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5.0 Environmental Analysis 5.1 Land Use Avion Project SEIR Page 5.1-2 The Black Mountain Ranch Subarea encompasses 5,098 acres and is generally bounded on the west, north, and east by unincorporated areas of San Diego County. The 4S Ranch and Santa Fe Valley Specific Plan areas form a portion of this county land. On the east, southeast, and south, the Black Mountain Ranch Subarea is bounded by the Rancho Peñasquitos and Rancho Bernardo Community Planning Areas and Subarea IV Torrey Highlands. 5.1.3 Regulatory Framework 5.1.3.1 City of San Diego General Plan State law requires each city to adopt a general plan to guide its future development, and mandates that the plan be periodically updated to assure its continuing relevance and value (State Planning and Zoning Law, California Government Code, Section 65300). State law also requires the inclusion of seven mandatory elements into the General Plan (land use, circulation, housing, conservation, noise, open space, and safety) but permits flexibility and the inclusion of optional elements to best meet the needs of a particular city. The City’s General Plan sets forth a comprehensive, long-range vision and policy framework to guide future development within the City. A comprehensive update of the City’s General Plan was adopted March 10, 2008 and was based on a new planning strategy for the City developed in the 2002 Strategic Framework Element. Known as the City of Villages strategy, the General Plan aims to redirect development away from undeveloped lands and toward already urbanized areas and/or areas with conditions allowing the integration of housing, employment, civic, and transit uses. This development strategy mirrors regional planning and smart growth principles intended to preserve remaining open space and natural habitat and focus development within areas with available public infrastructure. 5.1.3.2 Black Mountain Ranch Subarea Plan The Black Mountain Ranch (BMR) Subarea Plan constitutes Subarea I of the former North City Future Urbanizing Area (NCFUA) Framework Plan, and consists of approximately 5,098 acres of land. The goal of the land use element is to create a pattern of land use and conservation that is clearly distinguishable from surrounding communities and that fosters appealing and enjoyable neighborhoods and business districts. The land use element of the BMR Subarea Plan focuses development in two villages surrounded by significant open space, recreational amenities, and low- density development. Overall, the Subarea Plan allows for development of 5,400 residential units on 1,395 acres, 235 acres of non-residential development, and 3,065 acres of open space. The remaining acreage is identified for development of streets. The majority of the Subarea Plan has been built out, with only a small number of planned residential and non-residential units yet to be developed. The project site is within the area of the Subarea Plan referred to as the “Southeast Perimeter” properties, which are composed of four parcels (A, B, C, and D). The project site consists of Parcel C, totaling 41.48 acres, and is designated for 117 dwelling units.