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NORTH HARBOR SPECIFIC PLAN 101 INTRODUCTION The North Harbor Specific Plan provides standards for land use, circulation, public services, general design, architecture and landsc.aping within the planning area. The planning area is bounded to the north by Westminster Avenue, to the south by the Fountain Valley city limits, and to the west and east a distance of approximately 500 feet from Harbor Boulevard. The planning area encompasses approximately 424.6 acres. A larger area around the Harbor Boulevard planning area has also been designated as a study area. Encompassing approximately 1,000 acres, the study area incorporates the whole community lying east of Newhope Street, west of the Santa Ana River, south of Westminster Avenue and north of the Fountain Valley city limits. The purpose of the study area is to achieve coordination between future plans for Harbor Boulevard with the larger residential community sur- rounding it and to ensure that the activity on Harbor Boulevard does not negatively impact properties with- in the study area 1.1 PURPOSE AND INTENT The purpose of the North Harbor Specific Plan is to develop an implementable planning document to improve the Harbor Boulevard Corridor. The docu- ment provides an overall long-term strategy for upgrading of Harbor Boulevard between Westminster Avenue and the Fountain Valley/Santa Ana city limits. The document addresses concerns in the areas of traffic and visual quality and land use while respecting the needs of property owners in the planning area. The Specific Plan also develops appropriate land use stan- dards and a mix of services along the corridor. City and local property owners and businesses are provided with clear guidelines for future development. It respects and preserves the historical and cultural fea- tures of the area to the maximum extent possible. Additionally, it identifies effective areas for investment for both public and private resources. 1~. AUTHORITY AND SCOPE In accordance with California law, the City of Santa Ana's General Plan sets forth land use designation and guidelines to direct overall development of the City in such a way that the public safety needs and well-being of the citizens of Santa Aha are addressed. All projects are required to be consistent with this General Plan. In addition to the general plan, California state law allows cities and counties the right to adopt specific measures and means to implement their general plan. A specific plan is one instrument by which those measures and means am accomplished. The specific plan provides the link between a city's general plan, its city-wide policies, and development regulations, such as zoning ordinances and subdivision to be applied to specific development proposals within a focused area. California Government Code Section 65451 states that a specific plan shall include text and graphics that dis- cuss in detail all of the following subjects: 1. The distribution, location and extent of the uses of land, including open space, within the area covered by the plan. 2. The proposed distribution, location, extent and intensity of major components of pub- lic and private transportation, sewage, water, drainage, solid waste disposal, ener- gy and other essential facilities proposed to be located within the area. Any and all development and design stan- dards, including criteria for conserving, developing and utilizing natural resources. A process including regulations, programs, pubtic works projects and financing mea- sures to implement all of the above. This Specific Plan establishes performance, design and use guidelines in order to direct future development within the Harbor Boulevard area while maintaining flexibility as development proceeds. It is the intent of the North Harbor Specific Plan to respond to issues of sensitive land use, landscape design, architectural treat- ment, logical phasing of development, and efficieht provision of public services in the future. This Specific Plan contains broad policy implication as typically found in a general plan as well as detailed develop- ment and design standards found in a zoning ordi- 1.3 SUMMARY Harbor Boulevard serves as both a local and regional transportation corridor as well as serving as a local and