NS-2222 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

NORTH HARBOR SPECIFIC PLAN 4.1 FOCUS PROJECT AREAS 4.1.1 Regional Setting The City of Santa Aha is in the heart of Orange County. Harbor Boulevard, one of the main commerdal arteries in the City, is located in the southwest portion of Santa .Ana. It is one of Santa Ana's major thoroughfares resulting from the commercial and industrial develop- ments along Harbor Boulevard. Santa Ana's Harbor Boulevard is viable because it is linked to all major highways. It allows transportation to a number of dif- ferent attractions throughout Orange County within a few minutes. The amusement parks within the region are major attractions bringing visitors from all parts of the world. Disneyland is the primary destination (Figure 4.1). People are enchanted by the famous cartoon characters and are treated to a day of fun and surprises. The addi- tion of Westcott will be an enlightening experience allowing tourists to fantasize they are in several foreign countries without leaving the park. Another amuse- ment park that is in Orange County is Knott's Barry Farm, known for its famous chicken dinners, jellies and western atmosphere. Orange County is fortunate to have four major cultural centers separated by a few minutes of freeway travel. The Orange County Performing Arts Center features world acclaimed opera and ballet companies, musicals, theater, symphonies and concerts. The second venue is Bower's Museum which displays cultural exhibits from around the world. The third site is h'vine Meadows, an outdoor amphitheater that showcases an array of musi- cal groups from rock and roll to classical. Lastly, there is Little Saigon, a settlement boasting the largest con- centration of Vietnamese culture outside of Vietnam. This ethnic community consists of authentic restaurants and shops that give it a unique atmosphere. California is in a sub-tropical region that allows people to enjoy outdoor activities all year round. Willowick Golf Course in Santa Aha has the distinction of being the second most used golf course in California. It is an 18 hole course that is conveniently located at Harbor Boulevard and Fifth Street. Mile Square Park is located in the nearby city of Fountain Valley. This park con- tains a variety of recreational facilities consisting of an archery range, golf course, basketball courts, baseball fields and a radio-controlled airplane air field. Newport Baach is located 20 minutes south of Santa Aha allowing for easy access to the Pacific Ocean. Newport Harbor is a great way to spend a day enjoying the vistas of one of the largest moorings of pleasure boats in the nation. Along the bayside there is a small umusement park, the Balboa Fun Zone, that has enter- rained families for seven decades. Retail shopping centers are important points of interest in Orange County. South Coast Plaza is one of the largest and most lucrative malls in Orange County. Main Place in Santa Ana is a $400 million shopping center with four major retailers and over 170 shops and ~staurants. A means of transportation is essential for travelers who visit Orange County. John Wayne Airport is just ten minutes from Harbor Boulevard. The recent expansion doubled its capacity to 8,000,000 passengers annually, and it is now able to handle over 90 flights per day with commercial airlines. Orange County can be considered a major metropolitan area with its arenas and professional teams. Anaheim Stadium can hold a capacity crowd of 59,000 people to watch the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League or the California Angels of the American Baseball League. The Anaheim Arena offers a maxi- mum capadty of 17,000 to watch the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim play in the National Hockey League. Orange County is a center for higher learning for the Western region of the United States. The University of California Irvine is gaining a reputation among the nations top ranked universities. The school's renowned researched accomplishments and medical facilities are just two of its many outstanding qualities. Rancho Santiago Community College, located in Santa Ana, is part of the California junior college system. It is nation- ally acclaimed as an excellent academic program at a minimal tuition cost. From a regional perspective, Harbor Boulevard serves as a major link between two major national attractions, Disneyland and the Padfic Ocean. Due to its peripher- al proximity, Harbor Boulevard services many attrac- tions. Disneyland has embarked on an extremely aggressive expansion program, Westcott. This project is the largest private development project in the United States. It will produce 5,000 new employees and gener- ate additional tourism. Harbor Boulevard, because of its unique location, can capitalize on this as a secondary market for recreational commercial business. The City of Garden Grove would have been the natural 20