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Midtown Specific Plan SPECIFIC PLAN PRINCIPLES The following specific plan principles provide overall guidance in the areas of land use, design, and parking and circulation. Urban Design Principles, Exhibit S, iIIustrales the following specilic plan principles. The subsequent chaplers describe in detail the developmenl standards and design guidelines for each of the five land use/activity districts, a landscape concept plan, circulalion and parking plans and a review of implementation mechanisms. LAND USE 0 Encourage a land use pattern that builds upon the concepts identified in the Midtown Conceptual Plan while furthering the land use policy principles established in Santa Ana's General Plan. 0 Residential concepts and densities should be consistent with General Plan policies. 0 Establish links to surrounding employment and shopping areas. Protecl and maintain the adjacent Willard, French Court and French Park neighborhoods. 0 Limit single room occupancy development only to the YWCA building. 0 Encourage the adaptive re-use 01 historically or architecturally significant buildings and districts throughout Midtown. 0 Encourage recrealion, entertainment and cultural activities in Midtown to complement the Museum Dislricl. 0 Protect the image and integrity ollhe Broadway Corridor. URBAN DESIGN The following urban design principles address the overall form and structure of Midtown with specific details for ils five land use/activity districts. After general considerations, they address views and gateways, building form, open space nodes, and pedestrian space linkages. These principles are intended to reinlorce the unique identity 01 Midtown's activity districts and to achieve a coherent overall image. (Reier to ExhibitS, Urban Design Principles.) GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS . Develop a strong sense of community identity for Midtown as a whole and for each 01 its districts. . Strengthen pedestrian access into, around and through the Midtown area to the maximum extent possible consistent with the City's congestion management programs. . Develop a comprehensive public improvements program, including consistent landscape and streetscape themes. . Create a secure environment that will protect the community and attract addilional business investmenl. . Create a safe and pleasant open space component including plazas and passive green spaces. . Protect the character of the Broadway Corridor north of Washington Avenue and Bush Street by reinforcing the predominant scale of developmenl. . Develop site and architectural design standards based on principles that promote and protect the identity and character of Midtown while stimulating additional investmenl. . Preserve and build upon Santa Ana's historical resources and other significant resources. VIEWS AND GATEWAYS Establish distinctive gateways to Midtown on Main Street al Civic Center Drive and Seventeenth Street through a combination 01 buildings, landscaping, signage, and streetscape designs. Enhance the streetscape of the approach routes to Midtown on Seventeenth Street and Civic Center Drive to contribute to greater aesthetic quality and beauty. Streetscape, landscape, signage and iighting should be coordinated to achieve a distinctive sense of arrival to Midtown. Extend downtown Santa Ana's historic street grid of square blocks into Midtown by inlroducing cross block view axes wherever appropriate to break up the excessive length 01 the blocks along Main Streel. These visual breaks should occur at Ninlh, Eleventh and Fourteenth Streets. This will provide an appropriate scale to the blocks and corridors. Chapter 3: Specitic Plan Principles 19 50A-17