Harvest Valley / Winchester
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Special Note on Implementing the Vision
Hemet Ryan Airport Influence Area
March Air Reserve Base Airport Influence Area
Diamond Valley Lake Policy Area
Winchester Road/Newport Road Policy Area
Mount Palomar Nighttime Lighting
Third and Fifth Supervisorial District Design Standards and Guidelines
Community and Environmental Transportation Acceptability Process (CETAP) Corridors
Watersheds, Floodplains, and Watercourses
Proposed Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan
LIST OF FIGURES
5: Hemet Ryan Airport Influence Policy Area
6: March Air Reserve Base Airport Influence Policy Area
7: Mt. Palomar Nighttime Lighting Policy
LIST OF TABLES
1: Land Use Designations Summary
2: Statistical Summary of the Harvest Valley/Winchester Area Plan
3: Adopted Specific Plans in the Harvest Valley/Winchester Area Plan
4: Land Use Compatibility Guidelines for Airport Safety Zones for Hemet Ryan Airport
| The County of Riverside General Plan and Area Plans have been shaped by the RCIP Vision. Following is a summary of the Vision Statement that includes many of the salient points brought forth by the residents of Eastvale as well as the rest of the County of Riverside. The RCIP Vision reflects the County of Riverside in the year 2020. So, "fast forward" yourself to 2020 and here is what it will be like. |
"Riverside County is a family of special communities in a remarkable environmental setting."
It is now the year 2020. This year (incidentally, also a common reference to clear vision), is an appropriate time to check our community vision. Twenty years have passed since we took an entirely new look at how the County of Riverside was evolving. Based on what we saw, we set bold new directions for the future. As we now look around and move through the County, the results are notable. They could happen only in response to universal values strongly held by the people. Some of those values are:
• Real dedication to a sense of community;
• Appreciation for the diversity of our people and places within this expansive landscape;
• Belief in the value of participation by our people in shaping their communities;
• Confidence in the future and faith that our long term commitments will pay off;
• Willingness to innovate and learn from our experience;
• Dedication to the preservation of the environmental features that frame our communities;
• Respect for our differences and willingness to work toward their resolution;
• Commitment to quality development in partnership with those who help build our communities;
• The value of collaboration by our elected officials in conducting public business.
Those values and the plans they inspired have brought us a long way. True, much remains to be done. But our energies and resources are being invested in a unified direction, based on the common ground we have affirmed many times during the last 20 years. Perhaps our achievements will help you understand why we believe we are on the right path.
Population Growth
The almost doubling of our population in only 20 years has been a challenge, but we have met it by focusing that growth in areas that are well served by public facilities and services or where they can readily be provided. Major transportation corridors serve our communities and nearby open space preserves help define them. Our growth focus is on quality, not quantity. That allows the numbers to work for us and not against us. We enjoy an unprecedented clarity regarding what areas must not be developed and which ones should be developed. The resulting pattern of growth concentrates development in key areas rather than spreading it uniformly throughout the County. Land is used more efficiently, communities operate at more of a human scale, and transit systems to supplement the automobile are more feasible. In fact, the customized "Oasis" transit system now operates quite successfully in several cities and communities.
Our Communities and Neighborhoods
Our choices in the kind of community and neighborhood we prefer is almost unlimited here. From sophisticated urban villages to quality suburban neighborhoods to spacious rural enclaves, we have them all. If you are like most of us, you appreciate the quality schools and their programs that are the centerpiece of many of our neighborhoods. Not only have our older communities matured gracefully, but we boast several new communities as well. They prove that quality of life comes in many different forms.
Housing
We challenge you to seek a form of housing or a range in price that does not exist here. Our housing choices, from rural retreat to suburban neighborhood to exclusive custom estate are as broad as the demand for housing requires. Choices include entry level housing for first time buyers, apartments serving those not now in the buying market, seniors' housing, and world class golf communities. You will also find "smart" housing with the latest in built-in technology as well as refurbished historic units. The County of Riverside continues to draw people who are looking for a blend of quality and value.
Transportation
It is no secret that the distances in this vast County can be a bit daunting. Yet, our transportation system has kept pace amazingly well with the growth in population, employment and tourism and their demands for mobility. We are perhaps proudest of the new and expanded transportation corridors that connect growth centers throughout the County. They do more than provide a way for people and goods to get where they need to be. Several major corridors have built-in expansion capability to accommodate varied forms of transit. These same corridors are designed with a high regard for the environment in mind, including providing for critical wildlife crossings so that our open spaces can sustain their habitat value.
Conservation and Open Space Resources
The often-impassioned conflicts regarding what lands to permanently preserve as open space are virtually resolved. The effort to consider our environmental resources, recreation needs, habitat systems, and visual heritage as one comprehensive, multi-purpose open space system has resulted in an unprecedented commitment to their preservation. In addition, these spaces help to form distinctive edges to many of our communities or clusters of communities. What is equally satisfying is that they were acquired in a variety of creative and equitable ways.
Air Quality
It may be hard to believe, but our air quality has actually improved slightly despite the phenomenal growth that has occurred in the region. Most of that growth, of course, has been in adjacent counties and we continue to import their pollutants. We are on the verge of a breakthrough in technical advances to reduce smog from cars and trucks. Not only that, but our expanded supply of jobs reduces the need for people here to commute as far as in the past.
Jobs and Economy
In proportion to population, our job growth is spectacular. Not only is our supply of jobs beyond any previously projected level, it has become quite diversified. Clusters of new industries have brought with them an array of jobs that attract skilled labor and executives alike. We are particularly enthusiastic about the linkages between our diversified business community and our educational system. Extensive vocational training programs, coordinated with businesses, are a constant source of opportunities for youth and those in our labor force who seek further improvement.
Agricultural Lands
Long a major foundation of our economy and our culture, agriculture remains a thriving part of the County of Riverside. While we have lost some agriculture to other forms of development, other lands have been brought into agricultural production. We are still a major agricultural force in California and compete successfully in the global agricultural market.
Educational System
Quality education, from pre-school through graduate programs, marks the County of Riverside as a place where educational priorities are firmly established. A myriad of partnerships involving private enterprise and cooperative programs between local governments and school districts are in place, making the educational system an integral part of our communities.
Plan Integration
The coordinated planning for multi-purpose open space systems, community based land use patterns, and a diversified transportation system has paid off handsomely. Integration of these major components of community building has resulted in a degree of certainty and clarity of direction not commonly achieved in the face of such dynamic change.
Financial Realities
From the very beginning, our vision included the practical consideration of how we would pay for the qualities our expectations demanded. Creative, yet practical financing programs provide the necessary leverage to achieve a high percentage of our aspirations expressed in the updated RCIP.
Intergovernmental Cooperation
As a result of the necessary coordination between the County, the cities and other governmental agencies brought about through the RCIP, a high degree of intergovernmental cooperation and even partnership is now commonplace. This way of doing public business has become a tradition and the County of Riverside is renowned for its many model intergovernmental programs.
An overview of the planning areaThe Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area is at a crossroads for two significant reasons. First, the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area contains the east-west running State Route 74 and the north-south running State Route 79, both of which are major transportation corridors that will emerge as powerful regional influences. Second, the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area contains the largest fresh water lake in southern California: The Diamond Valley Lake. The Diamond Valley Lake will be the major factor in attracting growth and influencing the change in character of the area from rural to urban.
The Harvest Valley/Winchester Area Plan guides the evolving character of this place. The Harvest Valley/Winchester Area Plan is not a stand-alone document, but rather an extension of the County of Riverside General Plan and Vision. The County of Riverside Vision Statement details the physical, environmental, and economic characteristics that the County aspires to achieve by the year 2020. Using that Vision Statement as the primary foundation, the County of Riverside General Plan establishes policies for development and conservation within the entire unincorporated County territory. The Harvest Valley/Winchester Area Plan, on the other hand, provides customized direction specifically for this planning area.
This area plan doesn't just provide a description of the location, physical characteristics, and special features here. It contains a Land Use Plan, statistical summaries, policies, and accompanying exhibits that allow anyone interested in the continued prosperity of this distinctive area to understand the physical, environmental, and regulatory characteristics that make this such a unique area. Background information also provides insights that help in understanding the issues that require special focus here and the reasons for the more localized policy direction found in this document.
Each section of the Area Plan addresses critical issues facing the planning area. Perhaps a description of these sections will help in understanding the organization of the Area Plan as well as appreciating the comprehensive nature of the planning process that led to it. The Location section explains where the Area Plan fits with what is around it and how it relates to the cities that impact it. Physical features are described in a section that highlights the planning area's communities, surrounding environment and natural resources. This leads naturally to the Land Use Plan section, which describes the land use system guiding development at both the countywide and area plan levels.
While a number of these designations reflect the unique features found only in the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area, certain special policies are still necessary to address unique situations. The Policy Areas section presents these policies. Land use related issues are addressed in the Land Use section. Land use isn't the only key factor in developing and conserving land here. The Plan also describes relevant transportation issues, routes, and modes of transportation in the Circulation section. The key to understanding the valued open space network is described in the Multipurpose Open Space section. There are also natural and man made hazards to consider, and they are spelled out in the Hazards section.
Data in this area plan is current as of October 7, 2003. Any General Plan amendments approved subsequent to that date are not reflected in this area plan and must be supported by their own environmental documentation. A process for incorporating any applicable portion of these amendments into this area plan is part of the General Plan Implementation Program.
Unincorporated land is all land within the County that is not within an incorporated city or an Indian Nation. Generally, it is subject to policy direction and under the land use authority of the Board of Supervisors.
A Special Note on Implementing the Vision
The preface to this area plan is a summary version of the Riverside County Vision. That summary is, in turn, simply an overview of a much more extensive and detailed Vision of Riverside County two decades or more into the future. This area plan, as part of the Riverside County General Plan, is one of the major devices for making the Vision a reality.
No two area plans are the same. Each represents a unique portion of the incredibly diverse place known as Riverside County. While many share certain common features, each of the plans reflect the special characteristics that define its area's unique identity. These features include not only physical qualities, but also the particular boundaries used to define them, the stage of development they have reached, the dynamics of change expected to affect them, and the numerous decisions that shape development and conservation in each locale. That is why the Vision cannot and should not be reflected uniformly.
Policies at the General Plan and Area Plan levels implement the Riverside County Vision in a range of subject areas as diverse as the scope of the Vision itself. The land use pattern contained in this area plan is a further expression of the Vision as it is shaped to fit the terrain and the conditions in the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area.
To illustrate how the Vision has shaped this area plan, the following highlights reflect certain strategies that link the Vision to the land. This is not a comprehensive enumeration; rather, it emphasizes a few of the most powerful and physically tangible examples.
Community Centers. This method of concentrating development to achieve community focal points, stimulate a mix of activities, promote economic development, achieve more efficient use of land, create a transit friendly and walkable environment, and offer a broader mix of housing choices is a major device for implementing the Vision. Two community center overlays are included in the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area. A significant Community Center Overlay designation is located in Winchester. The theme envisioned for this transit-oriented Village Center has a western influence, capitalizing on the unique identity for the Winchester area. An additional Community Center Overlays located along Winchester Road would serve both residents of surrounding Community Development residential areas and visitors to the Diamond Valley Lake. These centers could take advantage of the regional recreational draw that the lake presents.
Diamond Valley Recreation Area. Fishing on the lake is just one of the many amenities offered by the Diamond Valley Recreation Area. The open lake and surrounding land will serve regional tourist, recreation, and camping activities. The presence and success of these activities also bolsters the local economy. This winning combination of an economic stimulator and regional attraction also serves as an impetus for future growth in the immediate area.
Preserved Open Space Character. The vast amount of conserved open space surrounding the Diamond Valley Lake and Double Butte help maintain the natural character of the area and act as major regional and recreational attractions for Riverside County. These lands also serve as habitat for endangered species and as passive open space to be enjoyed by the local communities. The combination of activities that these preserved spaces serve are integral to the success of these lands in the future.
The peaks and valleys surrounding the planning areaThe pivotal location of this area is clearly evident in Figure 1, Location. The Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area is contiguous with five other planning areas, which together constitute a major portion of the vast development potential in western Riverside County. Starting to the south and moving clockwise, we find the adjacent Southwest Area Plan, and the Sun City/Menifee, Mead Valley, Lakeview/Nuevo, and San Jacinto Valley Area Plans. The planning area encompasses only unincorporated territory, but the Cities of Perris and Hemet frame this sprawling 32,000-acre valley on the west and east, respectively. The massive Diamond Valley Lake dominates the southeastern portion of the Harvest Valley/Winchester area.
The Riverside County Vision builds heavily on the value of its remarkable environmental setting. That applies here as well. While not as close to the surrounding mountains as some other areas, the central location of the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area affords an ample view of the mountain vistas that dominate the remarkable setting of western Riverside County. We find here a wide variety of physical features: flat valley floors, gently rolling foothills, abrupt buttes and hillsides, and the ever-present rock outcroppings. Watercourses meandering through the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area include Warm Springs Creek and Salt Creek. This section describes the setting, features, and functions that are unique to the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area. These defining characteristics are shown on Figure 2, Physical Features.
Double Butte rising sharply from the flat valley floorThe Harvest Valley/Winchester area is actually part of a system of broad, sweeping valleys and is framed by the Menifee Valley to the west and the Domenigoni Valley to the south. Situated within this valley, the Double Butte, Dawson and Lakeview Mountains, and Diamond Valley Lake are the major physical features defining the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area. The Lakeview Mountains to the north and the Dawson Mountains in the southeast, though mainly located in adjacent planning areas, create a strong visual backdrop. Salt Creek generally separates the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area into northern and southern halves, and the San Diego Aqueduct bisects the land into east-west segments. Warm Springs Creek, which ultimately flows into the Santa Margarita River, is piped underground to approximately Scott Road where it then flows southwest out of the planning area.
The Diamond Valley LakeDouble Butte is a steep, dual peaked mountain centrally located between Winchester and Homeland. Much of this feature was the site of a County landfill, which has since been closed. The intent is to establish recreational uses once clean-up and mitigation measures have been completed.
An acre-foot of water is nearly 326,000 gallons, enough to meet the annual water needs of two typical southland families.
Diamond Valley Lake is an 800,000-acre-foot (260 billion gallon) lake that provides critical water storage for much of southern California. The lake nearly doubles the surface water storage for most of southern California, and it secures emergency water storage for six months. This massive new landmark is not just a startling presence on the landscape; it performs the critical role in this arid climate of reducing the threat of water shortages during droughts and peak summer needs. The Diamond Valley Lake was created by a set of three dams and was approved for water storage in 2000. Most of the water for this facility is delivered through the Colorado River Aqueduct and the California State Water Project. The 13,000-acre Dr. Roy E. Shipley Reserve stretches between the Diamond Valley Lake and Lake Skinner, which is located in the Southwest Area Plan to the south. Potential recreational opportunities available at the Diamond Valley facility include bicycle, hiking and equestrian trails, camping, fishing, boating, golfing, and picnicking.
A view of Double Butte from the community of WinchesterThe Lakeview Mountains, which lie north of Harvest Valley, define the northern portion of the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area. They nevertheless create a valuable scenic backdrop, especially for the communities of Homeland and Green Acres located directly to the south. Large rock outcroppings and boulders accent the slopes. These mountains are home to the Buck Jewel flower, an indicator of Coastal Sage Scrub habitat. These species also document the relatively dry, arid micro climate that prevails here.
The Dawson Mountains are home to the Diamond Valley Lake.The Dawson Mountains create the southern wall of the Diamond Valley Lake. This range also creates a striking backdrop for communities on the valley floor like Winchester. The range is a series of rugged mountains providing an exceptional environment for hiking trails, equestrian uses, bicycling, and places for camping. These mountains also serve as a corridor between the habitats that are found in and around Diamond Valley and the Shipley Reserve to the south.
Vernal pools are seasonally flooded depressions found on ancient soils with an impermeable layer such as hardpan, claypan, or volcanic basalt. The impermeable layer allows the pools to retain water much longer than the surrounding lands; nonetheless, the pools are shallow enough to dry up each season. Vernal pools often fill and empty several times during the rainy season. Only plants and animals that are adapted to this cycle of wetting and drying can survive in vernal pools over time. In this case, the vernal pools are located in the northeast portion of the planning area. Vernal pools serve as habitat for endangered wildlife species and are often associated with areas characterized by rare plant species.
Running from north to south and intersecting the western end of Diamond Valley Lake is the San Diego Canal/Aqueduct. Its function is to transport State Project water as well as Colorado River water to Lake Skinner, where the canal ends. From that point, deliveries are made to MWD's member agencies in southern Riverside County and San Diego County via a system of pipelines.
Harvest Valley is an umbrella name that is applied to the communities of Romoland, Homeland, and Green Acres. These three communities are connected by State Route 74 and are generally located between the Lakeview Mountains and Double Butte. Each of these three communities has a distinct character, which is described in more detail below.
Romoland is located in the northwest portion of the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area, adjacent to the City of Perris. Romoland is historically centered on a 160-acre urban grid bisected by State Route 74 and the rail line. North of State Route 74 is a small residential community comprised of single family residences and mobile homes, with a few commercial uses stretching along the highway. Farther to the north, the area is characterized by 1-acre lots and horse ranches. Industrial areas are located south of Highway 74. As this area grows, urbanization will extend eastward in accordance with the adopted Menifee North Specific Plan. A mixed use planning area that lies between Romoland and Homeland could capitalize on the growth of the two communities and act as the focus to bring these two communities together.
Homeland is located east of Romoland, bounded by the Lakeview Mountains to the north and the Double Buttes to the south. Homeland is currently characterized by a mixture of single family and mobile homes with a strip of commercial uses along State Route 74. Similar to Romoland, but with less industrial uses, this community includes a mixture of small, urban lots and larger lots where animal-keeping is an important feature.
Connected by State Route 74 but physically separated from Homeland by a finger of the Lakeview Mountains that extends southerly to Highway 74, is the community of Green Acres. Nestled in the foothills of the Lakeview Mountains, this small residential community is located at the current intersection of State Routes 74 and 79. Animal-keeping is an important element of the local lifestyle here.
The commercial center in WinchesterNear the geographic center of the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area is the community of Winchester. Consistent with its central location, Winchester is framed by several major features: Salt Creek, the rail line, State Route 79, and the Domenigoni Parkway. Currently, the community of Winchester is characterized by a small western-themed commercial core at the intersection of Winchester Road (State Route 79) and Simpson Road. Surrounding the community core are small homes on large parcels and agricultural uses. Winchester could build upon the western theme and be transformed into a unique, mixed-use Village Center that capitalizes on a transit station and proximity to the Diamond Valley Lake. Medium density residential uses will surround the new Village Center.
The Land Use Plan focuses on preserving the unique features in the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area and, at the same time, guides the accommodation of future growth. To accomplish this, more detailed land use designations are applied than for the countywide General Plan.
The Harvest Valley/Winchester Land Use Plan, Figure 3, depicts the geographic distribution of land uses within this planning area. The Plan is organized around 30 area plan land use designations and 5 overlays. These area plan land uses derive from, and provide more detailed direction than, the five General Plan Foundation Component land uses: Open Space, Agriculture, Rural, Rural Community, and Community Development. Table 1, Land Use Designations Summary, outlines the development intensity, density, typical allowable land uses, and general characteristics for each of the area plan land use designations within each Foundation Component. The General Plan Land Use Element contains more detailed descriptions and policies for the Foundation Components and each of the area plan land use designations.
Many factors led to the designation of land use patterns. Among the most influential were the Riverside County Vision and Planning Principles, both of which focused, in part, on preferred patterns of development within the County; the Community and Environmental Transportation Acceptability Process (CETAP) that focused on major transportation corridors; the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) that focused on opportunities and strategies for significant open space and habitat preservation; established patterns of existing uses and parcel configurations; current zoning; and the oral and written testimony of County residents, property owners, and representatives of cities and organizations at the many Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors hearings. The result of these considerations is shown in Figure 3, Land Use Plan, which portrays the location and extent of proposed land uses. Table 2, Statistical Summary of the Harvest Valley/Winchester Area Plan, provides a summary of the projected development capacity of the plan if all uses are built as proposed. This table includes dwelling unit, population, and employment capacities.
The Land Use Plan reflects a significant shift from the existing rural character to a more urban/suburban/rural mix focused around unique cores. The impetus for this shift is the Diamond Valley Lake and the recreational opportunities it presents. In addition, the transit opportunities presented by the rail line, State Route 74, and State Route 79 create natural crossroads to expand upon.
For more information on Community Center types, please refer to the Land Use Policies within this area plan and the Land Use Designations section of the General Plan Land Use Element.
The communities of Romoland, Homeland, and Green Acres, together called Harvest Valley, make up the northern portion of the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area. They contain dispersed commercial, business, and residential uses along State Route 74. A Mixed Use Planning Area is planned to be located along the south side of State Route 74, easterly of Briggs Road, to act as a focus for the communities of Homeland and Romoland. The Mixed Use Planning Area could become an additional focal point at the heart of Harvest Valley along State Route 74 to serve as a local gathering spot for area residents. Medium Density Residential designations surround the more intense uses along the highway.
The community of Green Acres, located in the eastern portion of the planning area, is a Low Density Residential community that is buffered from the City of Hemet by rural and mountainous terrain. To the southeast of this community, proximity to the Hemet Ryan Airport necessitates Estate Density Residential or lower intensity land use. Green Acres also includes a policy area that allows for continued equestrian and animal keeping uses.
Western Riverside County has a special visual quality created by the numerous landforms at varying scales that pop up from the valley floors. Such is the case with Double Butte. The Public Facility designation here (resulting from the closed landfill) is surrounded by mountainous terrain–a quality that characterizes much of the visual character within the Harvest Valley/Winchester area. Double Butte is also a separator between Harvest Valley to the north and Winchester to the south.
The community of Winchester is located immediately south of Double Butte and north of Salt Creek. Winchester is ideally situated to become the "gateway to the Diamond Valley" and accommodate significant intensification of land usage. Winchester has the potential to serve as an important tourist and transit hub for the region due to its proximity to the Diamond Valley Lake as well as the presence of the rail line, State Route 79, and the Domenigoni Parkway. Moreover, local homeowners share a vision of greater prominence for this community.
To most effectively take advantage of these opportunities, future development in Winchester should reflect a distinct character and identity. Typical strip commercial uses will diminish the community's potential significantly. Instead, a compact downtown core designed in an Old West Theme is envisioned. To help make this vision become a reality, the Community Center Overlay allows a mixture of commercial, office, and residential uses to be developed and provides guidance for future community design. Contrary to typical zoning that separates uses, the Community Center Overlay allows a mixture of commercial, office, and residential uses within the same project.
Like a Western town, Winchester should be developed around a series of walkable blocks with buildings oriented to the street. Western themed building facades with detailed touches, such as covered and wooden sidewalks, could further enhance the theme experience. A core of retail, shopping, office, and residential uses should stretch along Winchester Road from the rail line to Olive Avenue. The overlay also allows for the siting of higher density residential uses within and around the core area, in order to provide convenient pedestrian access to services, shopping, and employment uses.
A transit station on the rail line should be incorporated into the fabric of Winchester and act as the northern anchor for the community. This transit station would act as the regional connection to the Diamond Valley Lake and its surrounding entertainment and recreational uses, as well as Temecula further to the south.
The Diamond Valley Lake and surrounding recreation area provides a major tourist attraction and is the key to future growth in the area. The land uses that surround the Diamond Valley Lake are intended to preserve this facility's long-term outdoor recreational opportunities and to attract visitors by providing a quality experience for them.
To the south of the Diamond Valley Lake, the Open Space-Conservation Habitat and Open Space-Recreation land use designations preserve the natural habitat of the Dawson Mountains and Shipley Reserve as well as providing areas for permanent outdoor recreation. To the west of the lake, the Open Space- Recreation land use designation accommodates the intensive water-oriented recreation plans of the Metropolitan Water District, which include water sports and camping.
The Community Center Overlay immediately west of Winchester Road and south of Holland Road would serve as a "downtown" area for future developments to the west or could accommodate an Entertainment Center that is intended to capitalize on the proximity of the lake and its intensive recreational opportunities. This Community Center is envisioned as a unified and themed pedestrian oriented village. The center should be designed to accommodate pedestrian movement and as such, the presence of the automobile should be minimized by reducing street widths, locating parking behind buildings, and/or combining parking in structures. Sidewalks should be wide with ample street furniture and shade trees to create a pleasant pedestrian environment.
A transit station should be incorporated into this Community Center. This transit station can be connected to the Winchester Transit Station through a transit system such as the Oasis Concept, which is described in the Circulation Element of the General Plan. The transit line would then follow Winchester Avenue south into the Temecula Valley, providing a convenient tourism connection for the major attractions of the region.
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| Table 2 Statistical Summary of the Harvest Valley/Winchester Area Plan | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Land Use Designationsa,b | ||||
| Land Use Designation | Acreage | Dwelling Units | Population | Employment |
| Agriculture Foundation Component | ||||
| Agriculture (AG) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Agriculture Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rural Foundation Component | ||||
| Rural Residential (RR) | 1,408 | 211 | 636 | NA |
| Rural Mountainous (RM) | 3,396 | 170 | 511 | NA |
| Rural Desert (RD) | 0 | 0 | 0 | NA |
| Rural Total | 4,804 | 381 | 1,147 | 0 |
| Rural Community Foundation Component | ||||
| Estate Density Residential (RC-EDR) | 1,732 | 606 | 1,825 | NA |
| Very Low Density Residential (RC-VLDR) | 0 | 0 | 0 | NA |
| Low Density Residential (RC-LDR) | 380 | 456 | 1,371 | NA |
| Rural Community Total | 2,112 | 1,062 | 3,196 | 0 |
| Open Space Foundation Component | ||||
| Open Space-Conservation (OS-C) | 915 | NA | NA | NA |
| Open Space-Conservation Habitat (OS-CH) | 3,010 | NA | NA | NA |
| Open Space-Water (OS-W) | 2,705 | NA | NA | NA |
| Open Space-Recreation (OS-R) | 1,929 | NA | NA | 289 |
| Open Space-Rural (OS-RUR) | 0 | 0 | 0 | NA |
| Open Space-Mineral Resources (OS-MIN) | 0 | NA | NA | 0 |
| Open Space Total | 8,559 | 0 | 0 | 289 |
| Community Development Foundation Component | ||||
| Estate Density Residential (EDR) | 0 | 0 | 0 | NA |
| Very Low Density Residential (VLDR) | 2,442 | 1,221 | 3,675 | NA |
| Low Density Residential (LDR) | 1,147 | 1,376 | 4,143 | NA |
| Medium Density Residential (MDR) | 7,150 | 25,023 | 75,320 | NA |
| Medium High Density Residential (MHDR) | 970 | 6,302 | 18,968 | NA |
| High Density Residential (HDR) | 188 | 2,069 | 6,227 | NA |
| Very High Density Residential (VHDR) | 2 | 36 | 107 | NA |
| Highest Density Residential (HHDR) | 0 | 0 | 0 | NA |
| Commercial Retail (CR)c | 913 | 1,917 | 5,769 | 5,486 |
| Commercial Tourist (CT) | 400 | NA | NA | 6,539 |
| Commercial Office (CO) | 2 | NA | NA | 80 |
| Light Industrial (LI) | 846 | NA | NA | 10,870 |
| Heavy Industrial (HI) | 253 | NA | NA | 2,202 |
| Business Park (BP) | 257 | NA | NA | 4,201 |
| Public Facilities (PF) | 1,644 | NA | NA | 444 |
| Community Center (CC) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Community Development Total | 16,214 | 37,944 | 114,209 | 29,822 |
| Other Land Uses, Overlays and Policy Areasd | ||||
| Rural Community-Estate Density Residential 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NA |
| Glen Eden Policy Area | 0 | 0 | 0 | NA |
| Medium Density Residential (2-4 du/ac) | 0 | 0 | 0 | NA |
| Vista Santa Rosa Policy Area | 0 | 0 | 0 | NA |
| Rural Village Overlay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rural Village Overlay Study Area | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Community Center Overlay | 457 | 1,612 | 4,851 | 24,603 |
| Community Retail Overlay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other, Overlays and Policy Areas Total | 457 | 1,612 | 4,851 | 24,603 |
| BUILDOUT PROJECTIONS TOTAL | 32,146 | 40,999 | 123,403 | 54,714 |
| Other | ||||
| City | 0 | |||
| Indian Lands | 0 | |||
| Freeways | 0 | |||
| Other Total | 0 | |||
| AREA PLAN TOTAL ACRES | 32,146 | |||
| Overlays and Policy Areas The following provides the acreages for each Overlay and/or Policy Area within the Area Plan. Overlays and Policy Areas are districts that contain unique standards tailored to a local geographic area. In some instances, these Overlays and Policy Areas alter the allowable uses and maximum densities/intensities within the particular district. In these cases, the buildout potential resulting from the application of the Overlays and Policy Areas has been accounted for in the Base Land Use Designations above. Please see the Area Plan for a description of the unique features contained within each Overlay or Policy Area. | ||||
| Acreage | ||||
| Overlays | ||||
| Mixed Use Planning Area | 21 | |||
| Community Development Overlay | 0 | |||
| Specific Community Development Designation Overlays and Policy Areas | ||||
| North Skinner | 38 | |||
| MWD | 0 | |||
| Highway 79 | 28,296 | |||
| Diamond Valley Lake | 7,967 | |||
| Total | 36,322 | |||
| NOTES: a. Statistics reflect the midpoint for the theoretical range of build-out projections. Reference Appendix E of the General Plan for assumptions and methodology. b. Overlay figures reflect the additional dwelling units, population and employment permissible under this category. c. It is assumed that Commercial Retail designation will buildout at 40% Commercial Retail and 60% Medium Density Residential. d. The acreage for the Overlays and Policy Areas have not been included in the acreage totals to avoid double counting. | ||||
A policy area is a portion of a planning area that contains special or unique characteristics that merit detailed attention and focused policies. The location and boundaries for the Policy Areas are shown on Figure 4, Policy Areas, and are described in detail below.
An aerial view of the Hemet Ryan AirportEight policy areas have been designated within the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area. They are important locales that have special significance to the residents of this part of the County. Many of these policies derive from citizen involvement over a period of years in planning for the future of this area. In some ways, these policies are even more critical to the sustained character of the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area than some of the basic land use policies because they reflect deeply held beliefs about the kind of place this is and should remain. These boundaries are only approximate and may be interpreted more precisely as decisions are called for in these areas. This flexibility, then, calls for considerable sensitivity in determining where conditions related to the policies actually exist, once a focused analysis is undertaken on a proposed development project.
Hemet Ryan Airport Influence Area
HVWAP = Harvest Valley/Winchester Area Plan Policy
The Hemet Ryan Airport is an active airport located just outside of the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area in the City of Hemet. The northeastern section of the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area is subject to this airport's Airport Influence Area. The boundary of the Hemet Ryan Airport Influence Area is shown in Figure 4, Policy Areas. There are a number of safety zones associated with the Airport Influence Area. These safety zones are shown in Figure 5, Hemet Ryan Airport Influence Policy Area. Properties within these zones are subject to regulations governing such issues as development intensity, density, height of structures, and noise. These land use restrictions are fully set forth in Appendix L and are summarized in Table 4, Land Use Compatibility Guidelines for Airport Safety Zones for Hemet Ryan Airport. For more information on these zones and additional airport policies, refer to Appendix L and the Land Use, Circulation, Safety and Noise Elements of the Riverside County General Plan.
Policies:
HVWAP 1.1 To provide for the orderly development of Hemet Ryan Airport and the surrounding area, comply with the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan for Hemet Ryan Airport as fully set forth in Appendix L and as summarized in Table 4, as well as any applicable policies related to airports in the Land Use, Circulation, Safety and Noise Elements of the Riverside County General Plan.
An aerial view of March Inland PortMarch Air Reserve Base Airport Influence Area
The March Air Reserve Base is located northwest of the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area. The former Air Force Base was established in 1918 and was continually used until 1993. In 1996, the land was converted from an Air Force Base to an Active Duty Reserve Base. A four party Joint Powers Authority (JPA), comprised of the County of Riverside and the Cities of Moreno Valley, Perris, and Riverside, now governs the facility. The JPA plans to transform a portion of the base into a highly active inland port, know as the March Inland Port. The March Air Reserve Base encompasses 6,500 acres of land including an active cargo and military airport. There are a number of safety zones associated with the Airport Influence Area. These zones are shown in Figure 6, March Air Reserve Base Airport Influence Area. Properties within these zones are subject to regulations governing such issues as development intensity, density, height of structures and noise. These land uses restrictions are fully set forth in Appendix L and are summarized in Table 5, Land Use Compatibility Guidelines for Airport Safety Zones for March, Flabob, Bermuda Dunes, Chino, and Skylark Airports. For more information on these zones and additional airport policies, refer to Appendix L and the Land Use, Circulation, Safety and Noise Elements of the Riverside County General Plan.
Policies:
HVWAP 2.1 To provide for the orderly development of March Air Reserve Base and the surrounding area, comply with the March JPA General Plan as fully set forth in Appendix L and as summarized in Table 5, as well as any applicable policies related to airports in the Land Use, Circulation, Safety and Noise Elements of the Riverside County General Plan.
The Winchester Policy Area centers on that community and coincides with the Winchester Community Center Overlay. The intent of this policy area is to help in creating a sense of place as well as an entrance to the Diamond Valley Recreation Area. This policy area has been created to capitalize on the proximity to Diamond Valley Lake by providing for uses that reinforce and support recreation activities. Potential transportation connections through implementation of the Transit Oasis Concept (defined in the Circulation Element) have been incorporated to link the Winchester area with other tourist attractions within Riverside County. The policy area is also intended to enhance opportunities for selective redevelopment where that can achieve the Area Plan's intent.
Building upon the existing community character, the Winchester Policy Area is envisioned as a western-themed village with the core of the activity centered around Winchester and Simpson Roads. The Community Center Overlay accommodates commercial uses, dining, entertainment, lodging, higher intensity residential uses, and offices. The core of the policy area will be relatively dense, with a mixture of commercial and employment uses. The Community Center Overlay encourages a mixture of uses in the area, contrary to typical zoning.
Policies:
HVWAP 3.1 Encourage mixed land uses within the Winchester Policy area that promote the surrounding recreation, employment, and transit opportunities.
HVWAP 3.2 Recognize the community desire for future development projects within the Winchester Policy Area to reflect a western design theme.
HVWAP 3.3 Prepare a master plan or a specific plan to guide the pattern and form of new development. The master plan or specific plan shall cover the development of the entire Community Center Overlay land use designation and address the Western design theme, development standards, street scene, access, the relationship to surrounding properties, signage, and parking.
HVWAP 3.4 Permit development to conform to the underlying land use designations as specified on Figure 3, Land Use Plan, until such time as the master plan or specific plan is adopted. Require a plot plan or use permit prior to new improvements not specifically permitted by right to guide the pattern and form of new development.
Green Acres is a rural community located at the junction of State Route 74 and 79. The intent of this policy area is to preserve the historic rural and agricultural character of this community, and preserve the residents' ability to keep animals on appropriately sized lots.
Policies:
HVWAP 4.1 Allow for lot sizes within the residential land use designation that accommodate limited animal keeping per the Riverside County Zoning Ordinance.
Diamond Valley Lake Policy Area
Diamond Valley Lake (DVL) is a recently built, approximately 800,000 acre foot capacity reservoir owned and operated by the Metropolitan Water District (MWD), which provides domestic water supplies to much of Southern California. Diamond Valley Lake is strategically located, with ample adjacent land, to also provide for a wide variety of recreational opportunities for the residents of Riverside County and Southern California, and beyond. Potential recreational opportunities include, but are not limited to, fishing, boating, camping, golfing, picnicking, bicycling, horseback riding, and hiking. In support of recreational facilities, other tourist-oriented facilities including hotels, restaurants, and commercial services are anticipated to be developed in the future. The County of Riverside will continue to cooperate with MWD and Diamond Valley Lake's other neighboring jurisdiction, the City of Hemet, to encourage development of the lake's recreational opportunities and supporting commercial services.
It is envisioned that Diamond Valley Lake's recreational and tourist-oriented facilities will be developed pursuant to one or more specific plans contained within the policy area. The Harvest Valley/Winchester, Southwest, and San Jacinto Valley Area Plans illustrate MWD's concept, at the time of the adoption of the Riverside County General Plan, for the potential future development of the DVL lands. Following are the policies for development in the Diamond Valley Lake Policy Area (DVLPA):
Policies:
HVWAP 5.1 Continue cooperating with the Metropolitan Water District and the City of Hemet to encourage the development of a comprehensive program for recreational and support commercial facilities at Diamond Valley Lake.
HVWAP 5.2 All development shall occur through specific plans. Any specific plans adopted in the Diamond Valley Lake Policy Area shall be classified as Community Development Specific Plans.
HVWAP 5.3 The Diamond Valley Lake Policy Area, in its entirety, is included in the Highway 79 Policy Area (Circulation Element Policy C 2.6).
HVWAP 5.4 Provided that total development intensity for the entire Diamond Valley Lake Policy Area is not increased beyond the level of development intensity established for this area at the time of the adoption of the General Plan, no general plan amendments shall be required to be filed and approved in order to authorize changes in mapped general plan designations, provided that any such changes are approved through specific plan applications (specific plans, specific plan amendments, substantial conformances, as appropriate). The approved specific plan applications will constitute the General Plan Element mapped land use designations for the areas so affected. In the event that total development intensity for the entire DVLPA would be exceeded due to any development proposal within the area, the application must be accompanied by, and approved through, a general plan amendment (GPA) application. No such GPA shall be subject to the General Plan Certainty System's five-year amendment cycle.
Winchester Road/Newport Road Policy Area
The Winchester Road/Newport Road Policy Area consists of the southwest one-quarter of the southwest one-quarter of Section 34, Township 5 South, Range 2 West. This area is designated Commercial Retail and Commercial Tourist; however, portions of the area are subject to topographic constraints. The intent of this Policy Area is to direct most types of commercial use to the low-lying area, provided that development can coexist with the proximity of the Diamond Valley Reservoir West Dam. However, it is recognized that the hilltop area may present an opportunity for development of a destination site (lodging, dining establishment, retreat center, etc.) This upper area, if developed, must be designed with particular sensitivity toward maintaining the scenic values of this hill as seen by travelers on Winchester Road.
Policies:
HVWAP 6.1 Development of the hilltop area shall be designed to maintain the scenic value of the hill, avoiding slope scarring.
HVWAP 6.2 No structures for human occupancy shall be sited on lands in excess of 25% slope, excluding existing building pads, if any, unless site-specific investigation indicates that no adverse impacts or increased hazard would result, and that visual impacts can be mitigated.
HVWAP 6.3 Up to two access roads or driveways to the hilltop area may traverse areas in excess of 25% natural slope, provided that the roads or driveways are designed to minimize the visual impact on the hill while accommodating the requirements of emergency vehicles.
The purpose of the Highway 79 Policy Area is to address transportation infrastructure capacity within the policy area. Applicable policies are also located in the Circulation Element of the General Plan.
Policies:
HVWAP 7.1 Accelerate the construction of transportation infrastructure in the Highway 79 Policy Area. The County shall require that all new development projects demonstrate adequate transportation infrastructure capacity to accommodate the added traffic growth. The County shall coordinate with cities adjacent to the policy area to accelerate the usable revenue flow of existing funding programs, thus assuring that transportation infrastructure is in place when needed.
HVWAP 7.2 Establish a program in the Highway 79 Policy Area to ensure that overall trip generation does not exceed system capacity and that the system operation continues to meet Level of Service standards. In general, the program would establish guidelines to be incorporated into individual Traffic Impact Analysis that would monitor overall trip generation from residential development to ensure that overall within the Highway 79 Policy Area development projects produce traffic generation at a level that is 9% less than the trips projected from the General Plan traffic model residential land use designations. Individually, projects could exceed the General Plan traffic model trip generation level, provided it can be demonstrated that sufficient reductions have occurred on other projects in order to meet Level of Service standards.
The Harvest Valley/Winchester Area Plan and the Southwest Area Plan reference a "Specific Plan Required" area that reflects the general land uses contained in Specific Plan No. 310. The County's approval of Specific Plan No. 310 and its certification of the related environmental impact report have been set aside consistent with the Riverside County Superior Court's ruling in Case Nos. RIC369801 and 369989, pending certification of a subsequent or supplemental environmental impact report. No development will be allowed to proceed within the "Specific Plan Required" area until a subsequent or supplemental environmental impact report is prepared and certified and a specific plan is finally approved for that area. Final approval of a specific plan within the "Specific Plan Required" area will not require an amendment to the Land Use Element of the General Plan.
The authority for preparation of specific plans is found in the California Government Code, Sections 65450 through 65457.
Specific plans are highly customized policy or regulatory tools that provide a bridge between the General Plan and individual projects in a more area-specific manner than is possible with community-wide zoning ordinances. The specific plan is a tool that provides land use and development standards that are tailored to respond to special conditions and aspirations unique to the area being proposed for development. These tools are a means of addressing detailed concerns that conventional zoning cannot do.
Specific Plans are identified in this section as Policy Areas because detailed development direction is provided in each plan. Policies related to any listed specific plan can be reviewed at the Riverside County Planning Department. The five specific plans located in the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area are listed in Table 3, Adopted Specific Plans in the Harvest Valley/Winchester Area Plan. Each of these specific plans is determined to be a Community Development Specific Plan.
| Table 3 Adopted Specific Plans in the Harvest Valley/Winchester Area Plan1 | |
|---|---|
| Specific Plan | Specific Plan # |
| Menifee North | 260 |
| The Crossroads in Winchester | 288 |
| Winchester Hills | 293 |
| Menifee Ranch2 | 301 |
| BSA Properties | 322 |
| 1 Source: County of Riverside Planning Department. 2 Portions of this specific plan extend into a neighboring Area Plan. | |
| Table 4 Land Use Compatibility Guidelines for Airport Safety Zones for Hemet Ryan Airport1,2, 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety Zone | Maximum Population Density | Maximum Coverage by Structures | Land Use |
| Area I | Residential with a 2½ acre minimum lot size | Not Applicable | The following uses are permitted: agriculture and open space. No high-risk land uses including: hazardous material facilities; institutional uses; places of assembly; critical facilities; and residential uses within one mile of the runway threshold. Discretionary review is required: commercial; industrial; and residential uses smaller than 2 ½ acre minimum lot size |
| Area II | Residential with a 2½ acre minimum lot size. | Not Applicable | The following uses are permitted: industrial, agriculture and residential uses with 2 ½ acre or greater lot sizes. Discretionary review is required: commercial uses. No public or private schools. No institutional uses. No places of assembly. No hazardous material facilities |
| Transition Area3 | 20 dwelling units/acre | Not Applicable | The following uses are permitted: commercial; industrial; manufacturing; and agricultural uses. Discretionary review is required: residential dwelling units/multiple family dwelling units; institutional uses; places of assembly; public and private schools; and hazardous material facilities or activities involving hazardous materials. All structures shall be limited to 35 feet in height, or two stories, whichever is less. |
| Area III | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | A wide range of uses is permitted. Discretionary uses include: structures over 35 feet or two stories whichever is greater; institutional uses; places of assembly; hazardous materials; public & private schools |
| 1.The following uses shall be prohibited in all airport safety zones: a. Any use which would direct a steady light or flashing light of red, white, green, or amber colors associated with airport operations toward an aircraft engaged in an initial straight climb following takeoff or toward an aircraft engaged in a straight final approach toward a landing at an airport, other than an FAA-approved navigational signal light or visual approach slope indicator. b. Any use which would cause sunlight to be reflected towards an aircraft engaged in an initial straight climb following takeoff or towards an aircraft engaged in a straight final approach towards a landing at an airport. c. Any use which would generate smoke or water vapor or which would attract large concentrations of birds, or which may otherwise affect safe air navigation within the area. d. Any use which would generate electrical interference that may be detrimental to the operation of aircraft and /or aircraft instrumentation. 2. Avigation easements shall be secured through dedication for all land uses permitted in any safety zones. 3.The Transition Area is located between Area II and Area III. It is 330 feet inside the Area II boundary and 660 feet outside the Area II boundary. If 50% or more of the project site is in the Transition Area, it is considered part of the Transition Area. The Transition Area does not extend beyond the outer boundary of Area III or extend into Area I. Source: Extracted from Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission Comprehensive Land Use Plan | |||
Figure 5: Hemet Ryan Airport Influence Policy Area
Figure 6: March Air Reserve Base Airport Influence Policy Area
Community Center Guidelines have been prepared to aid in the physical development of vibrant community centers in Riverside County. These guidelines are intended to be illustrative in nature, establishing a general framework for design while allowing great flexibility and innovation in their application. Their purpose is to ensure that community centers develop into the diverse and dynamic urban places they are intended to be. These guidelines will serve as the basis for the creation of specified community center implementation tools such as zoning classifications and specific plan design guidelines.
The Community Center Guidelines are located in Appendix J of the General Plan.
While the General Plan Land Use Element and Area Plan Land Use Map guide future development patterns in the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area, additional policy guidance is often necessary to address local land use issues that are unique to the area or that require special policies that go above and beyond those identified in the General Plan. The Local Land Use Section provides a host of policies to address these issues. These policies may reinforce County regulatory provisions, preserve special lands or historic structures, require or encourage particular design features or guidelines, or restrict certain activities. The intent is to enhance and/or preserve the identity and character of this unique area.
The Harvest Valley/Winchester Area Plan Land Use Plan identifies two Community Center Overlays within its planning area. The Community Center Overlay land use designations allow a unique mix of employment, commercial, public, and residential uses. In order to promote a compact mixing of these uses, voluntary incentives may be necessary. The Community Center Overlay also allows development to meet the standards of the underlying land use designation.
The first of the two Community Center Overlay land use designations is located in the community of Winchester. Given the transportation opportunities and the presence of the nearby Diamond Valley Lake, this land use designation allows the flexibility for this community to create a special place in western Riverside County.
The other Community Center Overlay designation is located westerly of Winchester Road. this area is provided with the Community Center Overlay to allow the flexibility to create a "village" core that would serve the adjacent residences and become the focal point for the surrounding community. Alternatively, this area could be developed as an Entertainment Center to take advantage of the recreational and tourism opportunities presented by Diamond Valley Lake.
Policies:
HVWAP 8.1 Prepare a master plan or a specific plan to guide the pattern and form of new development. The master plan or specific plan shall cover the development of the entire Community Center Overlay land use designation and address the development standards, street scene, access, the relationship to surrounding properties, signage, and parking.
HVWAP 8.2 Provide incentives, such as density bonuses and regulatory concessions, to property owners and developers to facilitate the development of community centers as designated on the Harvest Valley/Winchester Area Plan Land Use Plan, Figure 3.
HVWAP 8.3 Ensure that community centers development adheres to those policies listed in the Community Centers Area Plan Land Use Designation section of the General Plan Land Use Element.
HVWAP 8.4 Encourage community centers located in adopted specific plans to adhere to those policies listed in the Community Centers Area Plan Land Use Designation section of the General Plan Land Use Element.
HVWAP 8.5 Encourage areas within Community Center Overlays to develop to land use standards for Community Centers as detailed in the Community Centers Area Plan Land Use Designation section of the General Plan Land Use Element, and within the Community Centers Guidelines.
HVWAP 8.6 Allow the land uses within a Community Center Overlay to develop to the standards and uses of the underlying land use designation.
HVWAP 8.7 Ensure sufficient pedestrian linkages to the Salt Creek corridor from the adjacent Winchester Community Center Overlay area.
Light pollution occurs when too much artificial illumination enters the night sky and reflects off of airborne water droplets and dust particles causing a condition known as skyglow. It occurs when glare from improperly aimed and unshielded light fixtures cause uninvited illumination to cross property lines.
HVWAP 8.8 Encourage future development within the Winchester Community Center Overlay area to develop in a western theme and incorporate a transit station along the railroad line.
Mount Palomar Nighttime Lighting
The Mount Palomar Observatory, located in San Diego County, requires unique nighttime lighting standards so that the night sky can be viewed clearly. The following policies are intended to limit light leakage and spillage that may obstruct or hinder the Observatory's view. Please see Figure 7, Mt. Palomar Nighttime Lighting Policy, for areas that may be impacted by these standards.
Policies:
HVWAP 9.1 Adhere to the lighting requirements specified in County Ordinance No. 655 for standards that are intended to limit light leakage and spillage that may interfere with the operations of the Mount Palomar Observatory.
Third and Fifth Supervisorial District Design Standards and Guidelines
In July 2001, the County adopted a set of design guidelines applicable to new development within the Third and Fifth Supervisorial Districts. The Design Standards and Guidelines for the Third and Fifth Supervisorial Districts are for use by property owners and design professionals submitting development applications to the County Planning Department. The guidelines have been adopted to advance several specific development goals of the Third and Fifth Districts. These goals include: ensuring that the building of new homes is interesting and varied in appearance; utilizing building materials that promote a look of quality development now and in the future; encouraging efficient land use while promoting high quality communities; incorporating conveniently located parks, trails, and open space into designs; and encouraging commercial and industrial developers to utilize designs and materials that evoke a sense of quality and permanence.
Policies:
HVWAP 7.1 Require development to adhere to standards detailed in the Design Standards and Guidelines for Development in the Third and Fifth Supervisorial Districts.
Figure 7: Mt. Palomar Nighttime Lighting Policy
The circulation system is vital to the prosperity of a community. It provides for the movement of goods and people within and outside of the community and includes motorized and non-motorized travel modes such as bicycles, trains, aircraft, automobiles, and trucks. In Riverside County, the circulation system is also intended to accommodate a pattern of concentrated growth, providing both a regional and local linkage system between unique communities. This system is multi-modal, which means that it provides numerous alternatives to the automobile, such as transit, pedestrian systems, and bicycle facilities so that Riverside County citizens and visitors can access the region by a number of transportation options.
"Innovative designs allow for increased density in key locations, such as near transit stations, with associated benefits. In these and other neighborhoods as well, walking, bicycling, and transit systems are attractive alternatives to driving for many residents."
- RCIP Vision
As stated in the Vision and the Land Use Element, the County is moving away from a growth pattern of random sprawl toward a pattern of concentrated growth and increased job creation. The intent of the new growth patterns and the new mobility systems is to accommodate the transportation demands created by future growth and to provide mobility options that help reduce the need to utilize the automobile. The circulation system is designed to fit into the fabric of the land use patterns and accommodate the open space systems.
While the following section describes the circulation system as it relates to the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area, it is important to note that the programs and policies are supplemental to, and coordinated with, the policies of the General Plan Circulation Element. In other words, the circulation system of the Harvest Valley/Winchester Area Plan is tied to the countywide system and its long range direction. As such, successful implementation of the policies in the Harvest Valley/Winchester Area Plan will help to create an interconnected and efficient circulation system for the entire County.
The vehicular circulation system that supports the Land Use Plan for the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area is shown on Figure 8, Circulation. The vehicular circulation system in the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area is anchored by State Routes 74 and 79, which run east-west and north-south respectively. At the time of the adoption of this area plan, there were three proposed alignments for State Route 79, as described in detail in subsequent sections. Interstate 215 runs north-south and is adjacent to a portion of the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area, west of Romoland. A system of arterials and collector roads branch off from these major roadways and serve local uses. Chief among these are Newport Road and Domenigoni Parkway, which provide east-west access, and Briggs and Menifee Roads, which provide north-south access.
Policies:
HVWAP 11.1 Design and develop the vehicular roadway system per Figure 8, Circulation, and in accordance with the Functional Classifications and Standards section of the General Plan Circulation Element.
HVWAP 11.2 Maintain the County's roadway Level of Service standards as described in the Level of Service section of the General Plan Circulation Element.
The Burlington Northern/Santa Fe rail line physically bisects the planning area and divides it into northern and southern halves. The railroad is currently being used for freight and cargo hauling, but has the potential to be used for passenger service. This route would connect the City of Hemet with the March Air Reserve Base and the City of Riverside. Expanded regional access available from a new transit opportunity would reinforce the development of new homes, business, and recreational opportunities here.
Policies:
HVWAP 12.1 Maintain and enhance existing railroad facilities in accordance with the Freight Rail section of the General Plan Circulation Element.
HVWAP 12.2 Work with railroad companies to create a transit stop in the Winchester Community Center Overlay that serves both regional and local transit traffic and is integrated with the Transit Oasis Concept.
The County of Riverside contains multi-purpose trails that traverse urban, rural, and natural areas. These multi-use trails accommodate hikers, bicyclists, equestrian users and others as an integral part of the County's circulation system. These multi-use trails serve both as a means of connecting the unique communities and activity centers throughout the County and as an effective alternate mode of transportation. In addition to transportation, the trail system also serves as a community amenity by providing recreation and leisure opportunities as well as separators or edges between communities.
As shown on Figure 9, Trails and Bikeway System, the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area supports an extensive system of existing and proposed trails and bikeways. An example is the Salt Creek recreational trail, which runs east-west along Salt Creek, connecting Hemet to Sun City. A few proposed trails and bikeways serve residential, commercial, and mixed uses, increasing the accessibility to these uses by pedestrians, cyclists, and equestrian enthusiasts.
Policies:
HVWAP 13.1 Maintain and improve the trails and bikeways system, as shown on Figure 9, and as it is discussed in the Non-Motorized Transportation section of the General Plan Circulation Element.
Scenic Highways provide the motorist with views of distinctive natural characteristics that are not typical of other areas in the County. The intent of these policies is to conserve significant scenic resources along scenic highways for future generations and to manage development along scenic highways and corridors so that it will not detract from the area's natural characteristics.
The purpose of the California Scenic Highways program, which was established in 1963, is to "Preserve and protect scenic highway corridors from change which would diminish the aesthetic value of lands adjacent to highways."
As shown on Figure 10, Scenic Highways, there is one County Eligible and one State Eligible Scenic Highway in the planning area. State Route 74 from the Orange County border to the western edge of the San Bernardino National Forest has been designated as an Eligible State Scenic Highway. State Route 74 passes through Homeland, Romoland, and Green Acres. State Route 74 continues east out of the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area to the Palms to Pines Highway, an official State Scenic Highway. Menifee Road is a County Eligible Scenic Highway that runs from State Route 74 south out of the planning area eventually connecting with Interstate 215. From these two roadways, views of the Lakeview and Dawson Mountains and Double Butte are provided.
Policies:
HVWAP 14.1 Protect the scenic highways in the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area from change that would diminish the aesthetic value of adjacent properties in accordance with the Scenic Corridors sections of the General Plan Land Use, Multipurpose Open Space, and Circulation Elements.
"Investment in and expansion of the existing freeway and arterial street networks continue to be a critical part of our comprehensive transportation system development."
- RCIP Vision
The Transit Oasis is a concept to improve transportation options in Riverside County by providing an integrated system of local serving, rubber-tired transit that is linked with a regional transportation system, such as MetroLink or express buses. In the Transit Oasis concept, rubber-tired transit vehicles operate on a single prioritized or dedicated lane in a one-way, continuous loop. The Transit Oasis is designed to fit into community centers, which provide the types of densities and concentrated development patterns that can allow this concept to become a reality.
In the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area, the Transit Oasis concept may be accommodated in the Community Center Overlays. The Transit Oasis would provide local serving transit to the residents and businesses in and adjacent to the community centers as well as convenient access to regional circulation systems. Due to their strategic locations, these Transit Oasis systems could potentially connect with regional transit systems that may be provided within the Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore and Banning/Beaumont to Temecula CETAP Corridors.
Policies:
HVWAP 15.1 Support the development and implementation of a Transit Oasis system in the Community Center Overlays in accordance with the Public Transportation System section of the General Plan Circulation Element.
Currently, State Route 79 (Winchester Road) runs north-south through the center of the community of Winchester. The State Route 79 (SR 79) Project will re-align the existing State Route 79 between Lamb Canyon Road on the north and Newport Road on the south causing the highway to bypass the Winchester Policy Area. The SR 79 Project will provide a greater traffic capacity to meet increasing traffic demands within Riverside County. While the precise alignment of this relocation has not been set, all current alignments show the roadway veering east of Winchester. The existing State Route 79 will remain as a secondary arterial highway. This re-alignment is a separate effort from the Community and Environmental Transportation Acceptability Process (CETAP) portion of the RCIP.
The implementation of a transit station, which would serve the Transit Oasis and regional rail transit concepts, would reinforce the unique community core and help bring visitors to Winchester. In that context, existing State Route 79 remains an important future transit link. The Harvest Valley/Winchester Area Plan provides an opportunity to complete a transit connection between Winchester and Temecula along State Route 79 through the acquisition of additional right-of-way that is required to be dedicated for future transit use. Transit improvements could include additional road lanes, a dedicated transit lane, or other transportation improvements.
Please see the General Plan Circulation Element for more Transit Corridor policies.
Policies:
HVWAP 16.1 Require the dedication of right-of-way along existing State Route 79 (Winchester Road) for future transportation/transit improvements.
Community and Environmental Transportation Acceptability Process (CETAP) Corridors
The population and employment of Riverside County are expected to significantly increase over the next twenty years. The Community and Environmental Transportation Acceptability Process (CETAP) was established to evaluate the need and the opportunities for the development of new or expanded transportation corridors in western Riverside County to accommodate increased growth and preserve quality of life. These transportation corridors include a range of transportation options such as highways or transit, and are developed with careful consideration for potential impacts to habitat requirements, land use plans, and public infrastructure. CETAP has identified three priority corridors for the movement of people and goods: Banning/ Beaumont to Temecula, Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore, and Moreno Valley to San Bernardino County.
In the Harvest Valley/Winchester planning area, the Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore CETAP Corridor passes east to west and connects with the re-aligned State Route 79. Two alternative alignments for the Banning/Beaumont to Temecula CETAP Corridor travel southwest through the planning area to connect with Interstate 215. These corridors could accommodate a number of transportation options, including vehicular traffic and high occupancy vehicle lanes.
Policies: