Work begins on city's third General Plan
Work is now in the initial stages for a new General Plan--the third in Yorba Linda’s 45-year history, following guiding documents previously adopted in 1971 and 1993.
A General Plan is “the Constitution for land-use decisions at the local level,” noted a League of California Cities publication, and such plans address seven state-required elements: land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, noise and safety.
Yorba Linda’s first General Plan was adopted by City Council in 1971 and approved by voters in a heated 1972 election (2,317 to 1,902) that also resulted in two more low-density supporters joining the three who defeated incumbents in the 1970 campaign.
The 1971 plan established a low-density city by setting the overall density goal of 2.8 residential units per acre, including streets, easements and open space directly serving residents of the base acre, reversing a less-restrictive 1962 county-prepared plan.
Several aspects of the current 1993 plan are now moot, since considerable development has occurred in intervening years, on occasion under exceptions to the plan’s guidelines. Council unanimously adopted the document, for which no ballot was required.
The 1993 plan provides density definitions, including the following for residential: up to 1.0 unit-per-acre for low density, up to 1.8 for medium low density, up to 3.0 for medium density, up to 4.0 for medium high density and up to 10.0 for high density.
But the current plan also allows exceptions for 141 acres in Town Center, with bonus densities of up to 15 units-per-acre permitted for developers under specific guidelines.
Completion of the new plan is expected September 2013, according to a timeline by Irvine-based RBF Consulting, awarded a $549,402 contract by council last month to update both the General Plan and the city’s 1982 Master Plan of Parks and Recreation.
One of three subcontractors working with RBF will be Yorba Linda-based Natelson Dale Group, which will analyze retail, hotel/motel, office and industrial land-use categories to, among other purposes, “project market demand for future development.”
Fortunately, an early component of the process will involve a “community visioning” phase, providing an opportunity for input from residents, including those who seek to preserve--as much as is still possible--the remnants of this city’s semi-rural heritage.
Among proposed “visioning activities” is a “visioning festival” to include community workshops, stakeholder meetings, city walks and a “vision charette,” which will permit participants “to work in groups on topics that interest them,” along with other activities.
A second process will focus on updating the parks and recreation plan, consisting of a needs assessment, outreach to cultural and equestrian groups and a sport group survey.
Many of these activities are expected to take place now through July, with a “draft vision and action plan” prepared in August. Keep an eye on the Yorba Linda Star for notices of upcoming public meetings.
A public vote on a new General Plan is required under Measure B, a voter-approved 2006 law governing changes in land-use documents.
A General Plan is “the Constitution for land-use decisions at the local level,” noted a League of California Cities publication, and such plans address seven state-required elements: land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, noise and safety.
Yorba Linda’s first General Plan was adopted by City Council in 1971 and approved by voters in a heated 1972 election (2,317 to 1,902) that also resulted in two more low-density supporters joining the three who defeated incumbents in the 1970 campaign.
The 1971 plan established a low-density city by setting the overall density goal of 2.8 residential units per acre, including streets, easements and open space directly serving residents of the base acre, reversing a less-restrictive 1962 county-prepared plan.
Several aspects of the current 1993 plan are now moot, since considerable development has occurred in intervening years, on occasion under exceptions to the plan’s guidelines. Council unanimously adopted the document, for which no ballot was required.
The 1993 plan provides density definitions, including the following for residential: up to 1.0 unit-per-acre for low density, up to 1.8 for medium low density, up to 3.0 for medium density, up to 4.0 for medium high density and up to 10.0 for high density.
But the current plan also allows exceptions for 141 acres in Town Center, with bonus densities of up to 15 units-per-acre permitted for developers under specific guidelines.
Completion of the new plan is expected September 2013, according to a timeline by Irvine-based RBF Consulting, awarded a $549,402 contract by council last month to update both the General Plan and the city’s 1982 Master Plan of Parks and Recreation.
One of three subcontractors working with RBF will be Yorba Linda-based Natelson Dale Group, which will analyze retail, hotel/motel, office and industrial land-use categories to, among other purposes, “project market demand for future development.”
Fortunately, an early component of the process will involve a “community visioning” phase, providing an opportunity for input from residents, including those who seek to preserve--as much as is still possible--the remnants of this city’s semi-rural heritage.
Among proposed “visioning activities” is a “visioning festival” to include community workshops, stakeholder meetings, city walks and a “vision charette,” which will permit participants “to work in groups on topics that interest them,” along with other activities.
A second process will focus on updating the parks and recreation plan, consisting of a needs assessment, outreach to cultural and equestrian groups and a sport group survey.
Many of these activities are expected to take place now through July, with a “draft vision and action plan” prepared in August. Keep an eye on the Yorba Linda Star for notices of upcoming public meetings.
A public vote on a new General Plan is required under Measure B, a voter-approved 2006 law governing changes in land-use documents.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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