County of Riverside General Plan Sun City/Menifee Area Plan - COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE October 2011
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County of Riverside General Plan Sun City/Menifee Area Plan COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE Transportation and Land Management Agency 4080 Lemon Street, 12th Floor Riverside, CA 92501-3634 Phone: (951) 955-3200, Fax: (951) 955-1811 October 2011
County of Riverside General Plan
Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Vision Summary..........................................................................................................................................................iv
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 1
A Special Note on Implementing the Vision ........................................................................................................ 1
Location ........................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Features ........................................................................................................................................................................ 9
Setting ....................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Unique Features ........................................................................................................................................................ 9
Salt Creek ............................................................................................................................................................. 9
Unique Communities .............................................................................................................................................. 10
Sun City ............................................................................................................................................................. 10
Newport Road Corridor/Menifee Village ........................................................................................................... 10
South Valley ....................................................................................................................................................... 10
Quail Valley ....................................................................................................................................................... 10
Incorporated Cities .................................................................................................................................................. 10
Land Use Plan ............................................................................................................................................................ 15
Land Use Concept ................................................................................................................................................... 15
Community Centers............................................................................................................................................ 16
Policy Areas ................................................................................................................................................................ 25
Policy Areas ............................................................................................................................................................ 25
Senior Design ..................................................................................................................................................... 25
Interstate 215 Corridor ....................................................................................................................................... 26
Very Low Density Residential Area West of Interstate 215 .............................................................................. 27
Scott Road Policy Area ...................................................................................................................................... 27
Leon/Keller Road Policy Area ........................................................................................................................... 28
Highway 79 Policy Area .................................................................................................................................... 28
Estate Density Residential and Rural Residential Area East of Interstate 215 ................................................... 28
Specific Plans ..................................................................................................................................................... 29
Land Use ..................................................................................................................................................................... 33
Local Land Use Policies ......................................................................................................................................... 33
Community Centers............................................................................................................................................ 33
Third and Fifth Supervisorial District Design Standards and Guidelines ........................................................... 33
Public Facilities and Services ............................................................................................................................. 34
Neighborhood Commercial ................................................................................................................................ 34
McCall Boulevard Corridor ............................................................................................................................... 35
Mt. Palomar Nighttime Lighting ........................................................................................................................ 36
Urban/Rural Land Use Interface ........................................................................................................................ 36
Circulation .................................................................................................................................................................. 39
Local Circulation Policies ....................................................................................................................................... 39
Vehicular Circulation System ............................................................................................................................ 39
Rail System ........................................................................................................................................................ 40
Trails and Bikeway System ................................................................................................................................ 40
Scenic Highways ................................................................................................................................................ 40
Transit Oasis ...................................................................................................................................................... 47
Community and Environmental Transportation Acceptability Process (CETAP) .............................................. 48
Transportation Demand Management ................................................................................................................ 48
Page iiCounty of Riverside General Plan
Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
Circulation Improvements .................................................................................................................................. 48
Multipurpose Open Space ......................................................................................................................................... 51
Local Open Space Policies ...................................................................................................................................... 51
Watercourses ...................................................................................................................................................... 51
Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................................................. 51
Proposed Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan ........................................................................................... 52
MSHCP Program Description ............................................................................................................................ 52
Key Biological Issues ......................................................................................................................................... 52
Hazards ....................................................................................................................................................................... 55
Local Hazard Policies ............................................................................................................................................. 55
Flooding and Dam Inundation ............................................................................................................................ 55
Wildland Fire Hazard ......................................................................................................................................... 56
Seismic ............................................................................................................................................................... 56
Slope .................................................................................................................................................................. 56
LIST OF FIGURES
1: Location ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7
2: Physical Features ..................................................................................................................................................... 13
3: Land Use Plan.......................................................................................................................................................... 19
4: Policy Areas............................................................................................................................................................. 31
5: Mt. Palomar Nighttime Lighting Policy .................................................................................................................. 38
6: Circulation ............................................................................................................................................................... 41
7: Trails and Bikeway System ..................................................................................................................................... 43
8: Scenic Highways ..................................................................................................................................................... 45
9: Flood Hazards .......................................................................................................................................................... 57
10: Wildfire Susceptibility ........................................................................................................................................... 59
11: Seismic Hazards .................................................................................................................................................... 61
12: Steep Slope ............................................................................................................................................................ 63
13: Slope Instability ..................................................................................................................................................... 65
LIST OF TABLES
1: Land Use Designations Summary ............................................................................................................................ 21
2: Statistical Summary of the Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan ............................................................................. 23
3: Adopted Specific Plans in Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan ............................................................................. 29
Page iiiCounty of Riverside General Plan
Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
Vision Summary
T he County of Riverside General Plan and Area Plans have been shaped by the RCIP Vision. The following is
a summary of the Vision Statement that includes many of the salient points brought forth by the residents of
Sun City/Menifee Valley as well as the rest of the County of Riverside. The RCIP Vision reflects the County
of Riverside in the year 2020. So, Afast forward@ yourself to 2020 and here is what it will be like.
ARiverside County is a family of special communities in a remarkable environmental setting.@
It is now the year 2020. This year (incidentally, also a communities and nearby open space preserves help
common reference to clear vision), is an appropriate define them. Our growth focus is on quality, not
time to check our community vision. Twenty years have quantity. That allows the numbers to work for us and
passed since we took an entirely new look at how the not against us. We enjoy an unprecedented clarity
County of Riverside was evolving. Based on what we regarding what areas must not be developed and which
saw, we set bold new directions for the future. As we ones should be developed. The resulting pattern of
now look around and move through the County, the growth concentrates development in key areas rather
results are notable. They could happen only in response than spreading it uniformly throughout the County.
to universal values strongly held by the people. Some Land is used more efficiently, communities operate at
of those values are: more of a human scale, and transit systems to
supplement the automobile are more feasible. In fact,
$ Real dedication to a sense of community; the customized AOasis@ transit system now operates
$ Appreciation for the diversity of our people and quite successfully in several cities and communities.
places within this expansive landscape;
$ Belief in the value of participation by our people in Our Communities and
shaping their communities;
$ Confidence in the future and faith that our long Neighborhoods
term commitments will pay off; Your choice in the kind of community and
$ Willingness to innovate and learn from our neighborhood we prefer is almost unlimited here. From
experience; sophisticated urban villages to quality suburban
$ Dedication to the preservation of the environmental neighborhoods to spacious rural enclaves, we have them
features that frame our communities; all. If you are like most of us, you appreciate the
$ Respect for our differences and willingness to work quality schools and their programs that are the
toward their resolution; centerpiece of many of our neighborhoods. Not only
$ Commitment to quality development in partnership have our older communities matured gracefully, but we
with those who help build our communities; boast several new communities as well. They prove
$ The value of collaboration by our elected officials that quality of life comes in many different forms.
in conducting public business.
Housing
Those values and the plans they inspired have brought We challenge you to seek a form of housing or a range
us a long way. True, much remains to be done. But our in price that does not exist here. Our housing choices,
energies and resources are being invested in a unified from rural retreat to suburban neighborhood to
direction, based on the common ground we have exclusive custom estate are as broad as the demand for
affirmed many times during the last 20 years. Perhaps housing requires. Choices include entry level housing
our achievements will help you understand why we for first time buyers, apartments serving those not now
believe we are on the right path. in the buying market, seniors= housing, and world class
golf communities. You will also find Asmart@ housing
Population Growth with the latest in built-in technology as well as
The almost doubling of our population in only 20 years refurbished historic units. The County of Riverside
has been a challenge, but we have met it by focusing continues to draw people who are looking for a blend of
that growth in areas that are well served by public quality and value.
facilities and services or where they can readily be
provided. Major transportation corridors serve our
Transportation It is no secret that the distances in this vast County can
be a bit daunting. Yet, our transportation system has
Page ivCounty of Riverside General Plan
Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
kept pace amazingly well with the growth in Long a major foundation of our economy and our
population, employment and tourism and their demands culture, agriculture remains a thriving part of the
for mobility. We are perhaps proudest of the new and County of Riverside. While we have lost some
expanded transportation corridors that connect growth agriculture to other forms of development, other lands
centers throughout the County. They do more than have been brought into agricultural production. We are
provide a way for people and goods to get where they still a major agricultural force in California and
need to be. Several major corridors have built-in compete successfully in the global agricultural market.
expansion capability to accommodate varied forms of
transit. These same corridors are designed with a high Educational System
regard for the environment in mind, including providing Quality education, from pre-school through graduate
for critical wildlife crossings so that our open spaces programs, marks the County of Riverside as a place
can sustain their habitat value. where educational priorities are firmly established. A
myriad of partnerships involving private enterprise and
Conservation and Open Space cooperative programs between local governments and
Resources school districts are in place, making the educational
The often-impassioned conflicts regarding what lands to system an integral part of our communities.
permanently preserve as open space are virtually
resolved. The effort to consider our environmental Plan Integration
resources, recreation needs, habitat systems, and visual The coordinated planning for multi-purpose open space
heritage as one comprehensive, multi-purpose open systems, community based land use patterns, and a
space system has resulted in an unprecedented diversified transportation system has paid off
commitment to their preservation. In addition, these handsomely. Integration of these major components of
spaces help to form distinctive edges to many of our community building has resulted in a degree of
communities or clusters of communities. What is certainty and clarity of direction not commonly
equally satisfying is that they were acquired in a variety achieved in the face of such dynamic change.
of creative and equitable ways.
Financial Realities
Air Quality From the very beginning, our vision included the
It may be hard to believe, but our air quality has practical consideration of how we would pay for the
actually improved slightly despite the phenomenal qualities our expectations demanded. Creative, yet
growth that has occurred in the region. Most of that practical financing programs provide the necessary
growth, of course, has been in adjacent counties and we leverage to achieve a high percentage of our aspirations
continue to import their pollutants. We are on the verge expressed in the updated RCIP.
of a breakthrough in technical advances to reduce smog
from cars and trucks. Not only that, but our expanded Intergovernmental Cooperation
supply of jobs reduces the need for people here to As a result of the necessary coordination between the
commute as far as in the past. County, the cities and other governmental agencies
brought about through the RCIP, a high degree of
Jobs and Economy intergovernmental cooperation and even partnership is
In proportion to population, our job growth is now commonplace. This way of doing public business
spectacular. Not only is our supply of jobs beyond any has become a tradition and the County of Riverside is
previously projected level, it has become quite renowned for its many model intergovernmental
diversified. Clusters of new industries have brought programs.
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
Page vCounty of Riverside General Plan
Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
Introduction
T he Menifee Valley conveys to the resident and visitor alike a sense of
spaciousness. For the most partBexcept for the abrupt hillocks that dot the
landscapeBthe Valley=s flatness is accentuated by the surrounding hills and
distant mountains. Long the home of the Sun City retirement community
(the reason for this area plan=s double name), the empty spaces are now more
rapidly filling with suburban and rural community expansion. Especially near the
Throughout the Area Plan, special dominating swath cut by the Interstate 215 Freeway and along the Newport Road
features have been included to corridor, it is as if a magnet had attracted the numerous recent and emerging
enhance the readability and
developments. Many more are still on paper, waiting to demonstrate evidence that
practicality of the information
provided. Look for these elements:
this is one of the major growth areas in Western Riverside County.
The Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan doesn=t just provide a description of the
Ÿ location, physical characteristics, and special features here. It contains a Land Use
Plan, statistical summaries, policies, and accompanying exhibits that allow
Quotes C quotations from the RCIP anyone interested in the continued prosperity of this distinctive Valley to
Vision or individuals involved or understand the physical, environmental and regulatory characteristics that make
concerned with Riverside County. 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.
Factoids C interesting information Each section of the Area Plan addresses critical issues facing Sun City/Menifee
about Riverside County that is related Valley. Perhaps a description of these sections will help in understanding the
to the element 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
References C contacts and
resources that can be consulted for
to the Land Use Plan section, which describes the land use system guiding
additional information development at both the countywide and area plan levels.
While a number of these designations reflect the unique features found only in the
Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan, a number of special policies are still
necessary to address unique situations. The Policy Areas section presents these
Definitions C clarification of terms
policies. Land use isn=t the only key factor in developing and conserving land
and vocabulary used in certain
policies or text.
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 both natural and man made hazards to consider, and they are spelled out in the
Hazards section.
There is already a strong sense of community in this impressive valley.
Unincorporated land is all land within
Maintaining that identity in the face of extensive growth and change is the
the County that is not within an
incorporated city or an Indian Nation. challenge.
Generally, it is subject to policy
direction and under the land use A Special Note on Implementing the Vision
authority of the Board of Supervisors.
However, it may also contain state
The preface to this area plan is a summary version of the Riverside County
and federal properties that lie outside
of Board authority.
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
Page 1County of Riverside General Plan
Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
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 reflects 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 Sun City/ Menifee Valley
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. The largest single Community Center
designation in the County territory is located here in the south central portion of
the Valley. Though not designated as a Community Center, another major
development concentration occurs along McCall Boulevard. Taken together, these
concentrations are not only major employment centers; they are also the most
dominant organizing features of the Plan.
Salt Creek. This watercourse is another major influence on the character of the
Valley, traversing it from east to west and flowing into Canyon Lake. It offers
outstanding value in the area of drainage, flood control, and water conservation.
The Plan reinforces these functions through the Open Space-Recreation land use
designation. Other watercourses within the Plan area are recognized with the
Watercourse overlay designation as well.
Community Buffers. Because of the relatively unconstrained nature of the
landscape, Sun City/Menifee accommodates a high proportion of the land area in
Community Development and Rural Community designations. Yet, opportunities
to maintain community edges exist on the east, west and southerly reaches of the
Plan. This is achieved through a combination of Rural Residential, Rural
Mountainous, and Estate Density Residential designations, capitalizing on
established land use patterns and the hills toward the Valley=s south and west
perimeters.
Senior Policy Area. A unique aspect of this Plan is its long-standing
commitment to land use and design options that accommodate housing for senior
citizens. This is manifested in the decades-old Sun City development and
extends into surrounding vacant lands as well. This will continue to reinforce the
Page 2County of Riverside General Plan
Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
role the Sun City area plays in accommodating the special needs of a growing
segment of the population.
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.
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Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
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Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
Location
T he pivotal location of this area is clearly evident in Figure 1, Location.
The Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan is surrounded by four area plans
that 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 plans for Elsinore, Mead Valley,
and Harvest Valley/Winchester. The Cities of Perris, Lake Elsinore, Canyon
Lake, and Murrieta frame this 30,000-acre valley on the north, west, and south.
The massive new Diamond Valley Lake lies to the east. These relationships can
be better visualized by reference to Figure 1, Location, which also depicts the
unincorporated places that have a strong local identity. As a framework for these
locales, some of the more prominent physical features are also shown on
Figure 1.
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Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
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Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
Figure 1: Location
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Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
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Page 8County of Riverside General Plan
Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
Features
T he 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
Sun City/Menifee Valley area affords an ample view of the mountain
vistas that dominate the remarkable setting of the western County. This section
describes the setting, features and functions that are unique to the Sun
City/Menifee Valley Area Plan. These defining characteristics are shown on
Figure 2, Physical Features.
SETTING
Menifee Valley consists largely of a flat valley floor surrounded by hillside and
mountainous features. Rugged rock outcroppings are scattered throughout the
area and serve to break up the visual sameness typical of unvaried landscapes.
The communities of Sun City and Menifee surround Interstate 215, north and
south of Newport Road. Pockets of rural residential and very low density
development scatter throughout the periphery of the valley, with occasional
estate development spotted among the hillside areas. This pattern, for example,
typifies the Murrieta hills along the plan=s southern border west of Interstate 215.
Quail Valley, a small community of distinct character, lies to the west of Sun
City, north of the City of Canyon Lake.
To understand the significance of what is happening in this broad valley today
and what is envisioned in the future, it pays to examine the rich history and
heritage surrounding this land. Over a hundred years agoBin fact, back in the
1880sB this community was settled by dryland grain farmers. They were not
alone. The area has also hosted a gold mining district, the cultivation of alfalfa
and other irrigated crops, and even inland rail connections between Colton,
Temecula, Perris, and San Jacinto.
Looking to the future, given the absence of significant seismic or geologic
hazards, convenient access to Interstate 215Ban important corridor between
Riverside and the Temecula ValleyBand enough flat land to accommodate
significant amounts of development, the area is well suited to accommodate
growth pressures in a way that fulfills the Riverside County Vision.
UNIQUE FEATURES
Salt Creek
A huge swath of shallow watercourse known as Salt Creek bisects the plan area
in a generally east to west orientation. While channelized within the developed
areas of Sun City and Menifee, Salt Creek returns to its natural state as it flows
toward the west and the City of Canyon Lake. The much smaller Paloma wash
tributary also bisects the landscape, crossing Interstate 215 south of Holland
Road and continuing to the southern Plan boundary. The Eastern Municipal
Water District operates a groundwater desalter and Abrine line@ to Orange
County at a plant north of Salt Creek and west of Murrieta Road.
Page 9County of Riverside General Plan
Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
UNIQUE COMMUNITIES
Sun City
True urbanization commenced with the founding of Sun City in 1962, west of
Interstate 215 and north of Salt Creek. The community was initially a "seniors
only" housing development as part of the Del Webb complex of retirement
communities. Over the years, some family developments and apartments began
to appear. Supporting commercial and retail shops have also been added as the
population grew. Overall, the community is not as uniform in character as its
early image might suggest. Larger lot residential and vacant parcels are located
to the north of Sun City, adjacent to the City of Perris.
Newport Road Corridor/Menifee Village
The most recently emerging focus of development has occurred through
approved Specific Plans along Newport Road. Menifee Village/Menifee Lakes
was the first of these residential communities with recreational uses, open space,
and schools to be developed. Similar specific plans along Newport Road
westerly of Interstate 215 will redefine the character of this part of the Valley.
Commercial centers along Newport Road are focused at intersections with
Antelope, Bradley, and Murrieta Roads.
South Valley
In its most southerly extent, Menifee Valley is characterized by rural community
residential development (generally one acre or larger lot sizes) interspersed with
vacant lots and occasional hillocks and picturesque rock outcroppings so typical
of western Riverside County. A limited amount of supporting uses, including
schools and commercial development serve the residents. Some agricultural
activity remains, together with private animal-keeping activities and other home-
based businesses.
Quail Valley
Quail Valley is a somewhat isolated and hilly residential community of small
lots served by a grid of narrow streets. Parcel configurations here were
established years ago. The area is not served by sewers, yet most of the lots are
A "sphere of influence" is the area too small for the keeping of large animals. Quail Valley is directly adjacent to
outside of and adjacent to a city=s the nearby gated community now incorporated as Canyon Lake. Despite their
border that the city has identified as a proximity, the two communities have no direct internal physical connection.
future logical extension of its Much of the undeveloped land here is within specific plans. Outside of the
jurisdiction. While the County of
specific plan areas, the character and density of this community is expected to
Riverside has land use authority over
city sphere areas, development in remain unchanged through the life of the Plan.
these areas directly affects circulation,
service provision, and community
character within the cities.
INCORPORATED CITIES
While no incorporated cities are contained within the Area Plan boundaries, the
planning area is bordered by four cities: Murrieta, Perris, Canyon Lake, and
Lake Elsinore. The City of Murrieta extends to the southern portion of the
Page 10County of Riverside General Plan
Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
Valley along Interstate 215 (in fact, a small portion of its Sphere of Influence is
included within the boundary of this area plan) and, to the southwest, the City of
Canyon Lake lies just beyond the Area Plan boundary. The City of Lake
Elsinore extends to the Plan=s boundary, while the City of Perris is adjacent to
the northerly edge of the Plan.
It is noteworthy that most of this planning area has been designated as an
Unincorporated Community by the Local Agency Formation Commission
(LAFCO) in recognition of a community interest in considering eventual
A Community of Interest (COI) is a incorporation and in preventing piecemeal annexation to adjacent cities.
study area designated by LAFCO
within unincorporated territory that
may be annexed to one or more cities
or special districts, incorporated as a
new city, or designated as an
Unincorporated Community (UC)
within two years of status obtainment.
Designation of an area as a UC may
require removal from a municipal
sphere of influence since the two
designations are mutually exclusive.
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Page 12County of Riverside General Plan
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Figure 2: Physical Features
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Page 14County of Riverside General Plan
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Land Use Plan
T he Land Use Plan focuses on preserving the unique features in the Sun
City/Menifee Valley 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 Sun City/Menifee Valley Land Use Plan, Figure 3, depicts the geographic
distribution of land uses within this area. The Plan is organized around 30 Area
Plan land use designations and five overlays. These 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 Sun City/Menifee Valley 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.
LAND USE CONCEPT
The Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan reflects much of the previous
Community Plan. To the extent possible, Community Development areas extend
Ÿ outward from the existing urbanized community areas. Furthermore, an effort is
made, wherever existing and already approved land uses permit, to enhance
Growth is focused in areas that are well existing concentrations of activity and distinguish them from other
served by public facilities and services. concentrations in and around the Area Plan. For example, a Rural Mountainous
Major transportation corridors link our designation in the northeast quadrant separates the McCall Boulevard corridor
communities and nearby open space
from the developed Menifee Village north of Newport Road. The McCall
preserves help define them. It is clear
what areas are to be developed and which Boulevard corridor is anchored by Commercial Retail and Business Park
are to be preserved. designations near Interstate 215, with Commercial Office, and Medium, Medium
High and Very High Density Residential designations to the east.
-RCIP Vision Light Industrial uses along the north edge of the Plan area both east and west of
Interstate 215 relate to transportation corridors, including a rail corridor along
the diagonal edge of the Plan in the north. To the west of Interstate 215, the
Medium Density Residential designation extends the character of the existing
Page 15County of Riverside General Plan
Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
Sun City development toward the edges of the Plan. At that point, a Rural
Mountainous designation sets Quail Valley, with its distinct character, apart
from Sun City. The potential for Commercial Retail development serving Quail
Valley is recognized along Goetz Road, allowing for a different scale of focus in
keeping with the needs of this specialized community.
Both the channelized and natural portions of Salt Creek have been designated
Open Space-Recreation to allow the potential for the channel to serve both flood
control and recreation purposes. This dominant feature offers another
opportunity to distinguish development sectors from each other. Residential
subdivisions and specific plans characterize the area south of Salt Creek along
Newport Road. Medium, Medium High, and High Density Residential
designations dominate here, together with Commercial Retail.
Community Centers
The most significant Community Center Overlay designation in unincorporated
Riverside County is located on either side of Interstate 215, generally between
Holland and Scott Roads. This overlay provides the potential for development of
For more information on
a mix of uses envisioned as both a Job Center and a Town Center, as described
in the General Plan Land Use Element. As a Community Center Overlay, this
Community Center types, please refer allows properties to be developed either as a Community Center or pursuant to
to the Land Use Policies within this the underlying designations.
area plan and the Land Use
Designations section of the General A Job Center could accommodate light industrial, business park, commercial
Plan Land Use Element. office, retail, and high density residential uses. The Community Center overlay
allows for a diverse mix of uses to make this a true focal point for the
community.
A Town Center could accommodate a mix of residential, commercial,
recreational, and civic uses to more fully achieve a sense of place and
community. It will be very important to connect this center to the fabric of the
Sun City/Menifee Valley community by a network of multipurpose corridors
accommodating pedestrian, automobile, bicycle, and transit modes of travel.
Design will matter a great deal here, owing to the potential complexity of uses
and importance of tying into the area=s transportation network. Access to and
from Interstate 215 and major east-west corridors, as well as design of linkages
to the customized Oasis transit system (see the Circulation section of this area
plan for more details) will be fundamental requirements for success of this
development. A major nearby community asset, Mt. San Jacinto Community
College, offers a further opportunity for linkage to this multi-purpose center.
One of the design opportunities to make this a special place is provided by the
Paloma Wash, which runs diagonally through the area. Still another opportunity
is the Ringing Rock archaeological site and future interpretive center, located
west of Interstate 215 at the Craig Avenue/Haun Road intersection. Even though
it is outside the Community Center designation, per se, its proximity is a natural
asset to be recognized in development design that will enhance the Community
Center.
There is a gradual Afalling off@ of densities beyond the Community Center, from
nearby Medium Density Residential designations to Rural Community Very
Low
Page 16County of Riverside General Plan
Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
Density Residential designations. This pattern is even further emphasized by a
Rural Mountainous area separating Menifee Valley from the City of Murrieta,
west of Interstate 215. Light Industrial and Commercial Retail designations take
advantage of the major Scott Road/Interstate 215 intersection south of the
Community Center: a further enhancement of the huge amount of activity
focused in this part of the Plan.
Wherever possible, such as along Paloma Wash, the intent is for open space to
figure heavily in the design of development projects. This approach, in fact, is a
fundamental requirement to capitalize on the more limited natural open space
features here, as compared to many of the other area plans in western Riverside
County. Each hillock, rock outcropping, slope, and drainage course must be used
to enhance the development that occurs here.
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Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
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Page 18County of Riverside General Plan
Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
Figure 3: Land Use Plan
Page 19County of Riverside General Plan
Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
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Page 20County of Riverside General Plan
Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
Table 1: Land Use Designations Summary
Building Intensity
Foundation Area Plan Land Use Range (du/ac or
Component Designation FAR) 1, 2,3 Notes
$ Agricultural land including row crops, groves, nurseries, dairies, poultry farms, processing plants,
and other related uses.
Agriculture Agriculture (AG) 10 ac min.
$ One single-family residence allowed per 10 acres except as otherwise specified by a policy or an
overlay.
$ Single-family residences with a minimum lot size of 5 acres.
$ Allows limited animal keeping and agricultural uses, recreational uses, compatible resource
Rural Residential (RR) 5 ac min.
development (not including the commercial extraction of mineral resources) and associated uses and
governmental uses.
$ Single-family residential uses with a minimum lot size of 10 acres.
$ Areas of at least 10 acres where a minimum of 70% of the area has slopes of 25% or greater.
Rural Mountainous
10 ac min. $ Allows limited animal keeping, agriculture, recreational uses, compatible resource development
Rural (RM)
(which may include the commercial extraction of mineral resources with approval of a SMP) and
associated uses and governmental uses.
$ Single-family residential uses with a minimum lot size of 10 acres.
$ Allows limited animal keeping, agriculture, recreational, renewable energy uses including solar,
Rural Desert (RD) 10 ac min. geothermal and wind energy uses, as well as associated uses required to develop and operate these
renewable energy sources, compatible resource development (which may include the commercial
extraction of mineral resources with approval of SMP), and governmental and utility uses.
Estate Density $ Single-family detached residences on large parcels of 2 to 5 acres.
2 ac min.
Residential (RC-EDR) $ Limited agriculture, intensive equestrian and animal keeping uses are expected and encouraged.
Very Low Density $ Single-family detached residences on large parcels of 1 to 2 acres.
Rural
Residential (RC- 1 ac min. $ Limited agriculture, intensive equestrian and animal keeping uses are expected and encouraged.
Community
VLDR)
Low Density $ Single-family detached residences on large parcels of 2 to 1 acre.
2 ac min.
Residential (RC-LDR) $ Limited agriculture, intensive equestrian and animal keeping uses are expected and encouraged.
$ The protection of open space for natural hazard protection, and natural and scenic resource
Conservation (C) N/A
preservation. Existing agriculture is permitted.
Conservation Habitat $ Applies to public and private lands conserved and managed in accordance with adopted Multi
N/A
(CH) Species Habitat and other Conservation Plans.
$ Includes bodies of water and natural or artificial drainage corridors.
Water (W) N/A $ Extraction of mineral resources subject to SMP may be permissible provided that flooding hazards
are addressed and long term habitat and riparian values are maintained.
Open Space
$ Recreational uses including parks, trails, athletic fields, and golf courses.
Recreation (R) N/A
$ Neighborhood parks are permitted within residential land uses.
$ One single-family residence allowed per 20 acres.
Rural (RUR) 20 ac min. $ Extraction of mineral resources subject to SMP may be permissible provided that scenic resources
and views are protected.
Mineral Resources $ Mineral extraction and processing facilities.
N/A
(MR) $ Areas held in reserve for future mineral extraction and processing.
$ Single-family detached residences on large parcels of 2 to 5 acres.
Estate Density
2 ac min. $ Limited agriculture and animal keeping is permitted, however, intensive animal keeping is
Residential (EDR)
discouraged.
$ Single-family detached residences on large parcels of 1 to 2 acres.
Very Low Density
1 ac min. $ Limited agriculture and animal keeping is permitted, however, intensive animal keeping is
Residential (VLDR)
discouraged.
$ Single-family detached residences on large parcels of 2 to 1 acre.
Low Density
2 ac min. $ Limited agriculture and animal keeping is permitted, however, intensive animal keeping is
Residential (LDR)
Community discouraged.
Development $ Single-family detached and attached residences with a density range of 2 to 5 dwelling units per
acre.
Medium Density
2 - 5 du/ac $ Limited agriculture and animal keeping is permitted, however, intensive animal keeping is
Residential (MDR)
discouraged.
$ Lot sizes range from 5,500 to 20,000 sq. ft., typical 7,200 sq. ft. lots allowed.
$ Single-family attached and detached residences with a density range of 5 to 8 dwelling units per
Medium High Density
5 - 8 du/ac acre.
Residential (MHDR)
$ Lot sizes range from 4,000 to 6,500 sq. ft.
High Density $ Single-family attached and detached residences, including townhouses, stacked flats, courtyard
8 - 14 du/ac homes, patio homes, townhouses, and zero lot line homes .
Residential (HDR)
Very High Density 14 - 20 du/ac $ Single-family attached residences and multi-family dwellings.
Page 21County of Riverside General Plan
Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan
Table 1: Land Use Designations Summary
Building Intensity
Foundation Area Plan Land Use Range (du/ac or
Component Designation FAR) 1, 2,3 Notes
Residential (VHDR)
Highest Density $ Multi-family dwellings, includes apartments and condominium.
20+ du/ac $ Multi-storied (3+) structures are allowed.
Residential (HHDR)
$ Local and regional serving retail and service uses. The amount of land designated for Commercial
Commercial Retail 0.20 - 0.35 FAR Retail exceeds that amount anticipated to be necessary to serve the County's population at build out.
(CR) Once build out of Commercial Retail reaches the 40% level within any Area Plan, additional studies
will be required before CR development beyond the 40 % will be permitted.
Commercial Tourist $ Tourist related commercial including hotels, golf courses, and recreation/amusement activities.
0.20 - 0.35 FAR
(CT)
Commercial Office $ Variety of office related uses including financial, legal, insurance and other office services.
0.35 - 1.0 FAR
(CO)
Community $ Industrial and related uses including warehousing/distribution, assembly and light manufacturing,
Development Light Industrial (LI) 0.25 - 0.60 FAR repair facilities, and supporting retail uses .
$ More intense industrial activities that generate significant impacts such as excessive noise, dust, and
Heavy Industrial (HI) 0.15 - 0.50 FAR
other nuisances.
$ Employee intensive uses, including research & development, technology centers, corporate offices,
Business Park (BP) 0.25 - 0.60 FAR
Aclean@ industry and supporting retail uses.
Public Facilities (PF) < 0.60 FAR $ Civic uses such as County administrative buildings and schools.
$ Includes combination of small-lot single family residences, multi-family residences, commercial
Community Center 5 - 40 du/ac retail, office, business park uses, civic uses, transit facilities, and recreational open space within a
(CC) 0.10 - 0.3 FAR unified planned development area. This also includes Community Centers in adopted specific
plans.
$ This designation is applied to areas outside of Community Centers. The intent of the
Mixed Use Planning designation is not to identify a particular mixture or intensity of land uses, but to designate
Area areas where a mixture of residential, commercial, office, entertainment, educational, and/or
recreational uses, or other uses is planned.
Overlays and Policy Areas
Overlays and Policy Areas are not considered a Foundation Component. Overlays and Policy Areas address local conditions and can be applied in any Foundation
Component. The specific details and development characteristics of each Policy Area and Overlay are contained in the appropriate Area Plan.
Community Development Overlay $ Allows Community Development land use designations to be applied through General Plan Amendments within specified
(CDO) areas within Rural, Rural Community, Agriculture, or Open Space Foundation Component areas. Specific policies related
to each Community Development Overlay are contained in the appropriate Area Plan.
Community Center Overlay (CCO) $ Allows for either a Community Center or the underlying designated land use to be developed.
Rural Village Overlay (RVO) and $ The Rural Village Overlay allows a concentration of residential and local-serving commercial uses within areas of rural
Rural Village Overlay Study Area character.
(RVOSA) $ The Rural Village Overlay allows the uses and maximum densities/intensities of the Medium Density Residential and
Medium High Density Residential and Commercial Retail land use designations.
$ In some rural village areas, identified as Rural Village Overlay Study Areas, the final boundaries will be determined at a
later date during the consistency zoning program. (The consistency zoning program is the process of bringing current
zoning into consistency with the adopted general plan.)
Watercourse Overlay (WCO) $ The Watercourse Overlay designates watercourses, including natural or controlled stream channels and flood control
channels.
Specific Community Development $ Permits flexibility in land uses designations to account for local conditions. Consult the applicable Area Plan text for
Designation Overlay details.
Policy Areas $ Policy Areas are specific geographic districts that contain unique characteristics that merit detailed attention and focused
policies. These policies may impact the underlying land use designations. At the Area Plan level, Policy Areas
accommodate several locally specific designations, such as the Limonite Policy Area (Jurupa Area Plan), or the Scott Road
Policy Area (Sun City/Menifee Valley Area Plan). Consult the applicable Area Plan text for details.
NOTES:
1
FAR = Floor Area Ratio, which is the measurement of the amount of non-residential building square footage in relation to the size of the lot. Du/ac = dwelling units
per acre, which is the measurement of the amount of residential units in a given acre.
2
The building intensity range noted is exclusive, that is the range noted provides a minimum and maximum building intensity.
3
Clustering is encouraged in all residential designations. The allowable density of a particular land use designation may be clustered in one portion of the site in smaller
lots, as long as the ratio of dwelling units/area remains within the allowable density range associated with the designation. The rest of the site would then be preserved
as open space or a use compatible with open space (e.g., agriculture, pasture or wildlife habitat). Within the Rural Foundation Component and Rural Designation of the
Open Space Foundation Component, the allowable density may be clustered as long as no lot is smaller than 2 acre. This 2 acre minimum lot size also applies to the
Rural Community Development Foundation Component. However, for sites adjacent to Community Development Foundation Component areas, 10,000 square foot
minimum lots are allowed. The clustered areas would be a mix of 10,000 and 2 acre lots. In such cases, larger lots or open space would be required near the project
boundary with Rural Community and Rural Foundation Component areas.
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