions and attitudes;
4. A sounding board for ideas and plan proposals;
5. A vehicle for communication to and from the General Plan process; and
6. A means of influencing the planning process to yield a sound plan for the City of
Temecula.
What the Citizen Participation Program Is Not
1. A replacement for either the City Council, Planning Commission or other formally
established advisory bodies;
2. A decision making process, except as it may offer advice to the consultant;
3. A directorate for either the staff or the consultant;
4. A forum for political position taking; nor
5. A substitute for the public hearing process required by law.
CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
Participating Citizen Responsibilities
1. Identify citizen interests and concerns;
2 Become knowledgeable about the issues, General Plan goals and policies from an
individual and city-wide standpoint;
3. Discuss the plan with friends, neighbors, business associates and others in the community
to expand awareness and generate interest in the plan's preparation;
4. Bring suggestions and potential problems to the consultant's attention at the earliest
possible time;
5. Provide prompt feedback to the consultant on draft reports and plan components made
available for consideration;
6. Respect the rights of others to hold differing viewpoints, and listen to comments - there
may be merits to other's arguments; and
7. Most importantly, seek positive solutions that will bring the community together.
CITY OFFICIAL PARTICIPATION PROGRAM
Joint City Council/Planning Commissioner Role and Responsibilities
Six workshops have been scheduled with the City Council and Planning Commission jointly to
discuss important aspects of the plan at key stages in the process. These workshops are intended
to keep the two major decisionmaking bodies in the community continuously involved in the
General Plan's preparation so that the public hearing process is as productive and efficient as
possible. The Council and Commission will not be called upon to render formal decisions at the
workshops, however, the members will be asked to provide direction on issues, policies,
implementation mechanisms and other aspects of the program. These workshops should be
conducted in a "roundtable" format to facilitate consensus building.
During the first workshop, the consultant will provide an overview of the general plan process
and schedule, seek input on a "Vision" for the community and assist the public officials in
identifying the issues and opportunities to be addressed in the General Plan elements.
The second joint workshop is scheduled to occur after the four neighborhood meetings are
conducted. During this second workshop, issues will be examined further based on the
neighborhood meetings and the existing conditions analysis completed by the consultants. The
purpose of this second workshop is also to begin formulating goals and policies for the General
Plan elements and to reach a consensus on the Vision Statement for Temecula.
The Plannin~ C~_ntor
CITY OF TEMECUI.,A General Plan Program
Planning Commissioners and City Council members will evaluate three land use alternatives for
the General Plan during the third joint workshop. Workshop members will evaluate the
alternatives based on the Vision Statement, economic/fiscal analyses, infrastructure analyses,
traffic analyses, and environmental impacts. The objective of this meeting is for the Council and
Planning Commission to provide the consultants with sufficient direction to prepare the preferred
land use and circulation plans.
The draft preferred land use plan and circulation plan will be presented at the fourth joint
workshop. The focus of this meeting is to informally review and refine the draft plans and
receive public commentary. Selection of a preferred plan provides the basis for drafting the
General Plan elements, environmental impact report, and Zoning Code.
The fifth joint workshop will occur as soon as the Preliminary Draft General Plan is available
for public review and comment. Based on the direction given by the Council and Planning
Commissioners, the documents will be revised for a final workshop review prior to the start of
the hearing process. This six joint workshop will also include a discussion of the public hearing
schedule.
Technical Subcommittee Member Role and Responsibilities
Five Technical Subcommittees will be created for this General Plan process in such areas as Land
Use, Traffic and Circulation, Growth Management, Economic Development, and Community
Design. The Technical Subcommittee members will meet twice with the consultant and staff at
key points in the plan's preparation to accomplish the following:
1. Provide direction and expertise in the subeommittee's area of focus to address major
issues;
Review all background analyses, issue papers, draft goals, policies and
implementation measures in order to evaluate land use alternatives;
Provide direction to the consultant for development of the preferred land use alternative;
and
4. Review and critique the draft General Plan elements and EIR.
Monthly Management Meeting Member Role and Responsibilities
On a monthly basis and at critical stages in the proce,~, the consultant will meet with planning
staff and key City staff people to review the schedule and progress on the plan. The meetings
will typically function as a trouble-shooting session to keep the General Plan Program on
schedule. The meetings will also function as working sessions to identify realistic General Plan
implementation measures that work best for Temecula. Staff members will also provide input
and direction on the General Plan's format to ensure that it is a "user-friendly" document. Staff
members are expected to have reviewed all documents and maps pertinent to the meeting.
CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
City Staff Responsibilities
1. Review and finalize agendas prepared by the consultant for public meetings;
Copy and mail out meeting notices, final agendas, and materials for scheduled public
meetings;
Coordinate with the consultant in establishing and maintaining a workable meeting
schedule;
Maintain a General Plan Correspondence Log to document all mail received conceming
the General Plan. Copies of such mail should be distributed to the General Plan
Coordinating Committee, City Council, Planning Commission, and consultant;
Respond as necessary to public inquiries received by mail or phone, outside of scheduled
public meetings;
6. Review draft documents in a timely manner;
Review and comment on newsletters prepared by the consultant. Assist in preparing the
newsletter distribution list; and
Coordinate with the consultant in selecting the "opinion leaders" to be interviewed as pan
of Phase 2 of the General Plan Program.
Consultant Responsibilities
1. Draft public notic~ and agendas for staff review, approval and reproduction;
Prepare meeting materials for presentation and review;
Provide document and map originals to the Planning Director for reproduction and
distribution;
Facilitate meetings by briefing participants on the materials at hand and responding to
questions; and
Review citizen input to the draft plans.
Arrange for meeting places and facilities in conjunction with City Staff.
TEM-OI\TEMROLF~
C I T Y O F T E
G E N E R A L P L A N
M E C U
P R O G
L
A
PROJECT TEAM
Planning Consultant
The Planning Center
1300 Dove Street, Suite 100
Newport Beach, CA 92660
TEL (714) 851-9444
FAX (714) 851-9548
Susan DeSantis - Sr. Project Manager
Traffic Consultants
Wilbur Smith Associates
3600 Lime Street, Suite 226
Riverside, CA 92501
TEL (714) 274-0566
FAX (714) 274-9220
Tom Cooney - Vice President
Economic Development and
Fiscal Analysis
Stanley R. Hoffman Associates
11661 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 505
'Los Angeles, CA 90049
TEL (213) 820-2680
FAX (213) 820-8341
1300 Bristol Street N., Suite 290
Newport Beach, CA 92660
TEL (714) 7524741
FAX (714) 752-8286
Stan Hoffman - Principal (L.A. Office)
Infrastructure/Safety
NBS/Lowry
40925 County Center Dr., Ste. 120
Temecula, CA 92390-6012
TEL (714) 676-6225
FAX (714) 676-7976
1545 W. Florida Ave., P.O. Box 5
Hemet, CA 92343-3814
TEL (714) 658-7116
FAX (714) 652-8804
Matt Brudin - Project Manager
Local Facilitator
Deborah Parks, AICP
27475 Ynez Road, Suite 234
Temecula, CA 92390
TEL (714) 699-6492
FAX (714) 699-6492
Deborah Parks, AICP
TF. M4)I~ROJTP..AM
T H E P L A N N I N G C E N T E R
CITY OF TEMECU-LA
DRAFT GENERAL PLAN OUTLINE
Volume I - General Plan Policy Document
I. General Plan Overview
A. General Plan Preparation Process
B. Summary of Existing Conditions
C. Summary of Opportunities and Constraints
D. Key Goals, Policies and Implementation Measures
II. Introduction
A. City of Temecula - Old Traditions/New Opportunities
B. Purpose of the General Plan
C. State Requirements
D. Relationship to Other Planning Documents
E. General Plan Organization
F. General Plan Monitoring and Amendment Procedures
Ill. Community Vision Statement
IV. Land Use Element
A. Overview of Conditions and Issues
B Goals, Policies and Implementation Measures
C. Land Use Plan
V. Circulation Element
A- Overview of Conditions and Issues
B. Goals, Policies and Implementation Measures
C. Circulation Plan
VI. Open Space/Conservation Element
A. Overview of Conditions and Issues
1. Biological Resources
2. Water Resources
3. Energy Conservation
4. Historic and Cultural Resources
5. Open Space Resources
6. Parks and Recreation
7. Mineral Resources
8. Agricultural Resources
B. Goals, Policies and Implementation Measures
Irdrastructure/Services Element
A. Overview of Conditions and Issues
1. Water and Wastewater Service
2. Solid Waste
3. Crime Prevention Services
4. Educational Facilities
5. Library Facilities
6. Civic/Cultural Facilities
B. Goals, Policies and Implementation Measures
Seismic/Public Safety Element
A. Overview o/~ Conditions and Issues
1. Flood Hazards
2. Hazardous Waste
3. Geologic and Seismic Hazards
4. Fire Hazards
5. Emergency Preparedness
B. Goals, Policies and Implementation Measures
Noise Element
A. Overview of Conditions and Issues
B. Goals, Policies and Implementation Measures
Housing Element
A. Housing Needs Assessment
B. Housing Resources and Constraints Analysis
C. Goals, Policies and Implementation Measures
Air Quality Element
A. Background on State and Federal Requirements
B. Regional and Local Conditions and Issues
C. Goals, Polices and Implementation Measures
Economic Development Element
A. Summary of Background Data & Analysis
B. Issues and Strategies
C. Goals, Policies and Implementation Measures
D. Relationship to Other General Plan Goals and Strategies
2
XV.
Community Design Element
A. Overview of Conditions and Issues
B. Opportunity Area Analysis
C. Goals, Policies and Implementation Measures
Growth Management Element
A. Overview of Conditions and Issues
B. Growth Management Strategy
C. Goals, Policies and Implementation Measures
General Plan Consistency Program
Volume H - General Plan Technical Reoorts and EIR
I. Introduction
A. Purpose of Volume II
B. Organization
C. Relationship to Volume I - General Plan Policy Document
II. General Plan Issue Papers
III.
General Plan Environmental Impact Report
A. Executive Summary
B. Introduction
C. Description of Proposed Project
D. Description of the Environmental Setting
1. Land Use
2. Traffic/Circulation
3. Population, Housing and Employment
4. Air Quality
5. Noise
6. Fiscal
7. Geology/Seismicity
8. Hydrology
9. Risk of Upset/Safety
10. Plant/Animal Life
11. Utilities
12. Recreation
13. Aesthetics
E Significant Unavoidable Adverse Impacts
G. Cumulative Impacts
H. Alternatives to the Proposed Project
3
IV.
I. Impact Found Not to be Significant
I. Relationship Between Local Short-Time Uses of Man's
Maintenance
K. Enhancement of Long Term Productivity
L. Irrevers?ole and Irretrievable Commitment to Natural Resources
M. Growth Inducing Impacts of the Proposed Action
Technical Appendices
A. Circulation
B. Housing
C. Fiscal Impact Analysis
D. Infrastructure
E. Noise
Environment and
Volume Ill - General Plan Imolementation and Monitorira, Stratei~tv
I. General Plan Element Implementation Matrix
General Plan EIR Monitoring Program
Volume IV - Exiatimz Conditions Reoort/Master Environmental Assessment
I. Introduction
· H. Physical Resources
A. Biological Resources
B. Water Resources
C. Natural Resources
D. Earth Resources
E. Visual/Aesthetic Resources
F. Cultural/Paleontological Resources
III. Physical Environment
A. Air Quality
B. Noise
C. Transportation/Circulation
D. Land Use
E. Risk of Upset/Human Health Hazards
IV. Socio-Economic Conditions
A. Population Characteristics
4
.... B. Housing Characteristics
Public Services and Utilities
A. Public Services
B. Utilities
C. Energy
TEM-O i'~GPOUTLI N
CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
THE CITY GENERAL PLAN:
BACKGROUND AND REQUIREMENTS
A General Plan is a comprehensive document which provides a basis for decisions regarding
Temecula's future physical development and character. The General Plan provides an overall
vision if the City and is used by City Officials to guide actions in accordance with the adopted
goals, policies and programs. As such, the role of the General Plan is that of a "constitution" for
development, or a foundation on which to base land use decisions. The General Plan expresses
the community's development goals, including public policy, regarding the type, distribution and
intensity of both public and private land uses.
According to State Law, the General Plan is the primary document required of a City as a baals
for regulating land use. Consequently, the Zoning Ordinance, future Specific Plans and any
development proposals in the City must be consistent with the goals, policies, and standards
contained in the Temecula General Plan. In addition, all City capital improvements and public
works projects must be consistent with the General Plan.
The Temecula General Plan will consist of an integrated and internally consistent set of goals,
policies and standards designed to address City issues and achieve the Community Vision.
Goals and policies guiding the City's physical development will respond to topic~ required in the
California Government Code in the form of "Elements" or Chapters of the General Plan
document. The following information, derived from the State General Plan Guidelines, describes
the requirements for each of the mandated elements: Land Use, Circulation, Housing,
Consedation, Open Space, Noise and Safety. '~ae C0n~ervation and Open Space elements will
be consolidated in the Temecula General Plan; the remaining elements will be prepared as
discrete components. The City of Temecula General Plan will also contain five optional elements
as permitted by State Law: Infrastructure/Services, Air Quality, Economic Development,
Community Design and Growth Management.
The Land Use Element designates the general distribution and intensity of uses
of the land for housing, business, industry, open space, education, public buildings
and grounds, waste disposal facilities, and other categories of public and private
The Circulation Element is correlated with the land use clement and identifies
the general location and extent of existing and proposed major thorough.fares,
transportation routes, terminals, and other local public utilities and facilities.
The Housing Element is a comprehensive assessment of current and projected
housing needs for all segments of the community and all economic groups. In
addition, it embodies policy for providing adequate housing and includes action
programs for this purpose.
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CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
The Conservation Element addresses the conservation, development, and use of
natural resources including water, forests, soils, rivers, and mineral deposits.
The Open-Space Element details plans and measures for preserving open space
for natural resources, the managed production of resources, outdoor recreation,
public health and safety, and the identification of agricultural land.
The Noise Element identifies and appraises noise problems within the community
and forms the basis for land use distribution.
The Safety Element establishes policies and programs to protect the community
from risks associated with seismic, geologic, flood, and wildfire hazards.
LAND USE ELEMENT
Pertinent California Code Sections
Government Code Section 65301(a): [the general plan shall include] a land use element which
designates the proposed general distribution and general location and extent of the uses of the
land for housing, business, industry, open space, including agriculture, natural resources,
recreation, and enjoyment of scenic beauty, education, public buildings and grounds, solid and
liquid waste disposal facilities, and other categories of public and private uses of land. The land
use element shall include a statement of the standards of population density and building intensity
recommended for the various districts and other territory covered by the plan. The land use
element shall identify areas covered by the plan which are subject to flooding and shall be
reviewed annually with respect to those areas. The land use element shall designate, in a land
use category that provides for timber production, those parcels of real property zoned for
timberland production pursuant to the California Timberland Productivity Act of 1982, Chapter
6.7 (commencing with Section 51100) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5.
The land use element should address each of the following issues to the extent that it is relevant:
Distribution of housing, business and industry;
Distribution of open space, including agricultural land;
Distribution of mineral resources and provisions for their continued availability;
Distribution of recreation facilities and opportunities;
Location of educational facilities;
Location of future solid and liquid waste facilities;
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CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
Identification of areas subject to flooding; and
Identification of existing Timberland Preserve Zone lands.
CIRCULATION ELEMENT
Pertinent Government Code Sections
Government Code Section 65302(b): [The general plan shall include] a circulation element
consisting of the general location and extent of existing and proposed major thoroughfares,
transportation routes, terminals, and other local public utilities and facilities, all correlated with
the land use element of the plan.
Relevant Issues
Although the list of mandatory circulation element issues is relatively short, it is, nevertheless,
encompassing. Issues such as "tran-~portation routes" and "other local public utilities and
facilities" could, depending upon the local situation, cover a wide variety of topics. Mandatory
circulation issues are:
Major thoroughfares
Transportation routes
Terminals
Other local public utilities and f.a¢i!!ti.es .
HOUSING ELEMENT
Pertinent Government Code Sections
Government Code Section 65583:Th6 housing element shall consist of an identification and
analysis of existing and projected housing needs and a statement of goals, policies, quantified
objectives, and scheduled programs for the preservation, improvement, and development of
housing. The housing element shall identify adequate sites for housing, including rental housing,
factory-built housing, and mobile homes, and shall make adequate provision for the existing and
projected needs of all economic s%n~ents of the community...
Relevant Issues and Required Data and Analysis
The following aspects of data and analysis for housing elements are based on State law's housing
element requirements. The relevant Government Code Sections are cited. For further guidance,
consult the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
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CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
Assessment of Immediate Homing Needs (Section 65583(a))
Number of existing. households and housing units.
Level of payment compared to ability to pay: the number of very low and lower income
households occupying units at a cost greater than 25 percent of their gross household income;
and co'mparison of the income distribution of low and moderate income households in the
community to the range of costs of housing units for sale and for rent in the community.
Ovemrowding: the number of households living in overcrowded conditions (1.01 or more
persons per room).
Housing stock conditions: the number of households living in housing units needing
rehabilitation or replacement, identified separately for owner-occupied and renter-occupied units.
Special needs: assessment of the special needs of large families; farmworkers; the elderly; the
handicapped; families with female head of households; the homeless; the other groups the
community deem appropriate (e.g. people displaced as a result of public activities).
Projected new construction needs (Section 65584)
Analysis of population and employment trends and quantification of existing and projected
housing needs (e.g., five years) for all income levels (e.g., very low, other lower, moderate, above
moderate). Existing and projected housing needs must include the City's or county's share of
the regional housing needs (calculated by the area council of governments) and take into.
consideration six factors:
(1) Housing market demand.
(2) Employment opportunities
(3) Availability of suitable sites and' facilities.
(4) Commuting patterns.
(5) Type and tenure of housing needed.
(6) Farmworker housing needs
Analysis of existing and potential sites for housing of all t3rpes in the jurisdiction (Section
65583, and 65583(a))
Survey of vacant residential zoned land, including assessment of dwelling unit capacity and
availability of infrastructure.
TFi'E~ PLANNING CENTER 4
CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
Survey of existing and potential redevelopment sites.
Survey of other sit~ suitable for residential development (e.g., public surplus land, under-utilized
residential, commercial, and industrial areas, mixed use areas).
Identify.. adequate sites to "meet the community's housing goals", including making "adequate
provision for the existing and projected needs of all economic segments of the community".
Assessment of actual and potential government and non-governmental constraints on the
maintenance, improvement, and development of housing for all income levels (Section
65583(a)(4) and (5))
Local land use controls and development standards (e.g., lot sizes, density, unit sizes, height
limits, lot coverage, etc.).
Local building codes and their enforcement.
On-and off-site improvements required of developers.
Local processing procedures, including zoning changes, use permits, building permits,
environmental clearances, and any other types of permits, approvals, or clearances required prior
to construction or rehabilitation of a housing development.
Local fees and other exactions required prior to construction or rehabilitation of a housing,
including availability of financing, price of land, and costs of construction.
Analysis of the opportunities for energy conservation in residential development (Section
~SS~(a)(7))
Opportunities in the design and construction of individual units.
Opportunities in the design of subdivisions.
Assessment of the effect of energy conservation measures on the cost of housing in the long run.
Proximity of proposed residential development to employment centers, schools and other services
and availability of transit services.
CONSERVATION ELEMENT
Pertinent California Code Sections
Govemment Code Section 65302(d): [the general plan shall include] a conservation element for
the conservation, development, and utilization of natural resources including water and its
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CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
hydraulic force, forests, soils, rivers and other waters, harbors, fisheries, wildlife, minerals, and
other natural resources. That. portion of the conservation element including waters shall be
developed in coordination with any countywide water agency and with all district and city
agencies which have developed, served, controlled or conserved water for any purpose for the
county or city for which the plan is prepared. The conservation element may also cover:
(1) The reclamation of land and waters.
(2) Prevention and control of the pollution of streams and other waters.
(3)
Regulation of the use of land in stream channels and other areas required for the
accomplishment of the conservation plan.
(4) Prevention, control, and correction of the erosion of soils, beache~, shorn.
(5) Protection of watersheds.
(6) The location, quantity and quality of the rock, sand and gravel resources.
(7) Flood control.
The conservation element shall be prepared and adopted no later than December 31, 1973.
Relevant Issues
To the'extent applicable, the following issues must be 'added by a city's or county's
conservation element with regard to the conservation, development, and utilization of uatural
· Water and its hydraulic force;
· Forests;
· Soils;
· Rivers and other waters;
· Harbors;
· Fisheries;
· Wildlife;
· Minerals; and
· Other natural resources.
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CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
OPEN SPACE ELEi~.aNT
Pertinent California Code Sections
Government Code Section 65302(e): [The General Plan shall include] an open-space element
as provided in Article 10.5 (commencing with [Government Code] Section 65560).
Government Code Section 65560: (a) "Local open-space plan" is the open-space element of
a county or city general plan adopted by the board or council, either as the local open-space plan
or as the interim local open-space plan adopted pursuant to Section 65563.
(b) "Open-space land" is any parcel or area of land or water which is essentially unimproved and
devoted to an open-space use as defined in this section, and which is desiguated on a local,
regional or state open-space plan as any of the following:
(1)
Open space for the preservation of natural resources including, but not limited to,
areas required for the preservation of plant and animal life, including habitat for
fish and wildlife species; areas required for ecologic and other scientific study
purposes; rivers, streams, bays and estuaries; and coastal beaches, lakeshores,
banks of rivers and streams, and watershed lands.
Open space used for the managed production of resources, including but not
limited to, forest lands, rangeland, agricultural lands and areas of economic
importance for the production of food or fiber; areas required for recharge of
ground water basins; bays, estuaries, marshes, river~ and fisheries; and areas
containing major mineral deposits, including those in short supply.
(3)
Open space for outdoor recreation, including but not limited to, areas of
outstanding scenic, historic and cultural value; areas particularly suited for park
and recreation purposes, including access to lakeshores, beaches, and fivers and
streams; and areas which serve as links between major recreation and open-space
reservations, including utility easements, banks of rivers and streams, trails, and
scenic highway corridors.
(4)
Open space for public health and safety, including, but not limited to, areas which
required special management or regulation because of hazardous or special
conditions such as earthquake fault zones, unstable soil areas, flood plains,
watersheds, areas presenting high fire risks, 'areas required for the protection of
water quality and water reservoirs and areas required for the protection and
enforcement of air quality.
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CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
Government Code Section 65561: The Legislature finds and declares a~ follows:
(a)
That the preservation of open space land, as defined in this article, is necessary not only
for the maintenance of the economy of the state, but also for the assurance of the
continued availability of land for the production of food and fiber, for the enjoyment of
scenic beauty, for recreation and for the use of natural resources.
(b)
That discouraging premature and unnecessary conversion of open space land to urban uses
is a matter of public interest and will be of benefit to urban dwellers because it will
discourage noncontiguous development patterns which unnecessarily increase the costs
of community services to community residents.
(c)
That the anticipated increase in the population of the state demands that cities, counties,
and the state at the earliest possible date make definite plans for the preservation of
valuable open space land and take positive action to carry out such plans by the adoption
and strict administration of laws, ordinances, rules and regulations as authorized by this
chapter or by other appropriate methods.
(d)
That in order to assure that the interest of all its people are met in the orderly growth and
development of the state and the preservation and conservation of its resources, it is
necessary to provide for the development by the state, regional agencies, counties and
cities, including charter cities, of statewide coordinated plans for the conservation and
preservation of open space lands.
(e)
That for these reasons this article is .necessary for the promotion of the general welfare
and for the protection of the public interest i'n open space lmad.
Government Code Section 65562: It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this article:
(a)
To assure that cities and counties recognize that open space land is a limited and valuable
resource which must be conserved wherever possible.
(b)
To assure that every city and county will prepare and carry out open space plans which,
along with state and regional open space plans, will accomplish the objectives of a
comprehensive open space program.
Government Code Section 65563: On or before December 3, 1973, every city and county shall
prepare, adopt and submit to the Secretary of the Resources Agency a local open space plan for
the comprehensive and long-range preservation and conservation of open space land within its
jurisdiction...
Government Code Section 65564: Every local open space plan shall contain an action program
consisting of specific programs which the legislative body intends to pursue in implementing its
open space plan.
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CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
Government Code Section 65566: Any action by a county or city by which open space land
or any interest therein is acquired or disposed of or its use restricted there in is acquired or
disposed of or its .use restricted or regulated, whether or not pursuant to this part, must be
consistent with the local open-space plan.
Government Code Section 65567: No building permit may be issued, no subdivision map
approved, and no open space zoning ordinance adopted, unless the proposed construction,
subdivision or ordinance is consistent with the local open space plan.
Public Resources Code Section 5067: In developing the open space element of a general plan
as specified in subdivision (e) of Section 65302 of the Government Code, every city and county
shall consider demands for trail-oriented recreational use and shall consider such demands in
developing specific open space programs. Further, every city, county, and district shall consider
the feasibility of integrating i~a trail routes with appropriate segments of the state system.
The issues addressed by an open space element are listed in subdivision Co) of Government Code
Section 65560 and Public Resources Code Section 5076. With regard to Section 65560 such
issues include any of the following:
· Open space for the preservation of natural resources including, but not limited to:
Areas required for the preservation of plant and animal life including
habitat for fish and wildlife;
Areas required for ecologic and other scientific ,study;
Rivers, streams, bays and estuaries; and,
Coastal beaches, lakeshore~, banks of rivers and streams, and watersheds;
Open space use for the managed production of resources, including but not limited
to:
Forest lands, rangeland, agricultural lands and areas of economic
importance for the production of food or fiber;
Areas required for recharge of ground water basins;
Bays, estuaries, marshes, rivers and streams which are important for the
management of commercial fisheries; and,
Areas containing major mineral deposits, including those in short supply.
THE PLANNING CENTER 9
CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
· Open space for outdoor recreation, including but not limited to:
Areas of outstanding scenic, historic and cultural value;
Areas particularly suited for park and recreation purposes, including access
to lakeshores, beaches, and rivers and streams;
Areas which serve as links between major recreation and open space
reservations, including utility easements, banks of rivers and streams, trails,
and scenic highways corridors.
· Open space for public health and safety, including, but not limited to:
Areas that require special management or regulation because of hazardous
or special conditions such as earthquake fault zones, unstable soil areas,
flood plains, watersheds, areas pre~enting high fire risks, areas required for
the protection of water quality and water reservoirs and areas required for
the protection and enhancement of air quality.
Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 5076, cities and counties in developing their open
space elements are required to consider the following issues.
Demands for trail-oriented recreational use. (Cities and counties must consider
such demands in developing specific open-sauce programs.)
The feasibility of integrating dity and eounty trail routes with appropriate segments
of the California Recreational Trails System. (See the California Recreational
Trails Act, commencing with Public Resources Code Section 5070).
NOISE ELEMENT
Pertinent Government Code Sections
Government Code Section 65302(0: [The general plan shall include] a noise element which
shall identify and appraise noise problems in the community. The noise element shall recognize
the guidelines adopted by the Office of Noise Control in the State Department of Health Services
and shall analyze and quantify, to the extent practicable, as determined by the legislative body,
current and projected noise levels for all of the following sources:
(1) Highways and freeways.
(2) Primary arterials and major local streets.
(3) Passenger and freight on-line railroad operations and ground rapid transit systems.
TI-II~ PLANNING CENTER 10
CITY OF TEMECULA General Plan Program
(4)
Commercial, general aviation, heliport, helistop, and military airport opcrations, aircraft
overflights, jet engine test stands, and all other ground facilities and maintenance
functions related to airport operation.
(5) Local industrial plants, including, but not limited to, railroad classification yards.
(6)
Other ground stationary noise sources identified by local agencies as contributing to the
community noise environment.
Noise contours shall be shown for all of these sources and stated in terms of community noise
equivalent level (CNEL) or day-night average level (Ldn). The noise contours shall be prepared
on the basis of noise monitoring or following generally accepted noise modeling techniques for
the various sources identified in paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive.
The noise contours shall be used as a guide for establishing a pattern of land uses in the land use
element that minimizes the exposure of community residents to excessive noise.
The noise element shall include implementation measures and possible solutions that address
existing and foreseeable noise problems, if any. The adopted noise element shall serve as a
guideline for compliance with the state's noise insulation standards.
Government Code Section 65303: The general plan may...address any other subjects which,
in the judgment of the legislative body, relate to the physical development of the county or city.
Relevant Issues
The contents of the noise element will vary between local jurisdictions. A local element should
accurately reflect the noise environment, the stationary sources of noise, and the impacts of noise
on local residents. Based upon the "shoe fits". doctrine, the noise element will be as detailed as
necessary to describe the local situation and mitigate local noise problems. Issues include:
· Identification and appraisal of major noise sources;
· Existing and projected levels of noise and noise contours for major noise sources;
· Determination of the extent of '*noise problems in the community;" and
Selection and imposition of methods of noise attenuation and the protection of
residences ~om excess noise.
THE PLANNING CENTER 11
CITY OF TEMECUI.~ General Plan Program
SAFETY ELEMENT
Pertinent Government Code Sections
Government Code Section 65302(g): [The general plan shall include] a safety element for the
protection of the community from any unreasonable risks associated with the effects of
seismic'ally induced surface rupture, ground shaking, ground failure, tsunami, seiche, and dam
failure; slope instability leading to mudslides and landslides; subsidence and other geologic
hazards known to the legislative body; flooding; and wildland and urban fires. The safety
element shall include mapping of known seismic and other geologic hazards. It shall also address
evacuation routes, peakload water supply requirements, and minimum road widths and clearances
around structures, as those items relate to identified fire and geologic hazards.
To the extent that a county's safety element is sufficiently detailed and contains appropriate
policies and programs for adoption by a city, a city may adopt that portion of the eounty's safety
element that pertains to the city's planning area in satisfaction of the requirement imposed by this
subdivision.
Each county and city shall submit to the Division of Mines and Geology of the Department of
Conservation one copy of the safety element and any technical studies used for developing the
safety element.
Government Code Section 65303: The general plan may...address any other subjects which,
in the judgment of the legislative body, relate to the physical development of the county or city.
Goverfiment Code Section 8876: A program is hereby established within all cities, both general
law and chartered, and all counties and portions thereof located within seismic zone 4, as defined
and illustrated in Chapter 2-23 of Part 2 of Title 24 of the California Administrative Coded, to
identify all potentially hazardous buildings and to establish a program for mitigation of identified
potentially hazardous buildings.
Relevant Issues
The safety element must cover the following issues to the extent that they pertain to the
community:
The effects of seismically induces surface rupture, ground shaking, ground failure,
tsunami, seiche, and dam failure;
The effects of slope instability leading to mudslides and landslides, subsidence,
and other geologic hazards known to the legislative body;
Mapping of known seismic and other geologic hazards;
TWF PLANNING CENTER 12
CITY OF TEMECUI.,A General Plan Program
· Flooding; and
Identification and appraisal of evacuation routes, peakload water supply
requirements, and minimum road widths as they relate to identified fire and
geologic hazards.
TE~-0B, GPBKORD. PR~
THE PLANNING CENTER 13
i