ORDINANCE NO. 26-_____
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MENIFEE,
CALIFORNIA APPROVING THE MENIFEE VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN
AMENDMENT NO. 7 (2019-017), PROPOSING VARIOUS MODIFICATIONS TO PLANNING AREAS (PA) 3-1, 3-2, 4-3, AND 4-4 THAT INCORPORATE
CHANGES TO COMMERCIAL, COMMUNITY FACILITY CENTERS,
RESIDENTIAL AND OPEN SPACE ALONG WITH VARIOUS TEXTUAL
CHANGES TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT WHEREAS, the Menifee Village Specific Plan (SP) No. 158, formerly Salt Creek Specific Plan, was approved by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors in 1981; and WHEREAS, on January 18, 2019, the applicant, Diamond Brothers Five Partnership, filed a formal Planning Application No. 2019-017 with the City of Menifee for the approval of the Menifee Village Specific Plan Amendment (SPA) No. 7 which proposes various modifications to Planning Areas (PA) 3-1, 3-2, 4-3, and 4-4 that incorporate changes to these Commercial, Community Facility Centers, Residential and Open Space-designated areas along with various textual changes to support the proposed SPA. Specifically, modifications include: relocation of approved, but unbuilt, units within the Specific Plan to PA 4-3A and 4-4A (note: the total allowable number of units within the Specific Plan will not increase); assignment of 8-14 dwelling units per acre (du/ac) as the new density range for PA 4-3A and 4-4A; addition of four newly designated open space lots to preserve hillsides; modifications to planning area boundaries; land use change from Community Facilities to Commercial for PA 3-2; text changes to include the application of the development standards and allowed uses for the City’s Medium High Density Zoning (MHDR) zone to PA 4-3A and 4-4A and application of the development standards and allowed uses for the City’s Commercial Retail (CR) zone to PA 3- 1B, 3-2A and 3-2B; and
WHEREAS, SP No. 158 is amended as reflected on Exhibit A of this resolution; and WHEREAS, on August 12, 2026, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on the Project, considered all public testimony as well as all materials in the staff report and accompanying documents, which hearing was publicly noticed by a publication in The Press Enterprise, a newspaper of general circulation, an agenda posting, notices placed on the Project site, and notice to property owners within 300 feet of the Project boundaries as well as to persons requesting public notice; and
WHEREAS, at the August 12, 2026 Planning Commission public hearing, based upon the materials in the staff report and accompanying documents, public comments, and Planning Commission discussion, the City of Menifee Planning Commission recommended the City Council approve the Menifee Village Specific Plan Amendment No. 7 (2019-017); and WHEREAS, on October 7, 2026, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing on the Project, considered all public testimony as well as all materials in the staff report and accompanying documents for the Project, which hearing was publicly noticed in The Press Enterprise, a newspaper of general circulation, an agenda posting, on-site posting, notice to property owners within 300 feet of the Project boundaries, and to persons requesting public notice; and
Menifee Village SPA No. 7
October 7, 2026
WHEREAS, all other legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Ordinance have occurred.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the City Council of the City of Menifee does ordain as follows:
Section 1. The specific plan amendment is consistent with the intent of the goals and policies of the General Plan and is not inconsistent with any element thereof.
The proposed amendments are located in two separate areas SP No. 158, PA 3-1 and 3-2 along with PA 4-3 and 4-4.
SPA No. 7 proposes boundary and text modifications to PA 3-1 (now 3-1B), which will allow for greater consistency with the City of Menifee General Plan. Currently this planning area utilizes the development standards and allowable land uses from Riverside County Zoning Ordinance No. 348 which was originally adopted by Riverside County in 1949. While it has been amended many times in the past 77 years, many of the development standards and allowed uses are outdated. SPA No. 7 proposes to utilize the Menifee Municipal Code Commercial Retail Zone development standards and allowable uses to assist in development of the parcel with more modern land uses.
SPA No. 7 proposes to designate PA 3-2 (now 3-2A and 3-2B) as Commercial and utilize Menifee Municipal Code Commercial Retail Zone for development standards and allowable uses. While the current designation is Community Facility Center, the current location and shape of the properties generate challenges for development of a community facility center. PA 3-2 was bisected by Domenigoni Road leaving two triangle shaped planning areas on a major roadway with limited access. Additionally, residents would not have access to these areas without utilization of Domenigoni Road as no other forms of access are nearby.
Community facility centers have been constructed on PA 3-1 (northeast corner of Newport Road and Menifee Road) including the fire station and in PA 2-4 (northwest corner of La Piedra Road and Menifee Road) which include the Menifee Library and future Menifee Community Center.
SPA No. 7 proposes various modifications to the approved PA 4-3 and 4-4 including density transfers from unbuilt units in other planning areas, text changes and the addition of hillside open space. Currently designated as Medium Density Residential, SP No. 158 does not take topography into account for PA 4-3 and 4-4.
Approximately 39 acres of hillsides have been designated as open space to prevent development of slopes and rock outcroppings. Various units from built out planning areas including 25 units in Village 1, 61 units in Village 2, 47 units in Village 3, 28 units in Village 4, and 38 units in Village 5 were transferred to PA 4- 3A and 4-4A requiring a new density range to be established, 8-14 du/ac (high density) along with the addition of a new housing type not originally mentioned in the SP No. 158, 2-3 story condominiums. The condominiums will allow for a new housing type not currently within the specific plan for families without a need for a large amount of rear yard space.
In addition, the Specific Plan is consistent with the following City of Menifee Menifee Village SPA No. 7
October 7, 2026
General Plan policies:
• LU-1.1: Concentrate growth in strategic locations to help preserve rural areas, create place and identity, provide infrastructure efficiently, and foster the use of transit options.
The proposed SPA No. 7 will concentrate commercial and economic growth along a major traffic corridor (Newport/Domenigoni Road) and bring needed improvements to the area. The residential component of this Project will focus the development in one of the last remaining undeveloped portions of SP No. 158 and assist in completing the Briggs Road corridor connection to the north side of Salt Creek Channel. Briggs Road will be a main access point to both PA 4-3A and 4-4A. • LU-1.2: Provide a spectrum of housing types and price ranges that match the jobs in the city and make it possible for people to live and work in Menifee and maintain a high quality of life.
The proposed modifications to SP No. 158 include the addition of a new density range not currently designated within the specific plan, 8-14 du/ac along with the new housing type of condominiums. Both the new density range for PA 4-3A and 4-4A and condominiums will provide the City with a new housing type and price ranges that can assist in matching the jobs created within the City so residents can maintain a high quality of life. • LU-1.6: Coordinate land use, infrastructure, and transportation planning and analysis with regional, county, and other local agencies to further regional and subregional goals for jobs-housing balance.
The proposed SPA No. 7 includes both housing and job creation. The proposed modifications to PA 3-2 (now 3-2A and 3-2B) to convert the Community Facility Center designation to Commercial will allow for additional job creation and tax growth while the modifications to PA 4-3 and 4-4 (now 4- 3A and 4-4A) will provide the housing necessary to support an increase in commercially zoned properties. The new residential and commercial opportunities are along or near the Newport Road/Domenigoni Road commercial corridor that will provide services to those in the City along with unincorporated county areas to the east.
For these reasons, the proposed SPA No. 7 is consistent with the City's General Plan objectives, policies, and programs. This specific plan amendment is not inconsistent with any element of the General Plan.
Section 2: The Specific Plan Amendment prescribes reasonable controls and standards for affected land uses to ensure compatibility and integrity of those uses with other established uses.
The proposed SPA No. 7 as described above, is compatible with the surrounding established uses. Surrounding uses for PA 4-3A and 4-4A include existing residential uses to the north, south and west along with vacant Menifee Village SPA No. 7
October 7, 2026
residential land to the east (County of Riverside). The Project site is surrounded by low-density residential to the west, medium-density residential to the north and south, and vacant land to the east in unincorporated Riverside County. The amendment also includes text changes to allow for the utilization of the current Menifee Municipal Code for both PA 4-3A and 4-4A to ensure continuity with City of Menifee General Plan and Zoning and surrounding uses.
SPA No. 7 also includes modifications to the approved PA 3-1 and 3-2 (now 3- 1B, 3-2A and 3-2B) to remove the Community Facility Center designation and replace it with a Commercial designation, making the development of parcels bisected by Domenigoni Road more developer friendly. Community Facility Centers were built elsewhere in the Specific Plan including the Fire Station at the southeast corner of Diamond Road and Menifee Road, the Menifee Library and future Menifee Community Center at the northwest corner of La Piedra Road and Menifee Road in PA 2-4B. PA 3-1B, 3-2A and 3-2B is bounded by medium-high-density residential to the north and east, medium density to the west, and commercial and medium-density residential to the south in the Menifee East Specific Plan.
The Project complies with all other established controls and standards outlined in SP No. 158 and the City of Menifee General Plan and Zoning to ensure compatibility and integrity of the Project with other established uses.
Section 3: The Specific Plan provides reasonable property development rights while protecting environmentally sensitive land uses and species.
The property development rights are compatible and consistent with surrounding developments and the adopted City of Menifee Municipal Code and SP No. 158. All proposed properties that are proposed with SPA No. 7 directly adjacent to existing areas of SP No. 158.
Biological reports were conducted to determine sensitive plant and animal species onsite and applicable mitigation measures included in the Final Program Environmental Impact Report (FPEIR) and addendum were included for their protection. Review and mitigation coordination will occur with the applicable state and federal wildlife agencies when an entitlement has been submitted to the city for development of affected parcels. Therefore, SPA No. 7 provides reasonable property development rights while protecting environmentally sensitive land uses and species.
Section 4: The Specific Plan provides for the protection of the health, safety, and/or general welfare of the community.
SPA No. 7 will not result in conditions detrimental to public health, safety, or general welfare as proposed. The associated entitlements have been reviewed by the City of Menifee Community Development, Engineering, and Fire Departments, to ensure that it will not create conditions materially detrimental to the surrounding uses.
In addition, environmental impacts resulting from the implementation of the Menifee Village SPA No. 7
October 7, 2026
Project and associated SPA No. 7 have been analyzed in the original SP No. 158 FPEIR and the Addendum to the FPEIR prepared for this Project. The Addendum confirmed that the proposed Project will not have any environmental impacts that were not originally analyzed in the FPEIR prepared for SP No. 158 Section 5: CEQA Compliance. The City Council hereby ordains that the Menifee Village SPA No. 7 Addendum to the FPEIR has been completed for the Project in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), State and local CEQA guidelines and pursuant to a separate Resolution, finds that the facts presented within the public record provide the basis to adopt the Project Addendum, which has been completed for the Project.
Section 6: Approval of the Specific Plan Amendment. The City Council hereby approves Planning Application No. 2019-017 for the Menifee Village SPA No. 7 as shown in Exhibit “A”.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this the 7th day of October 2026. _________________________
Ricky Estrada, Mayor
Attest:
______________________________
Stephanie Roseen, City Clerk
Approved as to form:
______________________________
Jeffrey T. Melching, City Attorney