595 S. San Jacinto Ave, San Jacinto, CA 92583 | (951) 487-7330 | https://www.sanjacintoca.gov/
Acknowledgments
CONSULTANTS TO THE CITY
De Novo Planning Group
Best Best and Krieger
Economic and Planning Systems
Duke Cultural Resources Management, LLC
Kearns & West
Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
MD Acoustics
Tri Lake Consultants
CITY STAFF
Robert A. Johnson, City Manager
Travis W. Randel, Deputy City Manger
Kevin White, Planning Manager
Robert Flores, Principal Planner
Yaneli Hernandez, Associate Planner
Frank Chen, Assistant Planner
Lori Matley, Community Development Clerk
CITY COUNCIL
Crystal Ruiz, Mayor
Phil Ayala, Mayor Pro Tem
Brian Hawkins, Council Member
Michael Heath, Council Member
Alonso Ledezma, Council Member
Mike Van Der Linden, Treasurer
PLANNING COMMISSION
Patricia Scott, Chair
Corinne Awad, Vice Chair
Taurus Jones, Second Vice Chair
Michelle Peterson, Commissioner
John Gagnepain, Commissioner
The following individuals contributed to the Comprehensive Update of the San Jacinto General Plan.
Greetings San Jacinto Community! It is with great pleasure that I share with you Envision San Jacinto - General Plan 2040, a forward-thinking roadmap charting the course for the City's future development. The City is delighted to share the exciting news that this visionary plan has earned not one, but two prestigious accolades: the SCAG 2023 Sustainable Communities Award of Excellence and the American Planning Association Inland Empire Section Public Outreach Award of Excellence.
This award-winning General Plan is more than just a document; it represents San Jacinto’s collective commitment to shaping a sustainable, resilient, and vibrant future. It serves as a comprehensive guide that will steer the City's efforts in creating a thriving and livable community that addresses the needs of current and future generations.
Envision San Jacinto - General Plan 2040 is a product of extensive collaboration, capturing the perspectives of residents, business owners, and numerous stakeholders. It mirrors the values and aspirations of San Jacinto’s diverse community, while acknowledging the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Within its pages, the Plan outlines a variety of strategies and policies aimed at supporting a robust local economy, safeguarding and enhancing the City’s natural and cultural resources, and elevating the quality of life for all residents.
Specific goals and objectives set the standards that guide the City's decisions on land use, transportation, housing, and infrastructure. The Envision San Jacinto - General Plan 2040 was meticulously crafted, incorporating feedback garnered from the community through various engagement channels, including multiple community meetings, where residents passionately shared their sentiments, such as expressing their love for San Jacinto.
I must recognize the contributions of Deputy City Manager Travis Randel and Amanda Tropiano, Principal, De Novo Planning Group for outstanding work in capturing the essence of San Jacinto through the community outreach process and the final compilation of the plan. I am confident that the Envision San Jacinto - General Plan 2040 will serve as a cornerstone in building a brighter future for the community.
Thank you for your support, investment, and involvement in shaping the future of San Jacinto.
A MESSAGE FROM
THE CITY MANAGER:
ROBERT JOHNSON
CITY MANAGER
Robert A. Johnson
Table of Contents
TABLES
Table I-1: Relationship Between General
Plan Elements and State Requirements 5
Table LU-1: General Plan 2040 Buildout
Potential 24
Table M-1: Overview of General Plan
Roadway Classifications 51
Table PS-1: Land Use Compatibility for
Community Noise Exposure (dBA, CNEL) 78
Table PS-2: Maximum Allowable Noise
Exposure from Mobile Noise Sources 80
Table PS-3: Allowable Exterior/Interior
Noise Level Due to Stationary Noise Sources81
FIGURES
Figure LU-1: Planning Area 33
Figure LU-2: General Plan Land Use Map 34
Figure LU-3: Special Study Area 35
Figure M-1: Roadway Classifications 61
Figure M-2: Roadway Classifications and
Regional Projects 62
Figure M-3: Existing and Proposed Trail
and Bicycle Facilities 63
Figure PS-1: Geologic and Seismic Hazards 85
Figure PS-2: Fire Hazard Severity Zones 86
Figure PS-3: FEMA Flood Map 87
Figure PS-4: 2040 Noise Level Contours 88
Figure PS-5: Existing Uses and Very High
Fire Hazard Severity Zones 89
Figure EJ-1: Disadvantaged Communities 119
CONTENTS
Introduction 1
Land Use 15
Economic Development 37
Mobility 47
Public Safety 65
Resource Management 91
Environmental Justice 111
Housing 121
x
1 Introduction Organization
The Introduction to the General Plan addresses the following topics:
• Purpose of the General Plan
• General Plan Objectives
• Scope and Content of the General Plan
• Planning Process
• Values and Guiding Principles
• Applying the General Plan
• Annual Reporting
INTRODUCTION
Chapter One
San Jacinto is a scenic community located at
the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountain range
in western Riverside County. Founded in 1870
and incorporated on April 9, 1888, San Jacinto is
one of Riverside County’s oldest communities,
with roots that stretch back to the earliest days
of California. For over 100 years, the City has
been home to a thriving agricultural industry
as farmers and ranchers flocked to the fertile
valley along the natural hot springs. Today—
nearly 150 years later—San Jacinto is home to
over 55,000 residents, with a growing business
and manufacturing hub, and continues to
celebrate its deep-rooted historic and cultural
heritage, while looking to proactively embrace
new opportunities for growth and economic
development.
Looking forward, the City will continue to value
its history as it is planning for a prosperous
and sustainable future. New opportunities
for residential, commercial, industrial, and
mixed-use development are envisioned
alongside quality public services, facilities, and
infrastructure.
Chapter One: Introduction | Envision San Jacinto
2 Envision San Jacinto – General Plan 2040
(Envision San Jacinto)—the City of San Jacinto’s
Updated General Plan—embodies the spirit
of shared community opportunity. Through
thoughtful planning, San Jacinto is prepared to
make decisions that support the community’s
long-term goals.
Envision San Jacinto is a dynamic policy
document that identifies the community’s vision
for the future and provides a framework to guide
the City’s long-term growth and development.
The General Plan reflects the community’s values
and desires, and addresses important issues
such as land use and urban design; economic
development; mobility; resource conservation;
public facilities and services; safety; public
health; and sustainability. Although the General
Plan may be updated periodically to reflect
changing market conditions, new legislative
requirements, and modern local opportunities,
the intent of Envision San Jacinto is to lay the
foundation for long-term decision-making that
stands the test of time.
PURPOSE OF THE GENERAL PLAN
In California, all cities and counties are required
to adopt a general plan. The general plan is a
comprehensive policy document that shapes
the long-term physical development of a
jurisdiction’s planning area. The general plan
must include seven state-mandated elements
including land use, circulation, housing,
conservation, open space, noise, and safety
elements, as specified in Government Code
Section 65302, to the extent that the issues
identified by State law exist in the City’s planning
area. Additional elements that relate to the
physical development of the city may also be
addressed in the general plan. The degree of
specificity and level of detail of the discussion
of each general plan element need only reflect
General Plan 2040 | Chapter One: Introduction
3 local conditions and circumstances. Envision
San Jacinto has been prepared consistent with
the requirements of State law and addresses
the relevant items addressed in Government
Code Section 65300 et seq.
GENERAL PLAN OBJECTIVES
The General Plan is more than just the legal
basis for all local land use decisions; it is the
vision for how the City will evolve, reflecting
the community’s objectives. The objectives of
Envision San Jacinto include:
• Reflect the current goals and vision
expressed by city residents, businesses,
decision-makers, and other stakeholders;
• Protect and enhance San Jacinto’s unique
history and character;
• Promote San Jacinto as a safe, vibrant, and
family-friendly community;
• Proactively plan for and accommodate
local and regional growth in a responsible
manner;
• Encourage the revitalization of San Jacinto’s
Main Street and other community activity
centers;
• Allow for a range of housing options;
• Attract and retain businesses and industries
that provide jobs for local residents;
• Create a more balanced jobs-housing ratio
within the community;
• Continue to maintain and improve
multimodal transportation opportunities;
• Maintain strong fiscal sustainability and
continue to provide efficient and adequate
public services;
• Address new requirements of State law;
and
• Address emerging transportation, housing,
and employment trends.
SCOPE AND CONTENT OF THE GENERAL
PLAN
General Plan Policy Document
The General Plan policy document contains
the goals and policies that will guide future
decisions within the City and identifies action
items (implementation measures) to ensure
the vision and goals of the General Plan are
carried out. Two important documents support
the General Plan: the Existing Conditions Report
and the General Plan Environmental Impact
Report (EIR). Both are intended to be used in
conjunction with this General Plan and to serve
as companions to this policy document.
The General Plan also contains a land use
diagram, which serves as a general guide to the
distribution of land uses throughout the City.
The General Plan addresses all of the elements
required by State law, in addition to a range of
optional topics and elements that the City has
elected to include. The table below identified
the elements included in the General Plan and
the corresponding requirement in State law.
Organization of the General Plan Elements
Each element (i.e., chapter) of the General Plan
is organized into a set of goals, policies, and
implementation actions. Each goal is supported
by a particular set of policies and actions to
implement and achieve that goal.
Chapter One: Introduction | Envision San Jacinto
4 A General Plan is...
COMPREHENSIVE
LONG RANGE
CONSISTENT
It is comprehensive in nature, covering a wide range of topics such as land use, housing, economic development, infrastructure, public safety, recreation, and natural resources.
It provides guidance on achieving a long-range vision of the future for a city or county. To reach this envisioned future, the general plan includes goals, policies, and implementation programs that address both near-term and long-term needs. The City of San Jacinto’s General Plan looks ahead approximately 20 years—to the year of 2040. At the same time, it will provide policy direction that allows for flexibility to respond to changes in the marketplace and in technology, positioning the City for long-term success.
It must be internally (“horizontally”) consistent, meaning it cannot contradict itself. Additionally, all adopted Elements have equal weight. None may supersede another. Finally, all other plans, ordinances, and policies must be consistent with the general plan.
This “vertical” consistency helps resolve conflicts between local specific plans, the City’s Development Code, and the General Plan.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter One: Introduction
5 General Plan Elements
State Requirement
Land Use
Circulation
Optional Topics
Conservation
Open Space
Noise
Safety
Housing
Environmental
Justice
Envision San Jacinto
Introduction
Land Use p
Economic Development p
Mobility p
Public Safety p p
Resource Management p p p
Environmental Justice p
Housing (separate cover) p
TABLE I-1: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS AND STATE REQUIREMENTS Chapter One: Introduction | Envision San Jacinto
6 PLANNING PROCESS
The San Jacinto General Plan was originally
adopted in 1985. Since then, substantial
changes to the planning context of the city
have occurred, including accelerated growth
in the region and shifts in the community’s
demographics, as well as new ways of
thinking about sustainability, public health,
and placemaking. In light of these changes,
the city undertook a comprehensive update
of the General Plan (Envision San Jacinto) as
an opportunity to reassess and refine its longterm vision and identify the new challenges it will face, opportunities it will follow, and
approaches it will use to make that vision a
reality. The update process began in late 2018
and included the following steps.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Envision San Jacinto was developed with
extensive community input and reflects the
community’s vision for San Jacinto. A summary
of the community outreach and public
participation process is provided below and a
detailed summary is included as Appendix A.
Outreach Objectives
Objectives established for the comprehensive
outreach program were to:
• Conduct an open and transparent process.
• Engage the full spectrum of San Jacinto
community members, residents, business
owners, landowners, and other stakeholders
in the General Plan Update process;
enhance public awareness of the project
and its importance.
• Gather meaningful community input,
ideas, and feedback to shape the vision,
alternatives, and policies to be included in
Envision San Jacinto.
• Build a framework to develop community
consensus throughout the process.
• Strengthen and expand relationships and
trust between the City and community
members.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter One: Introduction
7 Envision San Jacinto Outreach
For all public workshops and meetings, the City
of San Jacinto conducted extensive outreach,
using a wide variety of methods and tools,
to inform and encourage the community to
participate in the update process. The following
is a list of methods and tools used to inform the
public of meetings, workshops, and the status
of the work efforts.
• General Plan Website: The City maintains a
website (www.sanjacinto.generalplan.org)
devoted to informing the public about, and
encouraging participation in, the update
process. The website includes workshop
materials, background information, and
draft and final work products.
• Focus Group Briefings: The City held
briefings with interested focus groups
including representatives from the
development community and community
health and wellness stakeholders.
• E-mail distribution list: The list was developed
and maintained over time, and included
email contacts for agencies, organizations,
stakeholders, and individuals.
• Social Media: The City regularly posted
meeting notices and project updates to its
social media platforms, including Facebook,
Twitter, NextDoor, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• Mailer: To specifically solicit input from all
members of the San Jacinto community,
the City prepared and delivered a bilingual
direct mailer to every single resident and
business in San Jacinto (15,000 addresses)
to advertise Envision San Jacinto, provide
specific information on the Visioning
Workshops, and direct stakeholders to
the website for more information. At the
Visioning Workshops, participants were
polled to understand how they heard about
the Workshops; the number one response
was the direct mailer, and the City is proud
to have provided every single resident
and business owner with an invitation to
participate in the program.
Chapter One: Introduction | Envision San Jacinto
8 Visioning Workshops
The City hosted three workshops (February
and March 2019), addressing a different
topic of focus each month. Each workshop
was conducted in a bilingual environment
(English and Spanish) to minimize barriers to
participation. Each workshop included a brief
overview of the General Plan, including why it’s
important and why the City is updating its Plan,
some background information on the evening’s
topic, and a series of facilitated activities to
solicit input on key topics or ideas.
Workshop 1: Values, Issues, and Opportunities
The first General Plan Visioning Workshop was
held on February 21, 2019, at the San Jacinto
Community Center from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM.
More than 50 residents attended this workshop.
The focus of this Visioning workshop was to
ask for input from residents on what they value
in San Jacinto, what they see as challenges,
and what their vision is for the future of the
City. After a brief presentation on Envision San
Jacinto, the consultant team facilitated three
activities to help conduct this conversation.
The first activity was to identify community
assets and challenges facing San Jacinto;
the second activity was to envision the future
of San Jacinto; and the third activity was a
mapping activity designed to highlight features
of the city that residents value and areas that
need attention or improvement.
Workshop 2: Transportation
The second workshop was held on March 12,
2019, at the San Jacinto Community Center
from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM. Approximately 30
people attended this event. The focus of the
second Workshop was on transportation and
mobility in San Jacinto, including how people
get around (cars, walking, biking, transit) and
regional transit connections. The presentation
included background on existing conditions,
such as existing traffic volumes, transit
routes, and accident information. The group
also reviewed existing commute patterns
(where do people who live in San Jacinto go
for work, and where do people who work in
San Jacinto commute from). The workshop
included several activities, interactive polling,
small group brainstorming, and two mapping
exercises designed to determine how and
where residents live, work, and play.
Workshop 3: Land Use and Housing
The third and final workshop was held on
March 28, 2019, at the San Jacinto Community
Center from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Approximately
50 people attended this event. The focus
of the last Workshop was on land use and
housing opportunities. As part of the overview
presentation, the group considered how local
and regional socioeconomic trends shape land
use planning in San Jacinto.
The topics explored in each Workshop along
with summaries of the input provided by the
community are provided in the Community
Vision Guide (November 2019), which is
available for review online at: www.sanjacinto.
generalplan.org.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter One: Introduction
9 Pop-up Events
To connect with a broad audience throughout
San Jacinto, the City hosted two Pop-up Events
in conjunction with the August 2019 Kool
August Nights concert series where the project
team was able to raise awareness about the
General Plan Update and better understand
what residents love most about living in the
City. The Envision San Jacinto booth hosted
three activities. The first asked attendees to
answer the question “In 2040, I envision San
Jacinto as...” on a small white board, and then
pose for a Polaroid picture. Polaroids were then
posted to a board at the booth. For the second
activity, a word cloud in the shape of a heart
was compiled from previous community input,
and printed on a large board. Attendees were
then asked to write what they love about San
Jacinto in the space around the word cloud. The
third activity asked attendees to identify what
topic areas San Jacinto should prioritize as it
plans for the future; options included parks and
open space, community health, transportation,
housing, safety, retail and entertainment, biking
and walking, economic growth and job creation.
Online Surveys and Polls
In order to capture as much input from the
community as possible, including input
from those who may not have participated
in in-person engagement opportunities, the
project team designed an online survey that
was open to all and available throughout the
outreach phase of the project. The survey was
administered online via the SurveyMonkey
web platform. During the approximately tenmonth time period that the survey was active, 84 responses to the 16 questions related to
the General Plan update were received. The
questions involved a wide range of response
formats that are synthesized in the Community
Vision Guide. The survey responses provide
insight into the demographics and opinions of
San Jacinto community members concerning
goals and topics related to the update of the
City’s General Plan.
Stakeholder Focus Groups
The project team organized a set of stakeholder
interviews to facilitate a focused discussion
around important issues in the community.
Two focus groups were held on August 14,
2019, one focusing on the local development
community, and the other on community health
and wellness. Discussions were guided by a set
of interview questions focusing on successes,
challenges, needs, and best practices.
Participants in the local development community
focus group included representatives from
organizations including Cooper Development,
Keller Williams, KZ Companies, Lee &
Associates, Rich Development, and SVN.
Participants in the community health and
wellness focus group included representatives
from organizations including Mount San Jacinto
College, San Jacinto Unified School District,
National Alliance on Mental Illness - Mt. San
Jacinto, the Riverside University Health System
- Public Health, and Valley-Wide Recreation &
Park District.
Chapter One: Introduction | Envision San Jacinto
10 VALUES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The following Values and Guiding Principles,
developed to reflect the meaningful community
input received at the Envision San Jacinto
workshops, online surveys, from key community
members and stakeholders, and elected and
appointed officials, have guided the creation of
the General Plan.
Views of the Mountain
San Jacinto values the natural environment
and the mountains that surround the City. The
views of the mountains are a key feature in the
community and highlight the City’s peaceful
atmosphere while providing a unique visual
backdrop.
Small Town Feel
San Jacinto values the small-town feel of
the community. Many people know their
neighbors and interact at parks, at the grocery
store, and about town. Although San Jacinto
covers over 26 square miles, the community’s
natural setting and residential neighborhoods
lend a small town feel while allowing for
new growth opportunities in undeveloped
or underdeveloped areas of the community.
People are involved with organizations and with
City government. People enjoy their neighbors
and feel that community leaders care about
residents. The size of the City makes people
feel safe and comfortable, and San Jacinto’s
unique characteristics set it apart from other
cities in the San Jacinto Valley.
Affordability
San Jacinto values its relative affordability.
Community members appreciate renting and
owning homes that fit within their budget.
Residents decide to call San Jacinto home
because of the affordability of housing and
many have stayed in the community because
it is affordable and close to friends and family.
Recreational and Open Space
San Jacinto values its recreation and open
spaces. Recreation opportunities in the
mountains and the Valley-wide Rec and Parks
District are an asset to the City. The wide-open
spaces and outdoor recreation opportunities
build up a sense of community where people
feel like they can define the “feel” of San Jacinto.
Potential for Growth
San Jacinto values new development
opportunities. With significant areas of vacant
or underdeveloped land available, San Jacinto
can proactively plan to accommodate a wide
variety of residential development types
including traditional single-family homes,
townhomes, and apartments while promoting
the expansion of commercial development
to bring more jobs, goods, and services to
the Valley. Future mixed-use development,
especially in the Downtown Village area,
represents an opportunity to brings housing
closer to daily activities, thereby promoting
a more vibrant walkable environment in key
activity areas. Residents see San Jacinto as a
City ready for growth and expansion and that
other values like affordability, the small-town
feel, and views of the mountain can attract new
residents and businesses.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter One: Introduction
11 Key Terms
Goal: A description of the
general desired condition that
the community seeks to create.
Policy: A specific statement
that guides decision-making as
the City works to achieve the
various goals. Once adopted,
policies represent statements
of City regulations.
Action: An action, procedure,
implementation technique,
or specific program to be
undertaken by the City to help
achieve a specified goal or
implement an adopted policy.
APPLYING THE GENERAL PLAN
The General Plan is intended for use by a broad
range of persons, including City decisionmakers, City staff, developers, and community members, to serve the following purposes:
• To identify land use patterns, growth,
transportation, environmental, economic,
and community goals and policies as
they relate to land use, conservation,
development, and provision of community
services and facilities.
• To articulate a vision and strategy for the
future development of San Jacinto and its
residents.
• To enable the City Council and Planning
Commission to establish long-range land
use, transportation, services, conservation,
and growth goals and policies.
• To provide a basis for judging whether
specific private development proposals and
public projects are in harmony with these
goals and policies.
• To inform citizens, developers, decision
makers, and other jurisdictions of the
policies that will guide development and
conservation within San Jacinto.
The General Plan applies to lands in the
incorporated area of the City, to the extent
allowed by Federal and State law. Under State law,
many actions, such as development projects,
specific plans, master plans, community plans,
zoning, subdivisions, public agency projects,
and other decisions must be consistent with the
General Plan. State law requires that the City’s
ordinances regulating land use be consistent
with the General Plan. The Development Code,
individual project proposals, and other related
plans and ordinances must be consistent with
the goals and policies in the General Plan.
Interpreting the General Plan
In reading the General Plan, one should infer
that the goals, policies, and implementation
measures are limited to the extent that it is
financially feasible and appropriate for the
City to carry them out and to the extent legally
permitted by Federal and State law. For example,
policies and measures which indicate that the
City will “provide,” “support,” “ensure,” or otherwise
require or carry them out do not indicate an
irreversible commitment of City funds or staff
resources to those activities, but rather, that
the City will support them when the City deems
that it is financially feasible and appropriate
to do so. In some cases, the City will carry out
various policies and measures by requiring
development, infrastructure, and other projects
to be consistent with the policies and actions
of the General Plan. In other cases, the City
may include General Plan items in the Capital
Improvement Program, annual budget, or other
implementation mechanisms, as the City deems
appropriate.
How to Read San Jacinto’s General Plan
As the guide for future development and
desired conditions, residents, property owners,
and business owners should also familiarize
themselves with how to read this document.
Each element contains a brief introduction,
several goals and related policies, and a
description of related actions to help implement
the City’s vision.
Chapter One: Introduction | Envision San Jacinto
12 Goals
A goal in the General Plan is the broadest statement of community values. It is a generalized ideal which provides a sense of direction for action. Goals are overall statements of desired future conditions.
Policies and Implementation
The essence of the General Plan is contained within its policies. Policies are statements which further refine the goals, and guide the course of action the City must take to achieve the goals in the plan. It is important to note that policies are guides for decision makers, not decisions themselves. Policies and implementation measures must be clear to be useful. However, policies may range in terms of commitment of resources, importance, and expected results. Therefore, it is important for readers to understand the distinctions between various levels of policy and implementation action. The following is a list of common terms used in policies and implementation measures, and how to interpret its usage in the General Plan. In cases where other terms are used (and not defined below), an equivalent to the closest applicable term can be used.
Shall: Absolute commitment to the policy or action, and indicate that the policy must be adhered to in all cases.
Should: Policy will be followed in most cases, but exceptions are acceptable for good reasons.
Ensure: Policy indicates that the City plays a role in making sure something happens, often times in partnership with other agencies or as part of other City programs and processes.
Encourage: Policy is highly recommended and/or desired, and should be pursued when feasible.
Allow: Policy will be supported within certain parameters and certain guidelines.
Coordinate: Policy will occur in conjunction with another entity, and the City will carry its share of the responsibility.
Explore: Effort will be taken to investigate the subject at hand, to discover whether or not further commitment is relevant.
Consider: Policy may or may not be followed, depending upon the results of analysis that will be completed.
Limit: Effort will be taken to keep the subject within certain limits, or will at least make undesired change more difficult.
Restrict: Effort will be taken to keep the undesired action to a minimum.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter One: Introduction
13 Amending the General Plan
The General Plan is not static, but rather is a
dynamic and multi-faceted document that
defines and addresses the changing needs of
the City. It is based on an on-going assessment
and understanding of existing and projected
community needs. The City’s decision-makers
have broad discretion in interpreting the General
Plan and its purposes, and are allowed to weigh
and balance the various goals and policies when
applying them. Recognizing the need for the
General Plan to remain current and reflective of
local issues and policies, State law allows the
City to periodically amend the General Plan to
ensure that it is consistent with the conditions,
values, expectations, and needs of its residents,
businesses, and other stakeholders. The General
Plan may be amended in accordance with State
law. While specific findings may be applied on
a project-by-project basis, at a minimum the
following standard findings shall be made for
each proposed General Plan amendment:
• The amendment is deemed to be in the
public interest;
• The amendment is consistent and/or
compatible with the rest of the General Plan;
• The potential impacts of the amendment
have been assessed and have been
determined not to be detrimental to the
public health, safety, or welfare; and
• The amendment has been processed in
accordance with the applicable provisions
of the California Government Code, the
California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA), and the City’s Municipal Code.
City-initiated amendments, as well as
amendments requested by other parties, are
subject to the same basic process described
above to ensure consistency and compatibility
with the General Plan. This includes appropriate
environmental review, public notice, and public
hearings, leading to an official action by the City
Council.
Timing
Under state law, mandatory elements of the
General Plan may be amended up to four times
in each calendar year. The City Council or any
citizen may initiate consideration of a General
Plan Amendment. State law further requires
that the Housing Element be reviewed and
updated at least once every eight years.
Exemptions
The State Legislature has recognized that
occasions arise which require the local
jurisdiction to have some flexibility in amending
the General Plan. As set forth in the California
Government Code, the following are exempt
from the General Plan amendment schedule:
• Amendments to optional elements.
• Amendments requested and necessary for
affordable housing (Section 65358(c)).
• Any amendment necessary to comply with
a court decision in a case involving the
legal adequacy of the general plan (Section
65358(d)(1)).
• Amendments to bring a general plan into
compliance with an airport land use plan
(Section 65302.3).
ANNUAL REPORTING
Given the long-term nature of the General Plan, it
is critical to periodically evaluate its effectiveness
and to document the implementation status of
the various policies and actions that it contains.
State law provides direction on how cities and
counties can maintain the General Plan as a
useful policy guide. State law also requires the
City to annually report “the status of the plan
and progress in its implementation” (California
Government Code Section 65400(b)) to the City
Council.
15 LAND USE
Chapter Two
The Land Use Element is a guide to land
use planning in San Jacinto and provides a
framework for the economic, environmental,
and infrastructure issues examined in the
other General Plan elements. The Land Use
Element identifies how land will be used in
the future—for housing, commercial, and
business centers, public facilities, parks, open
space, and transportation. The Land Use Plan
is designed to:
• Encourage economic development
throughout the City;
• Enhance the City’s existing residential
neighborhoods;
• Support expanded housing and
employment opportunities; and
• Promote a strong sense of place and
identity in San Jacinto.
Element Organization
The Land Use Element goals and policies will address each of the following topics as they relate to San Jacinto:
• Mix of Land Uses
• Managed Growth
• Land Use Compatibility
• Mixed-Use Activity Centers
• Community Character and Design
Chapter Two: Land Use | Envision San Jacinto
16 OVERVIEW
The Land Use Element provides for a
development and resource conservation pattern
that preserves and protects San Jacinto’s
unique character while promoting opportunities
for economic development, local job growth,
and expanded housing opportunities. Ensuring
that San Jacinto has sufficient capacity and
flexibility to support a diverse mix of land uses
is essential to the community’s ability to thrive
and be economically sustainable over time.
The Land Use Map (Figure LU-1) depicts the
City’s vision for how open space, commercial,
industrial, residential, and other uses will occur
in the city.
State law requires the Land Use Element to
address:
• Proposed general distribution, general
location and extent of the uses of the land
for housing, business, industry, open space,
including agriculture, natural resources,
recreation, and enjoyment of scenic beauty,
education, public buildings and grounds,
solid and liquid waste disposal facilities,
and other categories of public and private
uses of land;
• Population density and building intensity;
and
• Areas subject to flooding, which are
addressed in the Public Safety Element.
Background information regarding land use
is presented in Chapter 2 of the General Plan
Update Existing Conditions Report.
PLANNING AREA BOUNDARIES
City Limits
The City Limits include all area within the
City’s corporate boundary, over which the City
exercises land use authority and provides
public services.
Sphere Of Influence
A Sphere of Influence (SOI) is the probable
physical boundary and service area of a
local agency, as adopted by a Local Agency
Formation Commission (LAFCO). A SOI
includes both incorporated and unincorporated
areas within, which a city or special district will
have primary responsibility for the provision of
public facilities and services.
Planning Area
For the purposes of the General Plan, the
Planning Area is defined as the city limits and
SOI that is included in the analysis and planning
for the 20-year horizon of the General Plan.
The Land Use Map (Figure LU-2) identifies
the location of various land use designations
throughout the Planning Area. Uses allowed in
each designation are described below.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Two: Land Use
17 Specific Plan Areas
San Jacinto has several Specific Plans that
oversee the development of each respective
planning area. The plans act as tools for
implementing the goals and policies of the
General Plan through the regulation of use,
density, height and other design standards to
achieve the overall vision for the selected area.
Specific Plan Areas within San Jacinto include:
the Villages of San Jacinto, the Cove, Esplanade,
Trails and SP 01-85 (Soboba Springs).
Special Study Area
The City has identified a “Special Study Area”
beyond the Sphere of Influence. This area is of
special interest to the City because this area
may be added to the City’s Sphere of Influence
and/or the City’s corporate boundary in the
future. However, the identified Special Study
Area is currently outside of the San Jacinto City
Limits, and SOI and the City does not exert land
use authority in this area.
Chapter Two: Land Use | Envision San Jacinto
18 Land Use Designations
The Land Use Designations in this General Plan
specify the type of allowed uses associated with
each designation, as well as the allowed range
of development intensity, which is expressed
in density or floor area ratio. Zoning, specific
plans, and individual development projects
must be consistent with the intensities allowed
under the General Plan.
Land Use Classification System
The Land Use Map (Figure LU-1) illustrates
the various types and distribution of land uses
planned for the community. The land use
classification system includes 15 land use
designations. Land use designations identify
the types and nature of development allowed in
particular locations depicted on the Land Use
Map (Figure LU-1).
Density:
Density refers to the intensity of residential uses in terms of a range, from a minimum to a maximum, of dwelling units per gross acre. Various building configurations representing different densities are shown below.
Floor Area Ratio:
Floor area ratio, referred to
as FAR, is used to express
the building intensity for
non-residential uses, such
as commercial, industrial,
community facilities, and the
non-residential component of
mixed-use projects. FAR refers
to the ratio of the gross floor
area of all structures on a lot,
excluding parking structures
and outdoor storage areas, to
the total (gross) lot area.
The residential category includes five
designations that allow for a range of housing
types and densities. The nonresidential
grouping includes a variety of jobs-generating
designations (Commercial, Business Park, and
Industrial) as well as designations that serve
the public good, including Public Institutions,
Open Space, Park, and Water. The City also
has two categories (Mixed-Use and Downtown
Village), which allow for a mix of residential
and nonresidential development. Finally, the
Specific Plan designation indicates that there
is an adopted Specific Plan for an area, which
guides future land use and zoning decisions.
Land Use Density and Intensity
This Element uses certain terminology to
describe the 15 land use designations. Land
use concepts, including density and floor area
ratio, are described on this page.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Two: Land Use
19 RESIDENTIAL LAND USE DESIGNATIONS
Very Low Density Residential (VLDR); 0-2 du/ac
The Very Low Density Residential land use designation provides for the development of very low density single-family dwellings at a density of up to 2 dwelling units per gross acre of land. This designation is generally most suitable in rural areas and areas where scenic and natural resources should be protected, in areas that consist of small agricultural operations and rural-oriented residences, or where natural hazards limit development potential (such as hillsides).
Low Density Residential (LDR); 2-7 du/ac
The Low Density Residential land use designation provides for the development of low density detached single-family dwellings at a density between 2 and 7 dwelling units per gross acre.
Medium Density Residential (MDR); 5-14 du/ac
The Medium Density Residential land use designation allows for a range of housing types including single-family attached and detached units, condominiums, townhouses, and mobile home parks, as well as multiple-family dwellings such as apartments, and senior housing at a density of between 5 and 14 dwelling units per gross acre.
High Density Residential (HDR); 14-22 du/ac
The High Density Residential land use designation provides for a variety of single-family dwelling units and multiple-family dwellings including: garden style units, stacked flats, courtyard homes, patio homes, townhouses, apartments, condominiums, senior housing and mobilehome parks.
Project densities between 14 and 22 dwelling units per gross acre allowed.
Very High Density Residential (VHDR); 22-32 du/ac
The Very High Density Residential land use designation provides for the development of a wide range of multiple-family living accommodations, such as townhomes, condominiums, apartments, and senior housing. Project densities between 22 and 32 dwelling units per gross acre are allowed.
Chapter Two: Land Use | Envision San Jacinto
20 NON-RESIDENTIAL LAND USE DESIGNATIONS
Commercial (C); Maximum FAR 0.50
The Commercial land use designation provides for a variety of retail and service-oriented business activities, including both small and large scale commercial development with retail, entertainment, and/or service uses. This designation allows for uses such as hotels, auto sales, auto repair, auto repair related uses, “big box” retail, factory outlets, and movie theaters. Uses such as offices, and others that are determined to be employment generators and compatible with commercial uses may also be allowed. The maximum intensity of development is a floor area ratio (FAR) of 0.50.
Business Park (BP); Maximum FAR 1.0
The Business Park designation provides for employment and community serving uses including single-tenant and multi-tenant configurations. Also included are small convenience or service commercial activities intended to meet the needs of the nearby business community. Other uses that are determined to be compatible with the primary uses may also be allowed. The maximum intensity of development is a floor area ratio (FAR) of 1.0.
Industrial (I); Maximum FAR 0.50
The Industrial designation allows for a variety of industrial and manufacturing activities that do not generate significant amounts of pollution, including limited regional and sub-regional commercial activities that are non- or low-polluting and which can co-exist compatibly with surrounding land uses. Other uses that are determined to be compatible with primary uses may also be allowed. The maximum intensity of development is a floor area ratio (FAR) of 0.50.
Public Institution (PI); Maximum FAR 0.50
The Public Institutional designation provides for publicly owned properties and facilities including, schools, fire stations, police stations, community centers, utility substations, water facilities, administrative offices and City government office complexes. Other uses that are determined to be compatible with primary uses may also be allowed. The maximum intensity of development is a floor area ratio (FAR) of 0.50.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Two: Land Use
21 Open Space (OS); Maximum 0.025 du/ac and Maximum FAR 0.15 The Open Space designation allows for: open space areas; hiking, biking and equestrian trails; and outdoor recreational facilities, including golf courses, swimming schools, tennis clubs, equestrian clubs and caretaker facilities. The OS designation also allows for passive and active recreation sites operated by the City and regional agencies. Parks may include areas for active sports play, including large multipurpose fields for community events and informal recreation, sports fields and courts, concessions, tot lots, picnic areas, and support facilities. This designation provides for the conservation of natural and scenic resources and the protection of property from natural hazards.
Uses such as extremely low density single-family dwellings, and other uses that are compatible with and oriented toward preserving open space may also be allowed. The maximum allowable density is 1 unit per 40 acres. The maximum intensity of development is a floor area ratio (FAR) of 0.15.
Park (P); No development potential
The Park designation allows for passive and active recreation sites operated by the City and regional agencies. Parks may include areas for active sports play, including large multipurpose fields for community events and informal recreation, sports fields and courts, concessions, tot lots, picnic areas, community centers, and support facilities. No development potential is allowed within the Park designation.
Water (W); No development potential
The Water designation recognizes the natural waterways in San Jacinto. No development potential is allowed within the Water designation.
Chapter Two: Land Use | Envision San Jacinto
22 MIXED-USE LAND USE DESIGNATIONS
Mixed-Use (MU); 10.1-36 du/ac and Maximum FAR 1.0
The Mixed Use designation provides opportunities for mixtures of commercial, office, and residential uses in the same building, on the same parcel of land, or within the same area.
Mixed-use areas offer opportunities for people to live, work, shop, and recreate without having to use cars. This designation allows for vertical integration of compatible uses, whereby such uses share the same building or lot, or horizontal integration of uses, where compatible uses are located next to each other. Single-use projects are allowed; stand-alone residential projects should be located in proximity to existing or future nonresidential development.
The Mixed Use designation allows residential densities between 10 and 36 dwelling units per gross acre and a floor area ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0. For projects which include residential and nonresidential components, the density requirements shall apply to the residential component and the FAR shall apply to the nonresidential component. Mixed-use projects that include both residential and nonresidential uses may include both, between 10.1 and 36 dwelling units per gross acres and up to 1.0 FAR for non-residential components.
Downtown Village (DV); 40 du/ac Maximum and Maximum FAR 2.0 The Downtown Village land use designation allows for a variety of commercial uses with a strong pedestrian orientation and design that enhances the City’s small-town character. Development in these areas will be subject to additional design and development standards intended to support the Downtown area.
Mixed commercial, office, and residential development (residential uses above or beside commercial uses) is also permitted in the DV designation. Single-use projects are allowed; stand-alone residential projects should be located in proximity to existing or future nonresidential development.
The Downtown Village designation allows residential densities up to 40 dwelling units per gross acre and non-residential developments with a floor area ratio (FAR) of up to 2.0. For projects which include residential and nonresidential components, the density requirements shall apply to the residential component and the FAR shall apply to the nonresidential component. Mixed-use projects that include both residential and non-residential uses may include both, up to 40 dwelling units per gross acres and up to 2.0 FAR for non-residential components.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Two: Land Use
23 SPECIFIC PLANS
Specific Plan; Densities and Intensities Vary
The Specific Plan designation indicates an adopted Specific Plan for an area, which provides detailed policies, standards, and criteria for the area’s development or redevelopment. As required by state law, Specific Plans generally consist of a land plan, circulation plan, development standards, design guidelines, and a phasing plan, which set forth detailed implementation programs necessary to serve the development.
The actual designation of each area will be SP followed by a corresponding number (e.g., SP-1).
Land uses within each SP are detailed in the Specific Plan documents (zoning). Amendments to the land use in a Specific Plan will not warrant a revision to the General Plan (General Plan Amendment).
Chapter Two: Land Use | Envision San Jacinto
24 Land Use Designation Acres1 Allowed Density
and/or Intensity
Assumed Density
and/or Intensity2
Units Population NonResidential
Square Feet
Jobs
Residential Land Uses
Very Low Density Residential 1,073 0-2 du/ac 0.4 du/ac 215 718 - - Low Density Residential 4,025 2-7 du/ac 3 du/ac 6,033 20,149 - - Medium Density Residential 1,366 5-14 du/ac 6 du/ac 4,098 13,686 - - High Density Residential 854 14-22 du/ac 16 du/ac 6,835 22,830 - - Very High Density Residential 41 22-32 du/ac 24 du/ac 495 1,654 - - Residential Subtotal 7,360 - - 17,676 59,037 - -
Non-Residential Land Uses
Commercial 1225 0.50 FAR 0.25 FAR - - 6,792,240 7,180
Business Park 727 1.0 FAR 0.25 FAR - - 3,956,817 3,044
Industrial 373 0.50 FAR 0.30 FAR - - 2,437,334 1,625
Public Institution 1393 0.50 FAR 0.05 FAR - - 1,678,815 2,772 Open Space 6189 0.025 du/ac and
0.15 FAR
0.017 du/ac and
0.0008 FAR
56 186 197,968 1,057
Park 175 - - - - 3,821 64
Water 1,157 - - - - - -
Right-of-Way 1,736 - - - - - -
Non-Residential Subtotal 12,975 - - 56 186 15,066,995 15,740 TABLE LU-1: GENERAL PLAN 2040 BUILDOUT POTENTIAL
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Two: Land Use
25 Land Use Designation Acres1 Allowed Density
and/or Intensity
Assumed Density
and/or Intensity2
Units Population NonResidential
Square Feet
Jobs
Mixed Land Uses
Mixed-Use 871 10.1-36 du/ac and
1.0 FAR
22 du/ac and 0.25
FAR
11,500 38,410 3,795,004 5,060
Downtown Village 60 40 du/ac and 2.0
FAR
6 du/ac and 0.30 FAR 181 603 393,341 571
Mixed-Use Subtotal 931 - - 11,681 39,013 4,188,344 5,631 Specific Plan Land Uses
Specific Plan Area 1,530 Varies Varies 2,669 8,916 5,157,888 5,618 Specific Plan Subtotal 1,530 - - 2,669 8,916 5,157,888 5,618 Totals 22,796 - - 32,081 107,152 24,413,227 26,989
Notes:
1. Acres are given as adjusted gross acreages, which do not include the right-of-way for major roadways, flood control facilities, or railroads.
2. Density/intensity includes both residential density, expressed as dwelling units per acre, and nonresidential intensity, expressed as floor area ratio (FAR), which is the amount of building square feet in relation to the size of the lot. Historically, citywide buildout levels do not achieve the maximum allowable density/intensity on every parcel, and are, on average, lower than allowed by the General Plan.
Accordingly, the projections in this General Plan do not assume buildout at the maximum density or intensity but are adjusted downward to account for variations in development.
TABLE LU-1: GENERAL PLAN 2040 BUILDOUT POTENTIAL (CONTINUED) Buildout Potential
State General Plan law requires that the Land
Use Element indicate the maximum densities
and intensities permitted within the Land Use
Plan. The land use designations shown on the
Land Use Map are described in detail in this
Element. Table LU-1 lists each of the land use
designations shown on the Land Use Map
and provides a corresponding indication of
maximum density or intensity of development.
Maximum allowable development on individual
parcels of land is governed by these measures
of density or intensity. The table also includes
the effective overall level of development within
each land use designation within the City. These
effective levels of development represent an
anticipated overall density and intensity of
development for San Jacinto and are, therefore,
less than the absolute maximum allowed for an
individual parcel of land. For various reasons,
many parcels in the community have not been
developed to maximum density or intensity
and, in the future, maximum development as
described in this Element can be expected to
occur only on a limited number of parcels.
The overall future development in San Jacinto
is anticipated to occur at the expected level
of density or intensity indicated in Table LU-1.
Development at an intensity or density between
the expected and maximum levels is desired
when projects offer exceptional design quality,
important public amenities or benefits, or other
factors that promote important goals and
policies of the General Plan. For the residential
land use designations, projects are expected to
build to a density at least as high as the lowest
density allowed by the respective designation.
Chapter Two: Land Use | Envision San Jacinto
26 Mix of Land Uses
Every community requires a mixture of land
uses: residential land to provide housing;
commercial and industrial land to provide goods
and services, tax revenue, and employment
opportunities; public and institutional land to
provide public services and infrastructure; and
parks and open space for the enjoyment of all.
A desirable community provides a balance of
land uses that responds to and anticipates its
resident’s needs.
Goal LU-1: A community with a land use plan that
accommodates a mix of uses to meet current and
future needs.
» Policy LU-1.1: Land Use Pattern. Promote an
appropriate land use plan that fosters and
enhances community livability and public health;
sustains economic vitality; promotes efficient
development and multiple transportation
options; reduces pollution, greenhouse gas
emissions, and the expenditure of energy and
other resources; and ensures compatibility
between uses consistent with the land use
designations identified in this Element and Land
Use Map (LU-2).
» Policy LU-1.2: Fiscal Sustainability. Maintain a
fiscally sustainable land use plan with balanced
residential and nonresidential developments.
» Policy LU-1.3: Balancing Jobs and Housing.
Balance levels of employment and housing within
the community to provide more opportunities for
San Jacinto Valley residents to work locally, cut
commute times, and improve air quality.
» Policy LU-1.4: Commercial, Office, and Industrial
Uses. Support a balanced distribution of
well-maintained, functional, and appropriate
commercial, office, and industrial use areas to
expand local employment opportunities and
support a stable tax base.
» Policy LU-1.5: Public Services for Quality of Life.
Maintain appropriate sites for institutional and
public facility uses that can accommodate the
infrastructure and facilities needed to serve the
community.
» Policy LU-1.6: Gathering Spaces. Support the
provision of attractive outdoor gathering places
such as plazas, green space, and squares to
strengthen social engagement and provide
visual relief in developed areas.
» Action LU-1a: Update the City’s Development
Code and Zoning Map as appropriate to ensure
consistency with this land use element and
designations shown on Figure LU-2. As part
of the update, create new zoning districts to
implement the City’s new Downtown Village,
Mixed-Use, and Very High Density Residential
land use designations.
» Action LU-1b: Review the Development Code
and update as appropriate to reflect Land Use
goals, policies, and implementation actions
included in this Plan.
» Action LU-1c: Review the Subdivision Code and
update as appropriate to accommodate the
changes in the Development Code and the Land
Use goals, policies, and implementation actions
included in this Plan.
» Action LU-1d: As part of development review
process, ensure that residential and nonresidential developments fall within the minimum and maximum density requirements
and or allowed floor-area-ratios stipulated on the
Land Use Map and included within the Land Use
Descriptions. Projects shall also be reviewed for
consistency with the development standards
and density requirements established by any
applicable Specific Plan governing the area in
question.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Two: Land Use
27 Managed Growth
San Jacinto, as well the surrounding region, has
experienced substantial growth over the past
20 years. The trend is expected to continue,
accompanied by new development with the
potential to change community character.
While recognizing that change is inevitable,
the community can strategically plan and
guide future development that welcomes new
opportunities, while protecting and enhancing
the existing character of San Jacinto and its
neighborhoods.
Goal LU-2: A City that manages and directs
growth so that the community and its
neighborhoods are protected and enhanced.
» Policy LU-2.1: Plan for New Development.
Ensure that new development corresponds
to the provision of infrastructure, public
services, and community facilities, and that
new development funds and constructs its fair
share of improvements in accordance with City
requirements.
» Policy LU-2.2: Infill Development. Encourage
new development to occur in infill locations in
a balanced and efficient pattern that reduces
sprawl, preserves open space, and creates
convenient connections to other land uses and
activity centers.
» Policy LU-2.3: Commercial Corridors.
Encourage development of commercial, retail,
and employment opportunities along major
circulation routes at major intersections where
there is maximum access and visibility.
» Policy LU-2.4: Agricultural Uses. Allow and
support the continuation of agricultural operations
on lands within the City limits that are designated
for development uses, until such time as new
development is proposed for the land.
» Policy LU-2.5: Specific Plans. Encourage the
preparation and adoption of Specific Plans to
guide developments larger than 100 acres.
» Policy LU-2.6: Annexation. Continue to annex land
within the City’s Sphere of Influence to promote
compatibility between new and existing uses.
» Policy LU-2.7: Special Study Area. Continue
conversations with property owners and other
interested parties regarding a future potential
amendment to the City’s sphere of influence to
include the Special Study Area identified in Figure
LU-3.
Chapter Two: Land Use | Envision San Jacinto
28 » Action LU-2a: Cooperate with LAFCo and the
County of Riverside to direct growth outside
the City limits on lands that are served, or
planned to be served, with a full range of urban
services, such as public water and sewer, an
extensive road network, public transit, safety
and emergency response services, parks, trails,
and open space.
» LU-2b: The City will plan to accommodate the
final SR-79 alignment through the following land
use actions:
• Promote commercial, visitor-serving, and
employment generating land uses along the
SR-79 Corridor.
• During the planning phase of the SR-79
alignment, ensure that the alignment of
the highway and proposed off-ramps are
compatible with and complement San
Jacinto’s plans for revenue-generating land
uses along the SR-79 corridor.
» Action LU-2c: Implement Planned Development
Permits and Specific Plan (SP) requirements
during the review of applicable projects.
Encourage Planned Development Permits and
Specific Plans to include creative and thoughtful
design solutions that enhance not only the
project, but the community.
» Action LU-2d: Abate non-conforming buildings
and uses through a Code Enforcement Program.
Provide code complaint forms online and at
City Hall. Annually assess the success of the
programs and the staffing levels through the
budget process.
» Action LU-2e: Give priority to redevelopment and
infill projects that reduce development pressure
on agricultural lands and other sensitive
resources.
» Action LU-2f: Work with property owners and
agricultural operations interested in retaining
agricultural land to identify feasible ways to
maintain the land in agricultural production.
Apply agricultural conservation easements to
land desired by the City and the property owner
to remain as agricultural land.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Two: Land Use
29 Land Use Compatibility
San Jacinto is primarily a residential community
and will continue to have a substantial portion
of its land devoted to housing. While the City
requires a comprehensive circulation system
and revenue generated by commercial,
industrial, and agricultural uses to support the
needs of the community, these roadways and
non-residential land uses must be compatible
with the existing community.
Goal LU-3: A community that promotes highquality development and compatibility with surrounding land uses and major transportation
corridors.
» Policy LU-3.1: Surrounding Uses. Consider
as part of the development review process
the compatibility of new development with
surrounding uses and the ability of new
development to enhance the character of the
surrounding area.
» Policy LU-3.2: Residential Uses. Require that
new residential development be designed to
protect residents from potential conflicts with
adjacent land uses, and other features including
rail corridors, and high-volume roadways.
» Policy LU-3.3: Industrial Areas. Promote
industrial uses that are environmentally
sustainable with limited potential to create
nuisances, such as noise and odors, when
located within close proximity of existing and
planned sensitive receptors.
» Policy LU-3.4: Environmental Compatibility.
Limit development in areas subject to severe
natural hazards, such as landslides, ground
subsidence, liquefaction, and flooding.
» Policy LU-3.5: Telecommunications Facilities.
To the extent legally possible, regulate and
ensure that telecommunications facilities
such as cell towers, radio towers, and other
appurtenances do not block, impede, or impair
the visual quality of San Jacinto.
» Policy LU-3.6: Agricultural Compatibility. Ensure
that new urban uses that are proposed adjacent
to lands designated for agricultural uses include
adequate buffers to reduce potential land use
conflicts and nuisance impacts to sensitive
receptors.
» Policy LU-3.7: Hillside Development. Conserve
hillsides by limiting development on slopes
greater than 25 percent and allowing unique
planning techniques such as Specific Plans,
Planned Unit Developments, and clustered
development to reduce grading.
» Policy LU-3.8: Public Utilities. Ensure land uses
and development are compatible with existing
and proposed utility facilities including the San
Jacinto Wastewater Treatment Facility.
Chapter Two: Land Use | Envision San Jacinto
30 » Action LU-3a: Ensure all projects are reviewed
and processed per California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
» Action LU-3b: Through the development review
process, evaluate development proposals
for land use and transportation network
compatibility with existing surrounding or
abutting development or neighborhoods.
» Action LU-3c: Analyze land use compatibility
through the development review process to
require adequate buffers and/or architectural
enhancements that protect sensitive receptors
from intrusion of development activities that
may cause unwanted nuisances and health
risks.
» Action LU-3d: When industrial projects, including
warehouse projects, fulfillment centers, and
other projects that may generate high volumes
of truck trips and/or air quality emissions are
proposed within 1,000 feet of existing or planned
residential uses or other sensitive receptors, the
City shall require the preparation of a Health Risk
Assessment (HRA) that meets the standards
established by the Office of Environmental
Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), and the
South Coast Air Quality Management District
(South Coast AQMD).
» Action LU-3e: During both redevelopment and
the development of new projects, encourage
the provision and maintenance of setbacks and
buffers, such as roadways, topographic features,
and open space, to prevent incompatibilities
between agricultural and non-agricultural land
uses.
» Action LU-3f: Work with Southern California
Edison (SCE) to improve compatibility of its
facilities with other development and scenic
resources. On an ongoing basis and through the
development review process, the City shall:
• Request SCE improve transmission line
corridors with attractive ornamental
plantings, landscape screening, and trails.
• Require new development to underground
all utility lines needed to serve the
development.
• Work with SCE to coordinate the
undergrounding of new utilities with
the undergrounding of existing utilities
whenever financially and physically feasible.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Two: Land Use
31 Mixed-Use Activity Centers
Mixed-use development, which can be defined
as development that incorporates two or more
types of land uses in horizontal or mixed-use
formats, can help local governments better
respond to public demand for vibrant walkable
activity centers. San Jacinto welcomes mixeduse developments as an option to provide flexible spaces to live, work, and play. The
mixed-use areas identified in the land use
plan are predominantly located along the
City’s corridors and around activity centers,
including Main Street, where uses are desired
to be more concentrated and integrated in
order to enhance the functionality of a special
development opportunity. To promote the
transformation of Downtown San Jacinto into
a successful mixed-use activity center, the City
has created a special mixed-use designation
called “Downtown Village” which allows for a
mix of multifamily housing, commercial uses,
and public facilities at higher densities and
intensities than allowed elsewhere in the City.
Due to the special nature of mixed-use
development, additional policy guidance is
required to ensure that these areas transition
in line with the community’s vision. While
historically San Jacinto has developed based
upon generally effective land use designations,
the mixed-use designations provide the City
the ability and authority to be more proactive in
land use decisions for the focused areas of San
Jacinto where new growth and development is
desired. The flexibility built into the mixed-use
designation increases the potential to attract
quality developments that will benefit the City,
supporting the goals and policies articulated in
the economic development element.
Goal LU-4: A community with economically
successful mixed-use activity centers, including
a thriving Downtown Village featuring desirable
residential and commercial uses.
» Policy LU-4.1: Use Configuration. Permit a
mixture of compatible land uses on a single
site or within a single development project in a
vertical or horizontal configuration.
» Policy LU-4.2: Main Street Revitalization.
Encourage the revitalization of the Main Street
area by evaluating and pursuing, when possible,
programs, policies, and financing mechanisms
to spur local investment and foot traffic.
» Policy LU-4.3: Main Street Economic Vitality.
Promote the economic vitality of the Main Street
area through a mixture of multifamily housing
development, destination-type commercial
uses, eateries, and civic uses such as cultural
and performing art facilities.
» Policy LU-4.4: Pedestrian Design. Support
pedestrian-friendly and pedestrian-scaled
development that encourages more social
interaction and less automobile use, especially
in the Downtown Village.
» Policy LU-4.5: Centralized Parking. Promote
centralized parking areas to help reduce
or eliminate development-specific parking
requirements.
» Policy LU-4.6: On-Site Amenities. Encourage
residential/commercial mixed-use projects
to provide on-site gathering spaces (plazas,
courtyards, etc.) and other pedestrian-scale
amenities, such as benches, fountains, murals
or public art, and landscaping, that contribute to
the living environment of residents.
» Policy LU-4.7: Downtown Village Amenities.
Encourage projects to provide on-site amenities
that enhance the pedestrian environment, such
as tree plantings, pedestrian-scaled signs and
lighting, street furniture, public art, and sidewalk
improvements throughout the Downtown
Village.
» Action LU-4a: Update the City’s Development
Code and Zoning Map as appropriate to ensure
consistency with this land use element and
designations shown on Figure LU-2. As part
of the update, create new zoning districts to
implement the City’s new Downtown Village and
Mixed-Use land use designations.
» Action LU-4b: Encourage the sharing of parking
facilities by reducing parking standards for
mixed-use projects.
Chapter Two: Land Use | Envision San Jacinto
32 Community Character and Design
Nestled in the scenic San Jacinto Valley, San
Jacinto provides a unique dynamic between the
natural and built environment. It is important
that new development and redevelopment
activities be planned and designed in a manner
that enhances the community’s identity
and quality of life. Comprehensive policies,
standards, and guidelines that encourage
thoughtful community design and foster a
sense of place should be implemented.
Goal LU-5: A visually attractive community that
helps create a unique sense of place.
» Policy LU-5.1: Design Features. Enhance
the City’s identity with attractive high-quality
gateways, city entry signs and design features,
cohesive street signs, and other design features
at public gathering spaces and other areas,
where appropriate.
» Policy LU-5.2: Standards and Guidelines.
Develop and enforce development standards
and objective design guidelines that provide clear
direction for achieving quality community design
in new development and redevelopment projects.
» Policy LU-5.3: Site Planning. Identify and
preserve, as feasible, the significant features
of a site, such as viewsheds, heritage trees,
and rock outcroppings, during the design and
development of new projects.
» Policy LU-5.4: Gathering Places. Encourage the
provision of both formal and informal public
gathering spaces through pedestrian-oriented
street design; sidewalk furniture and pedestrianoriented development; well-designed, multi-use public spaces of different sizes including pocket
parks, plazas, and monuments; and community
events.
» Policy LU-5.5: Sustainable Design. Support
“green” and “sustainable” developments that
respect and conserve the region’s important
resources.
» Policy LU-5.6: Arts in Public Places. Continue to
implement the Arts in Public Places program to
provide a diverse and culturally rich environment
for San Jacinto residents and visitors.
» Policy LU-5.7: Landscaping. Use landscaping
for screening, solar control, parking lot shade,
and other beautification purposes throughout
the City.
» Policy LU-5.8: Streetscapes. Promote drought
tolerant landscaping, tree planting, and tree
preservation along City streets as a means of
improving aesthetics, making neighborhoods
more pedestrian-friendly, and providing
environmental and economic benefits.
» Policy LU-5.9: Public and Private Investment.
Invest public and private resources in the
maintenance and rehabilitation of existing
housing to prevent or reverse neighborhood
deterioration.
» Policy LU-5.10: Property Maintenance. Improve
efforts to enforce the Development Code and
instill community pride in the appearance and
image of the City.
» Policy LU-5.11: Older Neighborhoods and
Businesses. Develop or participate in programs
to rehabilitate older residential neighborhoods
and commercial centers to prevent blight and
maintain the quality of the built environment.
» Action LU-5a: Evaluate how new signage can
help support a cohesive identity for San Jacinto
and help brand the City.
» Action LU-5b: Collect and evaluate neighborhood
generated proposals for consideration in the
formulation of the annual Capital Improvement
Program budgeting process.
» Action LU-5c: Evaluate and amend the
development and design standards of the
Development Code to regulate new construction
and revisions to existing buildings. In particular,
new development standards shall be created for
Mixed-Use Land Use Designations (Mixed-Use
and Downtown Village).
» Action LU-5d: Seek grant funding (“greening”
grants) to help offset the cost of landscape
improvements along enhanced corridors.
» Action LU-5e: Actively seek funding opportunities
to help rehabilitate residential structures that
are in the greatest disrepair. Develop a list of
the residences that are in the greatest need of
repair to determine where funding should be
spent when it becomes available.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Two: Land Use
33 UV79
Ramona Expy
Kirby St
Ramona Expy
Soboba Rd
Mountain Ave
M eridian St
Soboba Rd
State St
Pal
m
Ave
Washington Ave
Cottonwood Ave
Esplanade Ave
State St
Hewitt St
Park Ave
Ramona Expy
Main St
Commonwealth Ave
Lyon Ave
Seventh St
Ramona Blvd
Camino los Banos
7th St
Record Rd
Odell Ave
Sanderson Ave
Cawston Ave
Pott
er Rd
Warren Rd
Ramona Expy
Lake Park Dr
Hemet
Beaumont
Figure LU-1.
Planning Areas
City of San Jacinto
San Jacinto Sphere of
Influence
Neighboring City
0 ½ 1
Miles
San Jacinto River
Data sources: Riverside County GIS; USGS NHD.
Created by De Novo Planning Group for the City of San Jacinto, March 2023.
Chapter Two: Land Use | Envision San Jacinto
34 SOBOBA
SPRINGS
SP
(01-85)
TRAILS SP
(01-03)
VILLAGE SP
(01-04)
COVE SP
(01-01)
ESPLANADE
SP (01-02)
RANCHO
SAN JACINTO
SP (01-00)
UV79
Ramona Expy
Kirby St
Ramona Expy
Soboba Rd
Mountain Ave
M eridian St
Soboba Rd
State St
Palm
Ave
Washington Ave
Cottonwood Ave
Esplanade Ave
State St
Hewitt St
Park Ave
Ramona Expy
Main St
Commonwealth Ave
Lyon Ave
Seventh St
Ramona Blvd
Camino los Banos
7th St
Record Rd
Odell Ave
Sanderson Ave
Cawston Ave
Pott
er Rd
Warren Rd
Ramona Expy
Lake Park Dr
Hemet
Beaumont
Figure LU-2.
General Plan Land
Use Map
City of San Jacinto
San Jacinto Sphere of
Influence
Assessor Parcel
Boundary
Specific Plan Area
Land Use Designation
VLDR: Very Low Density
Residential
LDR: Low Density
Residential
MDR: Medium Density
Residential
HDR: High Density
Residential
VHDR: Very High Density
Residential
MU: Mixed Use
C: Commercial
DV: Downtown Village
BP: Business Park
I: Industrial
PI: Public/Institutional
OS: Open Space
P: Park
SPA: Specific Plan Area
W: Water
0 ½ 1
Miles
San Jacinto River
Data sources: City of San Jacinto; Riverside County GIS; USGS NHD.
Created by De Novo Planning Group for the City of San Jacinto, March 2023.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Two: Land Use
35 Yucca Ave
5th S t
Gilman Springs Rd
Orange St
6th St
Slegers S t
East Boundary Rd
Hansen Ave
4th St
Bridge St
3rd St
Lakeview Ave E
Pico Rd
Bettinger Ave
Davis Rd
Marvin Rd
Mt Rudolf Rd
Ramona Expy
ChastityRd
Old Pico Rd
UV74
UV79
Ramona Expy
Kirby St
Ramona Expy
Soboba Rd
M ountain Ave
Soboba Rd
State St
Pal
m
Ave
Washington Ave
Cottonwood Ave
State St
Hew
tti St
Park Ave
Ramona Expy
Main St
Commonwealth Ave
Lyon Ave
Esplanade Ave
Potter Rd
Seventh St
Ramona Blvd
Camino los Banos
7th St
Record Rd
Odell Ave
Sanderson Ave
Cawston Ave
Warren Rd
Ramona Expy
Lake Park Dr
Hemet
Beaumont
Figure LU-3.
Special Study Area
City of San Jacinto
San Jacinto Sphere of
Influence
Neighboring City
Special Study Area
0 ½ 1
Miles
San Jacinto River
Data sources: City of San Jacinto; Riverside County GIS; USGS NHD.
Created by De Novo Planning Group for the City of San Jacinto, March 2023.
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Chapter Three
Economic Development Element is intended to
guide the City’s future policy decisions to support
growing and strengthening the local economy.
The Economic Development Element is not
a required element for a General Plan, but the
City has decided to include it in recognition that
promoting economic vibrancy and resiliency is
a central aspect of planning for San Jacinto’s
future. While presented as a separate chapter,
the policies contained within the Economic
Development Element are intertwined with
those found in the other Elements of the
General Plan. Decisions designed to advance
other elements, such as land use, housing,
mobility, open space, and health and wellness,
necessarily impact economic development,
and vice-versa.
Element Organization
Given market conditions and trends in San Jacinto and its location in the region, there are a number of key areas in which the City has the greatest opportunity for economic growth and development. The goals and policies identified in the Economic Development Element are focused on these areas of opportunity, and underscore the City’s commitment to being a place where workers, residents, visitors, and businesses can thrive, today and into the future. The Element is organized into seven topics, as follows:
• Support for Business Community
• Economic Diversification and Business
• Enhanced Activity Corridors and Nodes
• Revitalization of Main Street
• Promotion of Visitor-Serving Business Sector
• Workforce Development
• Fiscal Diversity and Sustainability
37 Chapter Three: Economic Development | Envision San Jacinto 38 Key Opportunities and Challenges
The Economic Development Element has
been informed by community and stakeholder
input gathered through outreach efforts, and
builds on research and analysis contained in
the Economic, Demographic, and Real Estate
Profile report completed in 2019 as part of
the General Plan process. Given San Jacinto’s
regional position as well as market conditions
and trends, the Profile report identified several
key opportunities that could drive economic
growth and development in the City. These
include the following:
• The City’s existing land use assets have
positioned it to capture regional growth in
industrial sectors, particularly ag-tech and
cannabis cultivation, and in hospitality,
particularly related to the new Soboba
Casino Resort.
• Regional transportation infrastructure
initiatives, including the Route 79
realignment and the Mid-County Parkway,
will improve access to the City and increase
its attractiveness to residents, businesses,
and visitors.
• Despite a high level of out-commute by
residents, there is a relatively strong match
between jobs held by residents and those
available in the City. The City can leverage
this match to drive economic development
by continuing to promote the City’s resident
workforce to businesses who may consider
relocating or opening a location in San
Jacinto, as well as providing support for
local entrepreneurship and small business
creation.
• While much of the City’s working population
has relatively low educational attainment,
high graduation rates at the City’s public
high schools and the continued growth of
Mount San Jacinto College suggest that
the City’s future workforce may be highereducated and higher-skilled, providing more opportunities for local economic
development.
• The City’s relatively low accessibility is
a disadvantage for the development of
destination retail centers. However, current
trends in retail shopping centered on
experiential businesses—small and local
shops, dining and drinking establishments,
and entertainment venues. This trend can
be well-suited for San Jacinto, particularly
as the City looks to invest in its Downtown
area. While some of these trends have
been slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic,
the outlook for effective and well-designed
“place-based” commercial activity remains
strong.
Competitive
Advantages Quality of Life Image and Brand
Land
Use Mobility Resource
Mgmt. EJ Housing Public
Safety
General Plan
Elements
Success
Factors
Economic Development Paradigm
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Three: Economic Development 39 Support for Business Community
One of the City’s most important assets in
promoting economic growth is its existing
economic base. Supporting existing local
businesses so that they can thrive, grow,
and adapt to changing economic conditions
will not only help those businesses and their
employees, but also demonstrate to other
businesses that the City is a desirable place
to locate. This support extends to residents,
workers, and students who may be looking to
establish or grow a business in the City.
Goal ED-1: A City that supports and promotes
local business development.
» Policy ED-1.1: Support Businesses. Implement
policies and programs that are responsive to the
business community and ease the process of
doing business with the City.
» Policy ED-1.2: Incentives and Services. Maintain
an easily-accessible menu of incentives and City
services available to existing businesses to help
facilitate growth and expansion.
» Policy ED-1.3: Business Investment. Support
local property and business owners to reinvest in,
and revitalize, commercial properties, including
through incentives and streamlined processes.
» Policy ED-1.4: Partnerships. Develop and
strengthen City partnerships with local
and regional business organizations, such
as chambers of commerce and industry
associations.
» Policy ED-1.5: Opportunity. Encourage
opportunities for training, access to capital, and
networking for existing and prospective local
business owners and entrepreneurs.
» Action ED-1a: Regularly review and solicit
input from business community on existing
incentives for business creation and property
re-investment and update as appropriate.
» Action ED-1b: Establish and maintain partnership
with Riverside County Workforce Development
Center and Mount San Jacinto College to
offer entrepreneurship training programs and
business development resources.
» Action ED-1c: Maintain and expand business
engagement efforts, including roundtable
events, surveys, and awards and recognition
events, in partnership with local chambers of
commerce and other business associations in
Riverside County and Inland Empire.
» Action ED-1d: Maintain a Development Code
that supports investment and innovation in the
City.
» Action ED-1e: Identify ways of simplifying the
Business License and renewal process.
» Action ED-1f: Identify opportunities to leverage
technology to simplify and speed up the
entitlement and permit processes.
Chapter Three: Economic Development | Envision San Jacinto 40 Economic Diversification and Business
A diversified economy makes cities stronger and
more resilient in the face of changing economic
trends. Businesses in today’s economy are
highly mobile, and firms consider a variety of
factors when deciding where to locate or relocate. These factors include the ease with which a firm can get established and operate
in a city, and the level of the city’s investment in
and responsiveness to its business community.
San Jacinto has endeavored to distinguish
itself as such a place. These trends, City
efforts, and planned regional transportation
infrastructure initiatives can help the City better
attract a variety of industries and promote the
development of a mixed economic base.
Goal ED-2: A community with a diversified
economic base to promote job growth and
resiliency.
» Policy ED-2.1: Targeted Development.
Encourage the development of office parks and
other commercial building formats serving the
space needs of target industries, including retail,
agricultural and high technology, manufacturing,
and professional services.
» Policy ED-2.2: Support New Businesses.
Develop and maintain policies and incentive
programs available to support new businesses
locating in the City.
» Policy ED-2.3: Medical Facilities. Continue to
promote the establishment of local and regional
serving medical facilities in San Jacinto to
diversify economic activity and better serve the
healthcare needs of San Jacinto Valley residents
and businesses.
» Policy ED-2.4: Marketing. Continue to
participate in marketing activities to educate
employers about the City’s resident workforce,
and promote opportunities available for new
businesses.
» Action ED-2a: Identify undeveloped,
underdeveloped, or unoccupied sites and
buildings that present opportunities for business
attraction, as well as City actions to improve
marketability of sites.
» Action ED-2b: Develop marketing strategy
to attract healthcare facilities, including
identification of appropriate sites and of regional
healthcare systems with potential interest in
locating in City.
» Action ED-2c: Research and identify targeted
industry events and marketing publications for
City to participate in over next 2-3 years and
update the strategy periodically thereafter.
» Action ED-2d: Work with regional partners to
explore coordinated regional business attraction
effort that will leverage individual city’s assets
and allow for greater overall investment in
attraction initiatives.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Three: Economic Development 41 Enhanced Activity Corridors and Nodes
New commercial development benefits from
locating in areas with high visibility and good
access. Relatedly, creating clusters of a mix
of uses—such as office, retail, and multifamily
residential—serves to drive activity and growth
in an area and create efficiencies in travel
behavior. As part of the Land Use Plan, the
City is promoting commercial and mixeduse development along several of its major circulation routes, at major intersections, and in
proximity to activity centers, in order to support
this focused location of new higher intensity
uses.
Goal ED-3: A City that plans for enhanced
activity corridors and nodes to drive synergistic
commercial development.
» Policy ED-3.1: Transportation Corridors.
Encourage and incentivize new retail, hospitality,
and commercial development clusters along
major transportation corridors, including the
Ramona Expressway and State Route 79 and
at major highway interchanges, leveraging
locational assets and synergies.
» Policy ED-3.2: Higher Intensity Development.
Encourage higher density housing and higher
intensity employment space to locate in mixeduse formats along the City’s commercial corridors, near transit nodes, and in areas wellserved by the City’s multimodal transportation network.
» Policy ED-3.3: Regional Coordination.
Coordinate local infrastructure investments
and initiatives with regional transportation
improvements that enhance major corridors
and nodes.
» Action ED-3a: Maintain easily-accessible
inventory of available commercial property
sites, with focus on key corridors and nodes.
» Action ED-3b: Study the establishment of an
Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District
(EIFD) to support financing of targeted
infrastructure investments in key development
areas.
» Action ED-3c: Research state and federal grant
programs with available funding to support
infrastructure investments in key development
areas.
Chapter Three: Economic Development | Envision San Jacinto 42 Revitalization of Main Street
San Jacinto’s Main Street has many assets
that could position it as a major focal point of
activity in the City. While changes in market
economics and public health priorities have
presented challenges to the type of experiential
commercial development associated with
downtown neighborhoods, the trend towards
place-based mixed-use activity centers is
expected to continue in the future. Main Street’s
mix of walkability and central location all lend
themselves to becoming a more vibrant live/
work/play center within the City.
Goal ED-4: A community with a vibrant and active
Main Street.
» Policy ED-4.1: Main Street Development.
Position development and infrastructure on
Main Street to be oriented towards pedestrians,
local businesses, and special programming,
providing a unique and attractive experience for
visitors, residents, and workers.
» Policy ED-4.2: Invest in Main Street. Encourage
City investment in catalytic Main Street projects.
» Policy ED-4.3: Mixed-Use. Encourage the
development and integration of a mix of uses
in a “main street” setting that includes retail
anchored stores, entertainment, office, retail,
residential at various densities, and transitoriented development and/or mix uses that provide regional draw.
» Policy ED-4.4: Character. Encourage economic
development activities that support and
preserve the unique character of Main Street
area and its existing building stock.
» Policy ED-4.5: Walkable. Support efforts to
create a safe walkable environment where
visitors to Main Street can “park once” and visit
multiple destinations
» Action ED-4a: Complete development of Civic
Center complex centered on Vosberg Hotel and
redevelopment of the former Virginia Lee site.
» Action ED-4b: Develop public-private
partnership strategy, including marketing plan
for development outreach, for other City-owned
properties on Main Street that represent catalyst
development opportunities.
» Action ED-4c: Collaborate with San Jacinto
Valley Museum Association and other historic
preservation organizations to develop a menu
of incentives (local, county, state, and federal)
available for the preservation of historic
properties.
» Action ED-4d: Prepare Main Street-specific
retail attraction/retention analysis to inform
strategies on attracting tenants and business
investment to Main Street.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Three: Economic Development 43 Promotion of Visitor-Serving Business
Sector
The tourism sector presents significant fiscal
and economic opportunity for San Jacinto.
Looking ahead, the City can build upon several
existing assets to grow jobs and activity in
the hospitality and visitor-serving industry—in
particular, the newly-opened Soboba Casino
Resort and Golf Course, which has created a
new major attraction that will draw visitors to
the San Jacinto Valley region. Investment in
complementary accommodations, businesses,
marketing, and infrastructure can position San
Jacinto as a connected destination for area
visitors.
Goal ED-5: A City that promotes the hospitality
and visitor-serving business sector.
» Policy ED-5.1: Visitor-serving. Support the
development and promotion of visitor-oriented
activities and businesses, with a focus on
family-oriented activities, that build upon the
attractions provided by the Soboba Casino
Resort and Golf Course and regional outdoor
activities, such as hiking trails in the San Jacinto
Mountains.
» Policy ED-5.2: Hotels. Encourage the
development of new hotel facilities in San
Jacinto, especially at key corridors and nodes
in the City best-positioned to serve the regional
visitor population.
» Policy ED-5.3: Marketing. Promote San
Jacinto’s historic and recreational attractions to
area visitors through marketing and wayfinding
investments.
» Action ED-5a: Develop marketing strategy to
attract new hotel uses, including identification
of appropriate sites and study of visitor
demographics.
» Action ED-5b: Collaborate with San Jacinto
Museum and other major local attractions
to develop tourism marketing strategy and
associated materials.
» Action ED-5c: Develop a wayfinding plan to
improve visitor attraction to and experience in
Downtown and elsewhere in the City.
Chapter Three: Economic Development | Envision San Jacinto 44 Workforce Development
The presence of a workforce suited to the
needs of the local economy, particularly growth
sectors, is a major component in business
retention and expansion. Resident workers
in San Jacinto today are overrepresented in
the retail trade and healthcare industries as
compared to the region, and underrepresented
in industries that typically require higher levels
of education and training, such as finance
and insurance, and professional, scientific,
and technical services. Aligning the resident
workforce’s skills with the needs of the
businesses of today and tomorrow will have a
critical impact on expansion and diversification
of the City’s economy.
Goal ED-6: A City that invests in workforce
development.
» Policy ED-6.1: Workforce Development.
Promote training, education, and labor support
programs that enhance the quality of the City’s
labor force, and assist them in obtaining new
employment opportunities.
» Policy ED-6.2: Coordination. Develop
collaborative relationships between private
and public entities to affect and maintain a
comprehensive and coordinated economic
development process.
» Policy ED-6.3: Vocational Training. Coordinate
with Mount San Jacinto College to enhance,
expand, and promote vocational training
programs offered at the local campus.
» Action ED-6a: Partner with Mount San Jacinto
College, the San Jacinto Unified School District,
Hemet Unified School District, and Riverside
County Workforce Development Center to
develop entrepreneurship training program and
small business incubator for area high school
students.
» Action ED-6b: In partnership with Mount San
Jacinto College, solicit input from current and
prospective business owners regarding needed
workforce skills and develop strategies for
offering related educational and vocational
programs locally.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Three: Economic Development 45 Fiscal Diversity and Sustainability
Diversity in economic sectors helps to create
resiliency and guard cities against the impacts
of changes in commercial trends. Similarly,
diversity in public revenue sources helps to
protect a city’s budget against downturns in
revenue-generating activities. Like most cities
in California, San Jacinto is primarily dependent
on property and sales tax to fund day-to-day
municipal operations. Attracting a range of
real estate development and business types
can lead to more sustainable revenues that
are not overly dependent on any one sector of
the market or economy. Supporting the growth
of sales tax generating uses, such as retail
establishments, that also serve community
needs will continue to be a critical piece of the
City’s fiscal health. At the same time, there are
additional tax- and fee-generating uses that are
underdeveloped in the City and could provide
a wider range of revenue sources to support
future public investments in the community.
Additionally, while new residential development
and new residents may require additional costs
related to City services, increases in population
can also drive growth in property tax and other
General Fund revenues, as well as demand for
new sales-tax generating business. Municipal
costs related to residential growth will also be
impacted by the location of that growth – for
example, infill development utilizing existing
service infrastructure will typically require
lower levels of new capital investments and
operations costs as compared to development
of the periphery of the existing service area.
Goal ED-7: A City with improved fiscal diversity
and sustainability.
» Policy ED-7.1: Full Utilization. Actively seek to
replace or fill vacated businesses with users
capable of generating fiscal revenue streams
and necessary amenities to support the
surrounding residents.
» Policy ED-7.2: Retail Support. Support additional
retail development to increase sales tax
revenues and expand retail amenities available
to community and to visitors.
» Policy ED-7.3: Cannabis Industry. Consider the
development of facilities that serve the needs
of the cannabis industry in defined areas of the
City.
» Policy ED-7.4: Hotels. Support the development
of new hotels that will serve the regional visitor
population and generate additional transient
occupancy tax.
» Policy ED-7.5: Funding. Pursue a variety of
public, private, and non-profit funding sources
to fund community revitalization and economic
development activities.
» Policy ED-7.6: Monitor New Development.
Monitor fiscal implications of new development
and consider strategies that ensure new
development adequately and fairly mitigates
impacts on City infrastructure and services
costs.
» Action ED-7a: Maintain easily-accessible
inventory of vacant and available commercial
properties, organized by use type.
» Action ED-7b: Conduct regular study and update
of City’s current development impact fee levels,
to ensure that fees on new development are
adequate to cover fair share of costs for future
infrastructure needs.
MOBILITY
Chapter Four
The Mobility Element provides the framework
for decisions concerning the city’s multimodal
transportation system, which includes roadway,
transit, bicycle, and pedestrian modes of travel.
The Mobility Element provides for coordination
with the Riverside County Transportation
Commission (RCTC), which serves as the
coordinating agency for transportation funding
for Riverside County.
State law (California Government Code Section
65302(b)) mandates that the Mobility Element
contain the general location and extent of
existing and proposed major thoroughfares,
transportation routes, terminals, military
airports and ports, and other public utilities and
facilities, to the extent these items exist in the
planning area. The Mobility Element reflects
the City’s desire to provide for complete street,
bicycle, and pedestrian facilities and explore
the application of new technologies and best
practices for mobility planning in San Jacinto.
Element Organization
The Mobility Element will address each of the topics below as they relate to San Jacinto. The goals and policies of this element are organized around the following topics:
• Local Circulation System
• Regional Circulation System
• Complete Streets
• Active Transportation
• Parking
• Transportation Management
• Funding
47 Chapter Four: Mobility | Envision San Jacinto
48 Local Circulation System
The circulation system includes a hierarchy
of roadways and off-street paths and trails
that serve mobility and local access needs
for people who live in, work in, or visit the City.
The circulation system allows people to travel
safely and conveniently to and through the City
by vehicles, transit, bicycles, walking, and other
modes of travel.
Goal M-1: A safe circulation system that meets
the needs of existing and future land uses and
users of all travel modes.
» Policy M-1.1: Balanced Circulation System.
Provide for a balanced circulation system that
promotes the safe and efficient movement of
people and goods throughout the City (Figure
M-1).
» Policy M-1.2: Access and Mobility. Strive to
maintain sufficient access and mobility for all
modes of travel and users of the roadway network.
» Policy M-1.3: Maintenance and Infrastructure.
Support the circulation system with consistent
maintenance and necessary infrastructure
improvements, such as flood control and bridges,
as funding is available.
» Policy M-1.4: Truck Routes. Maintain a truck route
network that supports the efficient movement
of goods within and beyond the City, while
minimizing noise and safety hazards to the extent
feasible.
» Policy M-1.5: Transportation Improvements for
All Users. Encourage roadway, sidewalk, and
median improvements that enhance the visual
character of the roadway system and promote
pedestrian and bicycle safety.
» Policy M-1.6: ADA Accessibility. Manage and
improve the City’s transportation network to
be safe, accessible, and consistent with the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to allow
mobility-impaired users to safely travel within
and beyond the City.
» Policy M-1.7: Safe Routes to Schools. Work
with the San Jacinto Unified School District
and Hemet Unified School District in the City to
maintain Safe Routes to School and encourage
parents and children to walk or bike to schools.
» Policy M-1.8: Traffic Calming. Encourage
programming and design strategies to maintain
safe vehicular speeds on roadways, including
traffic calming measures, where applicable.
» Action M-1a: Periodically review and assess
the vehicular operating conditions along City
facilities to determine what, if any, improvements
are warranted to maintain a safe and efficient
flow of traffic in the City. Improvements may
be identified and included in the City’s Capital
Improvement Plan and/or required as part of
project approval through the development review
process.
» Action M-1b: As part of development review and
specific plans, review any existing gaps in active
transportation infrastructure, including sidewalk
gaps or trails previously identified in the Trails
Master Plan, that inhibit mobility. Improvements
may be recommended or required as part of
projects to meet M-1 policies.
» Action M-1c: Consider roundabouts or other
emerging design solutions when improvement
needs are identified.
» Action M-1d: Include ADA-accessible facilities
as part of roadway infrastructure projects.
» Action M-1e: Review and update the City’s
designated commercial vehicle routes as
needed while considering the potential mobility
conflicts and the location of sensitive land uses
in the City.
»
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Four: Mobility
49 Regional Circulation System
The circulation system includes high-order
roadways (e.g., state highways and arterial
routes) that provide regional connections for
people and for goods movement. Because
these regionally significant connections serve
transportation needs for people across the
County and beyond, these facilities need to be
planned and maintained in coordination with
other agencies.
Goal M-2: A circulation system that is integrated
with the larger regional transportation system
to support the economic well-being of the
community.
» Policy M-2.1: Regional Agency Coordination.
Coordinate with regional transportation
agencies, including the California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans), the Riverside County
Transportation Commission (RCTC), and the
Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) to implement
roadway improvements that encourage the safe
and efficient flow of traffic within and beyond
the City—for example, State Route 79 (SR-79)
and Mid County Parkway (Figure M-2).
» Policy M-2.2: Adjacent Jurisdictions. Coordinate
with adjacent jurisdictions regarding the
planning and construction of nearby circulation
improvements and public transit systems.
» Policy M-2.3: Regional Development.
Coordinate with adjacent jurisdictions to reduce
the impacts of proposed development projects
outside the City on transportation facilities and
services within the City.
» Policy M-2.4: Public Transit. Promote public
transportation programs that effectively serve
the City’s residents and workers by connecting
users to local and regional destinations,
including jobs, recreation, retail, and other
activity centers.
» Policy M-2.5: Freeway Coordination. Work with
regional and State transportation agencies to
minimize the impacts of regional roadways
construction (e.g., SR-79) on local businesses
and employment centers.
» Policy M-2.6: Right-of-Way Needs. Identify
roadway right-of-way needs prior to planning
new development to allow for the full buildout and alignment of future local and regional facilities identified in the Circulation Plan.
» Policy M-2.7: Mt. San Jacinto College.
Coordinate with the College to improve access
and mobility for employees and students.
» Action M-2a: Periodically coordinate with RCTC
and Caltrans to inform the City’s long-term
mobility plans and priorities through regular
communication and coordination.
» Action M-2b: Participate in regional planning
forums to bring the City’s concerns to the
regional level.
» Action M-2c: Monitor land use, circulation
planning, and the development review process
of neighboring jurisdictions, so that the City has
an opportunity to recommend that impacts to
the City are considered by those jurisdictions.
» Action M-2d: Periodically coordinate with RTA to
actively engage on transit service planning and
operational needs.
Chapter Four: Mobility | Envision San Jacinto
50 Complete Streets
Complete streets are streets that are designed
to provide safe travel for everyone – people
driving, riding transit, walking, biking, or using
any other means of travel. Planning for and
designing complete streets starts with policies
that promote consideration for all users within
all facility types.
Goal M-3: A multi-modal transportation network
that provides sufficient vehicular, pedestrian,
bike, and transit facilities.
» Policy M-3.1: Complete Streets. Apply contextsensitive complete streets principles to new roadways and to transportation improvements
to serve all modes of travel and users of all ages
and abilities.
» Policy M-3.2: Multimodal Facilities. Incorporate
facilities and design features into transportation
improvement projects that support the use of
public transit and active transportation.
» Policy M-3.3: Multimodal Connectivity. Link
commercial development, employment centers,
public facilities, and community parks and open
spaces to transit and active transportation
facilities and trails, wherever feasible.
» Policy M-3.4: New Development. Encourage
Specific Plans and Planned Developments to
include well-developed and funded multimodal
transportation facilities.
» Policy M-3.5: Effects of New Technology.
Monitor and evaluate the development of new
technologies (e.g., Transportation Network
Companies, scootershare, bikeshare, and
autonomous and connected vehicles) and their
potential impacts on travel behavior and the
transportation network.
» Policy M-3.6: Park and Ride Facilities. Encourage
the provision of regional public transportation
services and support facilities such as park and
ride lots.
» Action M-3a: When planning roadway facilities,
incorporate the concept of complete streets.
Consider design elements for all modes and
users that use streets in a context-sensitive
manner.
» Action M-3b: Consult standards set forth in
the latest editions of the California MUTCD
and AASHTO’s A Policy on Geometric Design
of Highways and Streets (“Green Book”) for
improvement and re-striping of appropriate
streets to accommodate dedicated bicycle
facilities, as applicable to the City.
» Action M-3c: Develop and maintain complete
streets design guidance based on these
resources and other best practices.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Four: Mobility
51 Classification Definition Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Typical Required
Right-of-Way
Typical
Curb-toCurb
Typical
Number of
Lanes
Maximum TwoWay Traffic
Volume (ADT)
Limited Access
Highway
Highways that carry large volumes
of traffic relatively long distances
through an urban or rural area.
These roadways primarily serve
mobility over access: priority is
placed on through-traffic rather than
access to fronting property. Direct
access to individual fronting parcels
is limited. Limited access highways
should be continuous through and
served by arterial routes.
On-street parking and onstreet bicycle facilities are not recommended on highways. Class
I bicycle and multi-use paths are
the recommended facility on this
roadway.
Pedestrian travel can be
accommodated on Class I paths
or, if in a more urbanized area, with
sidewalks.
146-184 feet 84-118 feet 6-8 with
curbed or
painted median
(turn lanes
developed at
intersections)
8 lanes: 70,000
6 lanes: 59,000
Arterial Arterials carry moderately high
volumes of long distance and local
traffic. Although access to abutting
property is permitted, priority is still
given to through traffic mobility.
On-street parking is not
recommended.
Class I bicycle paths and Class
IV separated bikeways are
recommended if bicycle facilities
are sited. In urbanized areas or
where speeds are lower, Class II
buffered bike lanes may also be
used.
Pedestrians are served with a
sidewalk.
112-146 feet 60-110 feet 4 to 6 lanes
with curbed or
painted median
(turn lanes
developed at
intersections)
6 lanes: 55,300
4 lanes: 39,300
Major Major roadways carrying the traffic
of local and collector streets to
and from highways and arterials
with controlled intersections and
generally provide direct access to
priorities. Major roadways may be
continuous over shorter distances
than arterials.
Class I, II, and IV bicycle facilities
are recommended if bicycle
facilities are sited.
Pedestrians are served with a
sidewalk.
Up to 100 feet Up to 66
feet
4 lanes with
turn lanes as
needed (no
median)
4-lane divided:
35,800
4-lane undivided:
32,600
Collector Collector roadways provide access
to abutting property and activity
nodes and link the local street
system to the arterial and major
system.
Class I, II, and IV bicycle facilities
are recommended if bicycle
facilities are sited. Class III bicycle
facilities may also be provided on
lower speed roads (under 25 mph).
Pedestrians are served with a
sidewalk.
78-90 feet 44-56 feet 2 lanes with,
possibly
including
painted median
2-lane undivided:
18,300
2-lane divided:
17,800
TABLE M-1: OVERVIEW OF GENERAL PLAN ROADWAY CLASSIFICATIONS Chapter Four: Mobility | Envision San Jacinto
52 Limited Access Highway
Required ROW: 146-184 feet
Curb-to-Curb Width: 84-118 feet
Number of Vehicle Travel Lanes: Six to Eight
Class I Bicycle Facility or Multi-Use
Path*
Curbed or painted median On-street parking not
recommended
*Depending on space and location-specific
needs
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Four: Mobility
53 Arterial
Required ROW: 112-146 feet
Curb-to-Curb Width: 60-110 feet
Number of Vehicle Travel Lanes: Four to Six
On-street parking not
recommended
Curbed or painted median Class I, Class IV, or Class
IIB Bicycle Facilities*
*Depending on space and location-specific
needs
Chapter Four: Mobility | Envision San Jacinto
54 Major
Required ROW: Up to 100 feet
Curb-to-Curb Width: Up to 66 feet
Number of Vehicle Travel Lanes: Four
On-street parking* Class IV or Class IIB
Bicycle Facilities*
*Depending on space and location-specific
needs
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Four: Mobility
55 Collector
Required ROW: 78-90 feet
Curb-to-Curb Width: 44-56 feet
Number of Vehicle Travel Lanes: Two
On-street parking* Could include curbed or painted
median*
Class IV, Class IIB, or Class
III Bicycle Facilities*
*Depending on space and location-specific
needs
Chapter Four: Mobility | Envision San Jacinto
56 Active Transportation
A network of supportive infrastructure
can encourage travel by non-motorized
transportation. The City has existing pedestrian,
bicycle, and equestrian trails and paths that
support active transportation. Connecting
trail and path gaps and providing supportive
infrastructure benefits users and promotes
these travel modes.
Goal M-4: An extensive and regionally linked
network of trails, bicycle lanes, and sidewalk
paths that encourage active transportation as
viable for transportation and recreation.
» Policy M-4.1: Trails Master Plan. Implement
applicable goals, policies, and projects from
the Trails Master Plan to provide trails and
multimodal facilities that support active
transportation within and beyond the City.
» Policy M-4.2: Active Transportation Network.
Provide and maintain an extensive active
transportation and trail network that supports
bicycles, pedestrians, and equestrians and
is linked to regional facilities and facilities of
adjacent jurisdictions (Figure M-2).
» Policy M-4.3: Trail Development. Encourage
the use of open space and utility easements for
bicycle, pedestrian, and equestrian trails, where
feasible.
» Policy M-4.4: Trail Connectivity. Encourage
Specific Plans and Planned Developments to
include well-developed and designed trails that
connect neighborhoods to parks, schools, jobs,
and adjacent existing or planned local and/or
regional trails.
» Policy M-4.5: Support Facilities. Encourage
new developments to provide bicycle parking,
lockers, and other support facilities for bicyclists.
» Action M-4a: Review and update the City’s
Municipal Code, as necessary, to consider
bicycle and pedestrian access as part of the site
plan review for new development projects.
» Action M-4b: Adopt the Trails Master Plan
concurrent with adoption of the San Jacinto
2040 General Plan Update and review and
update the Trails Master Plan every five years,
as funding allows.
» Action M-4c: As part of development review,
specific plans, and projects to be included in
the Capital Improvement Program, review any
existing gaps in the trail network identified
in the Trails Master Plan that inhibit mobility.
Improvements may be recommended or
required as part of projects to meet policies.
» Action M-4d: Review and compare City codes to
California Building Code requirements regarding
bicycle supportive facilities. Update City codes
if necessary to provide adequate facilities.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Four: Mobility
57 Parking
Adequate off- and on-street parking is
necessary to accommodate people who rely
upon vehicles to travel to homes, businesses,
recreation, and other uses. Effectively planning
for and managing both public and private
parking supply provides a balance between
meeting demand and efficiently using space.
Goal M-5: Parking supply that adequately and
efficiently meets demand.
» Policy M-5.1: Appropriate Parking Supply. Use
the development review process to plan for new
developments to provide appropriate vehicle
parking supply to meet demand.
» Policy M-5.2: Efficient Use of Parking.
Encourage the effective use of shared parking
between existing developments whenever
possible.
» Policy M-5.3: Parking Demand and Supply
Trends. Monitor and consider trends in the
region pertaining to reduced parking demand
for mixed-use developments and the allocation
of parking for shared vehicles, alternative
energy vehicles, bicycles, and other modes of
transportation.
» Policy M-5.4: Flexible Parking Supply. Permit
developments to meet parking requirements
through strategies such as shared parking.
» Policy M-5.5: Mixed-Use Developments.
Encourage large scale developments to
consider a mix of uses that provides flexibility in
parking demands.
» Action M-5a: Periodically review the City’s
parking code to adequately address new types
and patterns of development and new mobility
technologies which may have an impact on
parking supply and/or demand in the City.
» Action M-5b: As part of the City’s Development
Code Update to implement the General Plan
2040, develop a shared parking methodology
to be implemented for retail and mixed-use
projects that encourages flexibility while still
meeting anticipated demand.
Chapter Four: Mobility | Envision San Jacinto
58 Transportation Management
Recent state legislation has shifted to focus
land use and transportation planning on
reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT), in
alignment with a goal to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions (GHG) and address climate change.
Transportation management strategies that
promote alternatives to single-occupancy
vehicle travel can be employed to guide land
use and transportation decisions in support of
these environmental goals.
Goal M-6: Transportation management strategies
that comply with the County Congestion
Management Plan and regional and statewide
greenhouse gas emissions targets.
» Policy M-6.1: Vehicle Miles Traveled. Maintain
vehicle miles traveled (VMT) thresholds and
Transportation Demand Management (TDM)
mitigation requirements for the purpose of
environmental review under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
» Policy M-6.2: Transportation Demand
Management. Create and implement TDM and
congestion management mitigation measures
in areas experiencing high levels of congestion
and VMT levels.
» Policy M-6.3: Regional Plans. Review
development proposals for compliance with
regional plans such as the RCTC Congestion
Management Plan.
» Policy M-6.4: New Development. Work
with developers to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and minimize congestion related to
new development through improvements to the
circulation system and on-site improvements
that encourage non-vehicular modes of travel.
» Action M-6a: Review and update the City’s
Municipal Code and related implementation
documents, as necessary, to reflect TDM best
practices.
» Action M-6b: Consider allowing for a reduction
in parking standards for developments if
comprehensive TDM programs and/or parking
strategies are provided.
» Action M-6c: Require developments that are
approved based on TDM plans to incorporate
monitoring and enforcement of TDM targets as
part of those plans.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Four: Mobility
59 Funding
Funding and financing sources are available
at the regional, state, and federal level to help
realize the City’s transportation vision and
mobility plan. These funds can complement the
City’s resources to plan, design and implement
circulation and access improvements and
promote the General Plan’s goals.
Goal M-7: A fiscally sound transportation system
that utilizes a variety of financing methods.
» Policy M-7.1: Funding Sources. Leverage
existing available funding methods and sources
to fund the transportation system in the City
while also researching innovative funding
sources at the federal, state, regional, and
county levels.
» Policy M-7.2: New Developments. Leverage
programs such as West Riverside Council
of Government’s Transportation Uniform
Mitigation Fee to receive fair share contributions
from new developments towards transportation
network improvements.
» Policy M-7.3: Monitor Funding. Monitor funding
of programmed transportation improvements.
» Policy M-7.4: Regional Funding. Maintain
standards to qualify for regional transportation
revenues while encouraging regional agencies
to continue to provide adequate transportation
funding to local jurisdictions.
» Action M-7a: Develop and support a flexible
financing program to fund the construction,
maintenance, and improvement of the roadway
system.
Chapter Four: Mobility | Envision San Jacinto
60 General Plan 2040 | Chapter Four: Mobility
61 UV79
Ramona Expy
Kirby St
Ramona Expy
Soboba Rd
Mountain Ave
M eridian St
Soboba Rd
State St
Palm
Ave
Washington Ave
Cottonwood Ave
Esplanade Ave
State St
Hewitt St
Park Ave
Ramona Expy
Main St
Commonwealth Ave
Lyon Ave
Seventh St
Ramona Blvd
Camino los Banos
7th St
Record Rd
Odell Ave
Sanderson Ave
Cawston Ave
Pott
er Rd
Warren Rd
Ramona Expy
Lake Park Dr
Hemet
Beaumont
Figure M-1.
Roadway Classifications
City of San Jacinto
San Jacinto Sphere of
Influence
Neighboring City
City Park
Limited Access Highway
Arterial
Major
Future Major
Collector
Future Collector
Local
Future Road
0 ½ 1
Miles
San Jacinto River
Data sources: City of San Jacinto; Riverside County GIS; USGS NHD; Kittelson & Associates.
Created by De Novo Planning Group for the City of San Jacinto, March 2023.
Chapter Four: Mobility | Envision San Jacinto
62 UV79
Ramona Expy
Kirby St
Ramona Expy
Soboba Rd
Mountain Ave
M eridian St
Soboba Rd
State St
Palm
Ave
Washington Ave
Cottonwood Ave
Esplanade Ave
State St
Hewitt St
Park Ave
Ramona Expy
Main St
Commonwealth Ave
Lyon Ave
Seventh St
Ramona Blvd
Camino los Banos
7th St
Record Rd
Odell Ave
Sanderson Ave
Cawston Ave
Pott
er Rd
Warren Rd
Ramona Expy
Lake Park Dr
Hemet
Beaumont
Figure M-2.
Roadway Classifications
and Regional Projects
City of San Jacinto
San Jacinto Sphere of
Influence
Neighboring City
City Park
Future Regional Projects
Mid County Parkway
SR 79
Future Roadway Typology
Limited Access Highway
Arterial
Major
Future Major
Collector
Future Collector
Local
Future Road
0 ½ 1
Miles
San Jacinto River
Data sources: City of San Jacinto; Riverside County GIS; USGS NHD; Kittelson & Associates.
Created by De Novo Planning Group for the City of San Jacinto, March 2023.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Four: Mobility
63 "J
"J
"J
"J
"J
"J
"J
UV79
Ramona Expy
Kirby St
Ramona Expy
Soboba Rd
Mountain Ave
M eridian St
Soboba Rd
State St
Palm
Ave
Washington Ave
Cottonwood Ave
Esplanade Ave
State St
Hewitt St
Park Ave
Ramona Expy
Main St
Commonwealth Ave
Lyon Ave
Seventh St
Ramona Blvd
Camino los Banos
7th St
Record Rd
Odell Ave
Sanderson Ave
Cawston Ave
Pott
er Rd
Warren Rd
Ramona Expy
Lake Park Dr
Hemet
Beaumont
Figure M-3.
Existing and Proposed
Trail and Bicycle
Facilities
City of San Jacinto
San Jacinto Sphere of
Influence
Neighboring City
City Park
"J TMP Proposed Trailhead
Proposed Bicycle Improvements
Class 1: Multi-use Path
Class 1E: Multi-use &
Equestrian Path
Class 2: Bike Lane/Buffered
Bike Lane
Class 3: Bike Route
Future Opportunity
Existing Bikeways
Class 1: Multi-Use Path
Class 2: Bike Lane
Class 2B: Buffered Bike
Lane
Class 3: Bike Route
0 ½ 1
Miles
San Jacinto River
Data sources: City of San Jacinto; Riverside County GIS; USGS NHD; Kittelson & Associates.
Created by De Novo Planning Group for the City of San Jacinto, March 2023.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Chapter Five
The goal of San Jacinto’s Public Safety Element
is to reduce the risk of death, injury, property
damage, economic loss, and harm due to natural
and manmade hazards. An effective response
to natural and human-caused disasters
requires planning, education, coordination
and training by multiple government agencies
and the public. A resilient community has the
capacity to maintain critical functions during
hazard events as well as adapt to and reduce
future hazard risks.
This Element establishes goals, policies,
and actions to minimize and address these
potential hazards as well as ensure adequate
and coordinated response. The goals are
statements of the City’s desires and consist
of broad statements of purpose and direction.
The policies serve as guidelines for reducing
risk associated with natural and human
activity hazards. The policies also serve to
direct and maximize community emergency
preparedness. The actions explain how
the goals and policies will be achieved and
implemented.
Element Organization
The Public Safety Element will address each of the topics below as they relate to San Jacinto. The Public Safety Element supports the City’s participation in regional and subregional planning efforts including the Riverside County’s Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and climate change and resiliency planning. The goals and policies of this element are organized around the following topics:
• Seismic and Geologic Hazards
• Fire Safety
• Flooding
• Hazardous Waste and Materials
• Emergency Operations
• Noise
• Climate Change and Resiliency Planning
65 Chapter Five: Public Safety | Envision San Jacinto
66 Seismic and Geologic Hazards
Due to its geographic location in a seismically
active region and the location of flood plains
and hillsides within City limits, San Jacinto is
subject to several types of natural hazards,
such as seismic activity, liquefaction, flooding,
landslides, and erosion. Risk of exposure
to natural hazards can be reduced through
careful land use planning, building construction
practices, and implementation of the following
policies and actions.
Goal PS-1: A community that is adequately
prepared for natural hazards related to
landslides, geologic instability, and seismic
activity.
» Policy PS-1.1: Geologic Hazard Identification.
Maintain the City’s geologic and seismic hazards
map (Figure PS-1) in concert with updates from
the California Geologic Survey and local surveys,
and update as appropriate.
» Policy PS-1.2: Earthquake Protection. Enforce
State seismic design guidelines and all relevant
building codes to reduce the risk of damage
associated with seismic activity.
» Policy PS-1.3: Fault Zones. Encourage
landscaped open space uses for areas within
identified fault zones and limit the development
of new sensitive uses in these areas.
» Policy PS-1.4: Liquefaction. Require sitespecific studies in areas subject to liquefaction to determine the nature and extent of potential
liquefaction and to identify engineering and
development siting measures to permit
development to occur safely.
» Policy PS-1.5: Development. Require
assessment and mitigation of hazards related
to liquefaction, landslides, and flooding for new
development projects or City improvement
projects that are identified by the City as
susceptible to these hazards.
» Policy PS-1.6: Impact Reduction. Reduce the
risk of impacts from geologic and seismic
hazards by applying proper and up to date land
use planning, development engineering, building
construction, and retrofitting requirements.
» Policy PS-1.7: Risk Inventories. Maintain an
updated inventory of public buildings and
infrastructure within the City of San Jacinto at
risk of seismic and geologic hazard impacts and
regularly evaluate potential mitigation projects
to address risks, as financially feasible.
» Policy PS-1.8: Critical Facilities. Require new
critical infrastructure and facilities that may
be built in the City to incorporate site specific
seismic structural design as required by
applicable building codes.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Five: Public Safety
67 » Action PS-1a: Review development proposals to
ensure compliance with California Health and
Safety Code Section 19100 et seq. (Earthquake
Protection Law), which requires that buildings
be designed to resist stresses produced by
natural forces such as earthquakes and wind.
» Action PS-1b: Update building, zoning, and
grading codes as needed to ensure adopted
standards mitigate potential seismic hazards
and comply with the Alquist-Priolo Act and
Unreinforced Masonry Law.
» Action PS-1c: Establish a public relations
and education program to increase public
awareness on potential geologic and seismic
hazards in the community, their associated
risks, and preparedness strategies.
» Action PS-1d: Reduce the risk to the community
from hazards related to geologic conditions,
seismic activity, flooding, and wildfires by
requiring feasible mitigation of such impacts
on development projects. Assess development
proposals for potential hazards pursuant to the
California Environmental Quality Act. Require
measures to mitigate all identified significant
public safety hazards.
» Action PS-1e: Where the threat from natural
hazards (such as fault rupture or flooding)
cannot be mitigated, use open space easements
and other regulatory techniques to prohibit
development and avoid public safety hazards.
Where feasible, permit the joint-use of preserve
areas and easements such as seismic faults and
drainage basins for open space and recreational
uses.
» Action PS-1f: To minimize damage from
earthquakes and other geologic activity, adopt
and implement the most recent State seismic
requirements for structural design of new
development and redevelopment.
» Action PS-1g: During review of discretionary
development and redevelopment proposals,
require surveys of soil and geologic conditions
by State licensed Engineering Geologists
and Civil Engineers where appropriate. When
potential geologic impacts are identified, require
project applicants to mitigate the impacts per
the recommendations contained within the
geologic survey.
Chapter Five: Public Safety | Envision San Jacinto
68 Fire Safety
Due to climate, vegetation, and topography,
the City is subject to both wildland and urban
fires. The natural vegetation of the largely
undeveloped hillsides located in both the
westernmost and easternmost portions of
the City are highly prone to wildland fires. The
Public Safety Element addresses both wildland
and urban fire risk reduction and prevention,
as well as mitigation efforts. The City of San
Jacinto does not have its own Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan (LHMP), but adopted Resolution
3738 on September 18, 2018 approving the City
of San Jacinto Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Annex from the Riverside County Operational
Area Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation
Plan (LHMP), therefore allowing the City to
utilize the County LHMP, which addresses the
topic of wildfires. Historical data on wildfires
in and around San Jacinto is included in the
Envision San Jacinto General Plan 2040 Draft
Environmental Impact Report.
Goal PS-2: A City that is safe and adequately
prepared for urban and wildfire emergencies.
» Policy PS-2.1: Building Fire Codes. Require that
all buildings and facilities within San Jacinto
comply with local, state, and federal regulatory
standards such as the California Building and
Fire Codes as well as other applicable fire safety
standards.
» Policy PS-2.2: Fire Protection Services. Reduce
the risk of fire to the community by coordinating
emergency preparedness with the Riverside
County Fire Department (RCFD).
» Policy PS-2.3: Fire Hazard Identification. Work
with RCFD to maintain and regularly update the
City’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map (Figure
PS-2) for changes in fire hazard severity zones
consistent with changes in hazard designations
by CAL FIRE.
» Policy PS-2.4: Urban Fire Risks. Work with
RCFD to maintain an ongoing fire inspection
program to reduce fire hazards associated
with multifamily development, critical facilities,
public assembly facilities, industrial buildings,
and nonresidential buildings.
» Policy PS-2.5: Grant Funding. Seek grant
funding, independently and in collaboration with
regional partners, to mitigate potential wildfire
threats to the community and to implement
training workshops and projects related to
defensible space and fuel reduction practices.
» Policy PS-2.6: Regional Coordination.
Coordinate with the County of Riverside,
neighboring cities, and other fire protection
agencies to reduce the potential for wildfire
hazards in the San Jacinto community.
» Policy PS-2.7: Interagency Support. Participate
in the mutual aid system and automatic aid
agreements to back up and supplement
capabilities to respond to emergencies.
» Policy PS-2.8: Public Education. Work with
RCFD to disseminate educational programs
for residents on fire hazard risks and fire safety
measures, such as defensible space and
evacuation routes, with a special focus on atrisk populations. » Policy PS-2.9: Post-fire Treatment. Work
with CAL FIRE, United States Forest Service,
United States Geologic Service, and applicable
nongovernmental agencies to create a plan to
address post-fire recovery activities and projects
that allow burned areas to fully recover and
minimize repetitive losses and further damage.
» Policy PS-2.10: Very High Fire Hazard Severity
Zones. Protect communities from unreasonable
risk of wildfire within very high fire hazard
severity zones through the following actions:
a. Minimize new residential development in
very high fire hazard severity zones when
possible.
b. Require adequate fire protection services,
fire protection plans, and emergency vehicle
access for new development in very high
fire hazard severity zones.
c. Assess site constraints when considering
land use designations near wildlands to
avoid or minimize wildfire hazards as part
of a land use update or amendment.
d. Coordinate with RCFD to identify building
and site design methods or other methods
to minimize damage if new structures are
proposed to be in very high fire hazard
severity zones on undeveloped land and
when rebuilding after a fire.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Five: Public Safety
69 e. As part of the RCFD review process,
require ongoing brush management, fuel
management/modification, defensible
space, fire retardant landscaping, and
other project design features for new
development located in areas of or adjacent
to high wildfire risk.
f. Coordinate with Eastern Municipal Water
District and Lake Hemet Municipal Water
District to ensure necessary water supply
systems and flow for structural fire
suppression are provided and maintained.
g. Work with RCFD to identify and maintain
fire hazard reduction projects, including
community fire breaks and private road and
public road clearance.
h. Coordinate with RCFD to define minimum
standards for evacuation of residential
areas in very high fire hazard severity zones.
If areas with inadequate access/evacuation
routes are identified, develop appropriate
mitigation measures, improvement plans,
or education programs to ensure safe
evacuation.
» Policy PS-2.11: Fire Safe Design. Consider
fire safe design (i.e., fire-resistant building
and site design, materials, and landscaping)
for development within very high fire hazard
severity zones as part of the development
review process.
a. Locate, design and construct development
to provide adequate defensibility and
minimize the risk of structural loss from
wildland fires.
b. Design development on hillsides and
canyons to reduce the increased risk of
fires from topography features (i.e., steep
slopes, ridge saddles).
c. Minimize flammable vegetation and
implement brush management best
practices in accordance with the
Development Code.
d. Install visible home and street addressing
and signage
» Policy PS-2.12: Hazard Mitigation Plans.
Coordinate with local, state, and federal
agencies to update emergency, evacuation, and
hazard mitigation plans, as necessary.
» Policy PS-2.13: Essential Public Facilities and
Infrastructure. Locate, when feasible, new
essential public facilities and infrastructure
outside of very high fire hazard severity zones,
including but not limited to, hospitals and health
care facilities, emergency shelters, emergency
command centers, emergency communication
facilities, and utilities or identify construction
methods or other methods to minimize damage
if these facilities must be located in very high
fire hazard severity zones.
» Policy PS-2.14: Other Fire Protection Plans.
Continue to implement other adopted fire
protection plans, including the City of San
Jacinto Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex
from the Riverside County Operational Area
Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.
» Action PS-2a: Implement the City’s Emergency
Operations Plan to ensure the most effective
allocation of resources for protection of people
and property in time of an emergency, and
update it as needed.
» Action PS-2b: Mitigate, as feasible, existing nonconforming development to contemporary fire safe standards where feasible, including road
standards and vegetative hazards.
» Action PS-2c: Require that all new habitable
structures be designed in accordance with the
most recent California Building and Fire Code
with local amendments adopted by the City,
including the use of fire sprinklers in residential
structures.
» Action PS-2d: Participate in Mutual Aid
Agreements with neighboring cities and the
Riverside County Operational Area, as required
by RCFD.
Chapter Five: Public Safety | Envision San Jacinto
70 Flood Hazards
The Riverside County Flood Control and Water
Conservation District (RCFCD) is the agency
responsible for the regional drainage facilities
while the City controls the local facilities. The
City coordinates with the RCFCD to ensure
regularly scheduled maintenance of flood
control channels and completion of necessary
facilities and repairs.
Risk of flooding and inundation due to dam
failure are possible due to the prevalence of
natural drainage corridors and the presence
of human-made water reservoirs within the
region. Residential and agricultural uses and
other productive areas of San Jacinto lie within
FEMA 100-year floodplains, as shown in Figure
PS-3.
The Casa Loma Canal, Colorado River Aqueduct
and the San Jacinto River traverse the City.
Flooding is particularly expected along the San
Jacinto River and the Colorado River Aqueduct.
Dam failure at any of the reservoirs such as
Diamond Valley Lake, Lake Hemet, or Little
Lake could also cause potential downstream
inundation and flooding.
Goal PS-3: A community that is protected from
flood hazards.
» Policy PS-3.1: Regulatory Compliance.
Coordinate with local, state, and federal
agencies to ensure that the City’s regulations
related to flood control are in compliance with
federal, state, and local standards.
» Policy PS-3.2: Dam Operation and Maintenance.
Coordinate with the agencies responsible for
dam operation and maintenance to reduce the
risk of dam inundation from the San Jacinto
Reservoir, Diamond Valley Lake, Little Lake, and
Hemet Lake dams.
» Policy PS-3.3: Reflection Lake Overflow.
Coordinate with Reflection Lake staff to manage
overflow and prevent safety hazards on Warren
Road and Cottonwood Avenue.
» Policy PS-3.4: FEMA Coordination. Coordinate
with the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) to ensure that Federal Insurance
Rate Maps correctly depict flood hazards in the
City.
» Policy PS-3.5: Municipal Code. Implement the
standards and requirements defined in the
Municipal Code to reduce flood hazards and
address flood-prone areas within San Jacinto.
» Policy PS-3.6: Building Codes. Adhere to the
latest building, site, and design codes in the
California Building Code and FEMA flood control
guidelines to avoid or minimize the risk of
flooding hazards in the community.
» Policy PS-3.7: Stormwater Runoff. Encourage
new developments that add impervious surfaces
to integrate low impact development best
management practices to reduce stormwater
runoff.
» Policy PS-3.8: Development in the Flood Plain
and Flood Way. Protect the community from
flooding hazards by providing and maintaining
flood control facilities and limiting development
within the flood plain and flood way as necessary
to protect public health and safety.
» Policy PS-3.9: Existing Flood Zones. Maintain
dialogue with the RCFCD regarding regional
flood facilities.
» Policy PS-3.10: Changing Conditions.
Coordinate with the RCFCD to consider the need
to expand the capacity of flood control facilities
based on changing flood conditions associated
with climate change and extreme weather.
» Policy PS-3.11: Mitigation. Require that all
new development and redevelopment in areas
susceptible to flooding incorporate mitigation
measures designed to reduce flood hazards.
» Policy PS-3.12: Adequate Infrastructure.
Maintain and regularly assess the status of local
storm drainage infrastructure to ensure that the
system is functioning property.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Five: Public Safety
71 » Action PS-3a: Monitor changes in Federal and
State laws and regulations related to local
flood protection, including the National Flood
Insurance Program and incorporate necessary
changes into the Municipal Code, the City’s
Emergency Operations Plan, and building
codes as required and ensure that the City’s
regulations require that new development within
flood hazard zones is consistent with this Public
Safety Element and is required to meet the flood
protection requirements of State law, including
but not limited to Government Code Sections
65007, 65865.5, 65962 and 66474.5.
» Action PS-3b: Review projects for project-related
flood control and stormwater management
impacts to ensure that all proposed development
comply with the City’s MS4 permit.
» Action PS-3c: Disseminate information on
flooding, flood control on private property,
floodplains, and flood preparedness to the
public.
» Action PS-3d: Communicate with FEMA
periodically regarding updates to Flood
Insurance Rate Maps and Letter of Map
Revisions.
» Action PS-3e: All development located within
a 100-year flood plain shall be consistent with
the requirements of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
» Action PS-3f: Periodically review county, state,
and federal flood control best practices and
incorporate appropriate standards into the
Municipal Code.
» Action PS-3g: Work with the RCFCD and
Regulatory Federal, State and local agencies
and department to apply for grants that provide
funding for local drainage controls. FEMA’s
Hazard Mitigation Grant, Flood Mitigation
Assistance Programs, and Pre-disaster
Mitigation Program, CalEPA and the CA State
Water Resources Control Board offer grants to
municipalities throughout California.
» Action PS-3h: Continue to participate in the
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
» Action PS-3i: Continue to implement the
Flood Plain Management program, which
establishes rules and regulations for flood plain
management. Continue to apply the rules and
regulations to development in areas of special
flood hazards as determined by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and as
illustrated on the most recent Flood Insurance
Rate Map (FIRM).
Chapter Five: Public Safety | Envision San Jacinto
72 Hazardous Waste and Materials
The County of Riverside Department of
Environmental Health enforces the provisions
of the Hazardous Waste Control Law of the
State of California as set forth in the California
Health and Safety Code and the California
Code of Regulations. The City coordinates with
the County of Riverside Environmental Health
Department to effectively manage hazardous
materials and waste as well as implement
educational programs.
Certain types of development and uses within
the City utilize hazardous materials. These uses
make San Jacinto susceptible to hazards from
spills of toxic materials and vulnerable to the
byproducts of waste generated in manufacturing
and agricultural areas. Accidents can occur
in the production, use, storage, transport, and
disposal of hazardous materials. The Riverside
County Department of Environmental Health
Hazardous Materials Branch maintains an
emergency response team that would respond
in the event of a hazardous materials spill or
other environmental health emergencies.
Goal PS-4: A community that is protected from
the potential for hazardous waste and materials
contamination.
» Policy PS-4.1: Regulations. Ensure that RCFD
enforces the California Fire Code relating to
the use of hazardous materials and ensure
that appropriate regulations are followed, and
precautions are taken for the type and amount
of hazard being created.
» Policy PS-4.2: Cleanup Sites. Require that
developers coordinate with the Riverside County
Department of Public Health to confirm that
hazardous waste cleanup sites located within
the City are remediated by the property owner in
a manner that keeps the public safe.
» Policy PS-4.3: County Plans. Utilize the Riverside
Countywide Integrated Waste Management Plan
to ensure that local regulation and practices are
consistent with the policy direction and action
programs that the County recommends.
» Policy PS-4.4: Transportation. Promote
the routing of vehicles carrying potentially
hazardous materials to transportation corridors
posing the minimum risk to the public.
» Policy PS-4.5: Household Hazardous Waste.
Reduce the per capita production of household
hazardous waste in San Jacinto in concert
with the County of Riverside plans for reducing
hazardous waste.
» Policy PS-4.6: Proposed Facilities. Require
appropriate environmental analysis to be
conducted for any proposed hazardous waste
materials treatment or transfer, in accordance
with environmental review requirements.
» Policy PS-4.7: Emergency Response. Work with
RCFD and other responding agencies to ensure
that emergency personnel respond safely and
effectively to a hazardous materials incident in
the city.
» Policy PS-4.8: Public Education. Coordinate
with the City’s waste service provider(s) and
the County of Riverside to increase public
awareness about proper disposal related to
household hazardous waste and inform the San
Jacinto community regarding relevant services
and programs to address issues related to
hazardous waste and materials.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Five: Public Safety
73 » Action PS-4a: As part of the development review
process, require projects that result in significant
risks associated with hazardous materials to
include measures to address the risks and
reduce the risks to an acceptable level.
» Action PS-4b: Require the submittal of
information regarding hazardous materials
manufacturing, storage, use, transport, and/or
disposal by existing and proposed businesses
and developments to RCFD.
» Action PS-4c: Promote off-site hazardous
materials and/or electronic waste drop-off.
» Action PS-4d: Protect the community from
hazards related to air pollution, hazardous
materials, and ground and air transportation by
requiring feasible mitigation to be incorporated
into new development and redevelopment
proposals to address safety impacts associated
with those proposals.
» Action PS-4e: Continue to monitor regulations
governing the use of pesticides and work with the
County Agricultural Commissioner to promote
the responsible use of pesticides.
» Action PS-4f: Minimize public health risks and
environmental risks from the use, transport,
storage, and disposal of hazardous materials.
» Action PS-4g: Continue to work with the County
of Riverside Environmental Health Department
to implement and advertise the Household
Hazardous Waste Collection Program to protect
residents from dangers resulting from the use,
transport, and disposal of hazardous materials
used in the home. Provide informational materials
at public locations and links on the City’s website
about the County’s Household Hazardous Waste
Collection program, the County’s Antifreeze,
Batteries, Oil, and Paint (ABOP) program,
collection facilities, drop-off centers, and the 24-
hour Household Hazardous Waste hotline.
» Action PS-4h: Continue to work with the County
of Riverside’s Environmental Health Department
to implement the Conditionally Exempt Small
Quantity Generators (CESQG) program, which is
a hazardous waste pick-up disposal service for
eligible, businesses/non-profit organizations in
the County of Riverside. This program provides
an affordable way to legally dispose of this
waste. Provide informational materials at public
locations and links on the City’s website about
the County’s CESQG program.
» Action PS-4i: Amend the Municipal Code to
require that, prior to issuance of any grading
or building permit (whichever occurs first)
for a project on a site identified on any list of
hazardous materials compiled pursuant to
Government Code Section 65962.5, a formal
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
(ESA) shall be prepared in accordance with
ASTM Standard Practice E 1527-05 or the
Standards and Practices for All Appropriate
Inquiry (AAI) and submitted to the City’s
Community Development Department. The
Phase I ESA shall identify specific Recognized
Environmental Conditions (RECs), which may
require further sampling/remedial activities
by a qualified Hazardous Materials Specialist
with Phase II/site characterization experience
prior to demolition, and/or construction. The
Hazardous Materials Specialist shall identify
proper remedial activities appropriate to the
hazardous material(s) found (e.g., removal
and disposal; bio-remediation; pump and treat;
soil vapor extraction, and in situ oxidation), as
necessary.
Chapter Five: Public Safety | Envision San Jacinto
74 Emergency Operations
Advanced emergency planning and
preparedness is essential in responding to
natural and human-caused disasters with a
coordinated system of emergency service
providers and facilities. The City supports a
high level of multi-jurisdictional cooperation
and communication for emergency planning
and response management. Major arterials
serve as the primary routes for evacuation;
however, evacuation routes will depend upon
the emergency event and area affected. Law
enforcement will identify the appropriate routes
and assist residents leaving the City in the
event an evacuation of all or part of the City is
required.
The City prepared an analysis, referred to as
a White Paper, consistent with Senate Bill 99
to identify residential developments in hazard
areas that do not have at least two emergency
evacuation routes. The White Paper includes
definitions and data sources as well as
assumptions and methodology used to map the
evacuation routes, and is included as Appendix
A. The analysis identified nearly 500 parcels
(approximately 10% of developed parcels in the
City) in a high hazard zone (as defined in the
White Paper) with one exit point directly onto
an arterial (or higher classification) roadway.
These parcels are widespread throughout
the planning area, and they tend to be condo,
apartment, and mobile home communities, or
large rural residential parcels.
The City will continue to coordinate with RCFD,
the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
(RCSD), Office of Emergency Services (OES),
and Federal Emergency Management Agency
to provide ongoing education to residents
about how to safely evacuate in the event of an
emergency.
Goal PS-5: A community that is highly prepared
and equipped to handle emergency situations,
in order to minimize loss of life, injury, property
damage, and disruption of vital services.
» Policy PS-5.1: Emergency Response Services.
Provide sufficient levels of all emergency
response services to protect the health, safety,
and welfare of all persons and to protect
property in the City.
» Policy PS-5.2: Emergency Preparedness Plans.
Support the development of local preparedness
plans and multi-jurisdictional cooperation and
communication agreements for emergency
situations.
» Policy PS-5.3: Critical Facilities. Coordinate
with service providers to ensure the resilience
of critical facilities, lifeline services, and
infrastructure, and plan for the use of critical
facilities during post-disaster response and
recovery.
» Policy PS-5.4: Local Coordination. Coordinate
with local key stakeholders (officials, schools,
businesses, and organizations) within the
community to make them aware of their role
in the emergency plan and the necessary
requirements in case of emergency.
» Policy PS-5.5: Automatic and Mutual Aid.
Participate in automatic and mutual aid
agreements with adjacent service providers
to ensure efficient and adequate resources,
facilities, and support services before, during,
and after emergencies.
» Policy PS-5.6: Communications. Evaluate the
potential to utilize a comprehensive emergency
communication system that allows for efficient
connection in case of emergency.
» Policy PS-5.7: Emergency Evacuation Routes
and Access. Work with RCFD and RCSD
to maintain, update, and regularly exercise
emergency access, protocols, and evacuation
routes to assess their effectiveness under a
range of emergency scenarios.
» Policy PS-5.8: Emergency Shelters. Periodically
coordinate with emergency shelter providers to
ensure that necessary equipment supplies are
available in case of emergency.
» Policy PS-5.9: Disaster Recovery. Work with
emergency service providers to implement postdisaster recovery plans to return public services to a state of normalcy, address ongoing hazardspecific mitigations, and assist community members in recovering from disasters.
» Policy PS-5.10: Crime Prevention Through
Environmental Design. Ensure projects include
design features that promote public safety and
reduce criminal activity.
» Policy PS-5.11: Community Training Programs.
Support community-based emergency training
programs as a valuable asset to the community.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Five: Public Safety
75 » Policy PS-5.12: Public Education. Educate
residents and businesses through programs and
outreach materials on hazards pertaining to San
Jacinto and appropriate actions to safeguard
life and property during and immediately after
emergencies.
» Policy PS-5.13: School Safety. Coordinate with
local schools related to their programs and
practices regarding emergency preparedness.
» Action PS-5a: Coordinate with the County of
Riverside to keep the Multi-Jurisdictional Local
Hazard Mitigation Plan up to date.
» Action PS-5b: Regularly practice implementation
of the City’s Emergency Operations Plan and
update it regularly.
» Action PS-5c: Regularly review County and State
emergency response procedures that must be
coordinated with City procedures.
» Action PS-5d: Adopt a level of service standard
for police protection. Protect residents and
businesses from criminal activity by providing
the adopted level of service and educating the
public about methods to reduce criminal activity.
During the annual budget and CIP process,
review the level of service standard and revise
as appropriate.
» Action PS-5e: In pre-application meetings,
encourage developers to incorporate Crime
Prevention Through Environmental Design
(CPTED) design features in their residential
and non-residential projects to increase the
safety of the projects. Cooperate with the Police
Department to review development proposals
to ensure that design features promote a safe
environment, as described in the Public Safety
Element.
» Action PS-5f: Annually review and update
the Emergency Preparedness Plan under the
provision of the State Emergency Management
System format to maximize the efforts
of emergency service providers (e.g., fire,
medical, and law enforcement) and minimize
human suffering and property damage during
disasters. Support high-level multi-jurisdictional
cooperation and communication for emergency
planning and management.
» Action PS-5g: Coordinate with local agencies
and organizations to develop and distribute
informational brochures and give presentations
to civic groups and local schools to educate
residents and businesses about appropriate
actions to take during an emergency situation.
Chapter Five: Public Safety | Envision San Jacinto
76 Noise
Noise levels within the community can affect
the quality of life experienced by people living
and working in San Jacinto. High noise levels
can create stress and irritation. The following
policies address this issue by creating effective
strategies to reduce excessive noise and limit
the community’s exposure to loud sources of
noise.
Goal PS-6: A comfortable community
environment that is free from excessive noise
pollution.
» Policy PS-6.1: Noise Exposure. Consider
the noise compatibility of existing and
future development when making land use
planning decisions. Require development and
infrastructure projects to be consistent with
the land use compatibility standards contained
in Tables PS-1, PS-2, PS-3 and PS-4 to ensure
acceptable noise exposure levels for existing
and future development.
» Policy PS-6.2: Noise Mitigation. Require new
development to mitigate excessive noise to
the standards indicated in Tables PS-1, PS-2,
PS-3 and PS-4 to the extent feasible through
best practices, including building location
and orientation, building design features,
placement of noise-generating equipment away
from sensitive receptors, shielding of noisegenerating equipment, placement of noisetolerant features between noise sources and sensitive receptors, and use of noise-minimizing
materials.
» Policy PS-6.3: Acoustical Studies. Require
acoustical studies for new discretionary
developments and transportation improvements
that have the potential to affect existing noisesensitive uses such as schools, hospitals, libraries, care facilities, and residential areas,
and for projects that would introduce new noisesensitive uses into an area where existing noise levels may exceed the thresholds identified
in this element. For projects that are required
to prepare an acoustical study, the following
mobile and stationary noise source criteria shall
be used to determine the significance of those
impacts.
Mobile Noise Sources:
a. Where existing traffic noise levels are within
or below the “normally acceptable” noise
criteria at the affected land use (see Table
PS-1), a readily perceptible 5 dBA CNEL or
greater increase in roadway noise will be
considered significant;
b. Where existing traffic noise levels falls
within the “conditionally acceptable” noise
criteria at the sensitive land use, a +3 dBA
CNEL or greater increase in roadway noise
levels will be considered significant; and
c. Where existing traffic noise levels exceed
the “conditionally acceptable” noise criteria
at the sensitive land use, a + 1.5 dBA CNEL
or greater increase in roadway noise levels
will be considered significant.
Stationary and Non-Transportation Noise
Sources:
a. A significant impact will occur if the project
results in an exceedance of the noise level
standards contained in this element, or the
project will result in an increase in ambient
noise levels by more than 3 dB, whichever
is greater.
» Policy PS-6.4: Roadway Noise. Encourage
nonmotorized transportation alternatives for
local trips and the implementation of noise
sensitivity measures in the public realm,
including traffic-calming road design, lateral
separation, natural buffers, and setbacks to
decrease excessive motor vehicle noise.
» Policy PS-6.5: Vehicular Traffic. Monitor and
enforce existing speed limits and motor vehicle
codes requiring adequate mufflers on all types
of vehicles traveling through the city.
» Policy PS-6.6: Commercial Noise. Require the
use of noise attenuation measures, including
screening and buffering techniques, for all new
commercial development expected to produce
excessive noise; in existing cases where the
City’s noise standards are exceeded, work with
Code Enforcement to require compliance.
» Policy PS-6.7: Construction Noise. Require
construction activities to reduce noise impacts
on adjacent uses to the criteria identified in
Tables PS-3 and PS-4, or, if the criteria cannot be
met, to the maximum extent feasible complying
with Chapter 8.40 of the San Jacinto Municipal
Code (Noise Control) and use best practices.
Construction activities outside of the permitted
construction hours identified in the San Jacinto
Municipal Code may be approved on a caseby-case basis by the Community Development Director.
» Policy PS-6.8: Temporary Special Events.
Temporary special events including, but not
limited to, festivals, concerts, parades, and other
similar activities may be allowed to exceed the
noise standards established in this General
Plan and the standards established by Chapter
8.40 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code (Noise
Control) through issuance of a temporary use
permit (see Section 17.640 of the San Jacinto
Municipal Code (Temporary Use Permits).
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Five: Public Safety
77 » Policy PS-6.9: Temporary Emergency
Operations and Emergency Equipment
Usage. Temporary emergency operations or
emergency equipment usage is exempt from
noise standard criteria set by this element.
» Policy PS-6.10: Interjurisdictional Coordination.
Coordinate with neighboring cities to minimize
noise conflicts between land uses along the
City’s boundaries.
» Action PS-6a: Review Chapter 8.40 of the
San Jacinto Municipal Code and update as
necessary to ensure that the noise standards
are consistent with this General Plan, including
Tables PS-1, PS-2, PS-3, and PS-4 and to require
new residential, mixed-use with a residential
component, and other noise-sensitive
development to be designed to minimize noise
exposure to noise sensitive uses through
incorporation of site planning and architectural
techniques. The update shall also include noise
standards for residential uses within a mixeduse development, which may differ from other adopted residential noise standards.
» Action PS-6b: Review new development projects
for compliance with the noise requirements
established in this General Plan, including the
standards established in Tables PS-1, PS-2,
PS-3 and PS-4. Where necessary, require new
development to mitigate excessive noise through
best practices, including building location
and orientation, building design features,
placement of noise-generating equipment away
from sensitive receptors, shielding of noisegenerating equipment, placement of noisetolerant features between noise sources and sensitive receptors, and use of noise-minimizing
materials such as rubberized asphalt.
» Action PS-6c: Require acoustical studies for
all new discretionary projects, including those
related to development and transportation,
which have the potential to generate noise
impacts which exceed the standards identified
in this General Plan. The studies shall include
representative noise measurements, estimates
of existing and projected noise levels, and
mitigation measures necessary to ensure
compliance with this element.
» Action PS-6d: Review the locations of proposed
projects with the potential to generate stationary
noise in relation to sensitive receptors through
the discretionary project review process.
Limit delivery or service hours for stores and
businesses with loading areas, docks, or trash
bins that front, side, border, or gain access on
driveways next to residential and other noise
sensitive areas. Only approve exceptions if full
compliance with the nighttime limits of the
noise regulations is achieved.
» Action PS-6e: Require all construction activity to
comply with the limits (maximum noise levels,
hours and days of allowed activity) established
in the City noise regulations (Title 24 California
Code of Regulations, Noise Ordinance) in order
to reduce impacts associated with temporary
construction noise to the extent feasible. Trucks
associated with construction activities shall
follow the designated truck routes described in
the Mobility Element.
» Action PS-6f: Actively enforce the standards
identified within the City’s Noise Ordinance and
Noise Plan in order to reduce impacts to the
extent feasible. Update and amend the Noise
Ordinance and Plan as appropriate. Provide
a link on the City’s website for those to file
complaints against activities and uses that may
be violating the Noise Ordinance.
» Action PS-6g: Require new residential projects
located adjacent to railroad lines to follow the
FTA vibration screening distance criteria to
ensure that residential uses are not exposed to
vibrations exceeding 72 VdB for frequent events
(more than 70 events per day), 75 VdB for
occasional events (30-70 events per day), or 80
VdB for infrequent events (less than 30 events
per day).
» Action PS-6h: Require new development to
minimize vibration impacts to adjacent uses
during demolition and construction. Require
vibration studies for all new discretionary
projects, including those related to development
and transportation, which have the potential to
generate vibration impacts which exceeds the
vibration limits. This includes projects requiring
pile driving and/or construction on properties
adjacent to historic structures. For sensitive
historic structures, a vibration limit of 0.08 in/
sec PPV (peak particle velocity) will be used to
minimize the potential for cosmetic damage
to the building. A vibration limit of 0.30 in/
sec PPV will be used to minimize the potential
for cosmetic damage at buildings of normal
conventional construction.
» Action PS-6i: During subsequent updates to
Section 8.40 of the Muni Code, review and
update Section 8.40.090, Construction Activity
Noise Regulations, as needed in order to allow
provisions for emergency repairs, exceptional
circumstances, and reasonable Sunday
construction and maintenance activities, while
continuing to achieve the objectives of providing
a nuisance-free noise environment.
Chapter Five: Public Safety | Envision San Jacinto
78 Land Use 55 60 65 70 75 80
Residential
Hospitals, Nursing Homes,
Assisted Living
Hotels, Motels, Mixed Use
Churches
Schools, Libraries, Museums
Sports Arenas, Outdoor
Spectator Sports
Playgrounds, Neighborhood
Parks
TABLE PS-1: LAND USE COMPATIBILITY FOR COMMUNITY NOISE EXPOSURE (DBA, CNEL) General Plan 2040 | Chapter Five: Public Safety
79 Land Use 55 60 65 70 75 80
Golf Courses, Riding Stables,
Water Recreation, Cemetaries
Office Buildings, Businesses,
Industrial, Manufacturing,
Utilities, Agriculture
Normally Acceptable: Specified land uses is satisfactory based upon the assumption that any buildings involved are of normal conventional construction, without any special noise insulation or requirements.
Conditionally Acceptable: New construction or development should be undertaken only after a detailed analysis of the noise reduction requirements is made and needed insulation features included in the design. Conventional construction, but with closed windows and fresh air supply systems or air conditioning will normally suffice. Outdoor environment will seem noisy.
Normally Unacceptable: New construction and development should generally be discouraged. If new construction or development does proceed, a detailed analysis of the noise reduction requirements must be made with needed noise insulation features included in the design. Outdoor areas must be shielded.
Clearly Unacceptable: New construction and development should generally not be undertaken. Construction costs to make the indoor environment would be prohibitive and the outdoor environment would not be usable.
Source: California Office of Noise Control. Guidelines for the Preparation and Content of Noise Elements of the General Plan. February 2017.
Notes:
1. Where a proposed use is not specifically listed, the use shall comply with the standards for the most similar use as determined by the City.
2. Outdoor activity areas for residential development are considered to be the backyard patios or decks of single-family units and the common areas where people generally congregate for multi-family developments. Where common outdoor activity areas for multi-family developments comply with the outdoor noise level standard, the standard will not be applied at patios or decks of individual units provided noise-reducing measures are incorporated (e.g., orientation of patio/deck, screening of patio with masonry or other noise-attenuating material). Outdoor activitiy areas for non-residential developments are the common areas where people generally congregate, including pedestrian plazas, seating areas, and outside lunch facilities; not all residential developments include outdoor activity areas.
TABLE PS-1: LAND USE COMPATIBILITY FOR COMMUNITY NOISE EXPOSURE (DBA, CNEL) (CONTINUED) Chapter Five: Public Safety | Envision San Jacinto
80 TABLE PS-2: MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE NOISE EXPOSURE FROM MOBILE NOISE SOURCES Land Use Noise Standards1
Exterior Interior
Residential – single-family, multi-family, duplex
and mobile home
65 dB(A) 45 dB(A)
Residential – transient lodging, hotels, motels,
nursing homes, hospitals, assisted care facilities
65 dB(A) 45 dB(A)
Private offices, churches, libraries, theaters,
concert halls, meeting halls, schools
65 dB(A) 45 dB(A)
General commercial, office, retail, reception,
restaurant
65 dB(A) 45 dB(A)
Light industrial2 --- ---
Parks and playgrounds3 65 dB(A) 50 dB(A)
Golf courses, outdoor spectator sports 70 dB(A) ---
Notes:
1. In Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL)
2. Noise standards do not apply to Light Industrial areas.
3. Outdoor environment limited to playground areas, picnic areas and other areas of frequent human use.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Five: Public Safety
81 Type of Land Use Allowed Equivalent Noise Level, dBA Leq2
(Exterior)
Allowed Equivalent Noise Level, dBA
Leq2 (Interior)
7:00 a.m. to
10:00 p.m.
10:00 p.m. to
7:00 a.m.
7:00 a.m. to
10:00 p.m.
10:00 p.m. to
7:00 a.m.
All single-family residential properties 65 45 45 40
All multifamily residential properties and
mobile home parks
65 50 45 40
All commercial property 65 60 45 40
The residential portion of mixed-use
properties
70 70 45 40
All manufacturing or industrial properties and
all other uses
70 70 -- --
Source: City of San Jacinto Municipal Code 8.40.040
Notes:
1. If the ambient noise level exceeds the resulting standard, the ambient noise level shall be the standard.
2. Measurements for compliance are made on the affected property pursuant to Municipal Code Section 8.40.160.
3. It is unlawful for any person at any location within the incorporated area of the city to create noise, or to allow the creation of any noise on property owned, leased, occupied, or otherwise controlled by such person, which noise causes the noise level, when measured at any location on any other property, to exceed either of the following:
a. The noise standard for the applicable zone for any fifteen (15) minute period; b. A maximum instantaneous (single instance) noise level equal to the value of the noise standard plus twenty (20) dBA for any period of time (measured using A-weighted slow response).
4. In the event the ambient noise level exceeds the noise standard, the maximum allowable noise level under such category shall be increased to reflect the maximum ambient noise level.
5. The residential portion of mixed-use properties standard shall apply to that portion of residential property falling within one hundred (100) feet of a commercial property or use if the noise originates from that commercial property or use.
6. If the measurement location is on a boundary between two different types of land uses, the lower noise level standard applicable to types of land uses shall apply.
TABLE PS-3: ALLOWABLE EXTERIOR/INTERIOR NOISE LEVEL DUE TO STATIONARY NOISE SOURCES1 Chapter Five: Public Safety | Envision San Jacinto
82 Climate Change and Resiliency Planning
The impacts of climate change pose an increasing
and growing challenge to the safety and well-being
of the residents of San Jacinto. California will
continue to experience effects of climate change
in different ways, including increased likelihood
of drought, heat waves, severe weather, flooding,
and wildfires. In addition to climate change
planning becoming necessary on its own merits,
Senate Bill 379 requires San Jacinto to update the
Public Safety Element to address adaptation and
resilience strategies applicable to the City.
San Jacinto’s General Plan provides strategies to
reduce human-caused greenhouse gas emissions
and enhance carbon storage, or sequestration, as
a local response to mitigate global climate change
and comply with state and federal legislation.
Goal PS-7: A resilient, sustainable, and equitable
community where risks to life, property, the
economy, and the environment resulting from
climate change, including extreme weather
events, are minimized.
» Policy PS-7.1: Community Preparedness.
Promote a well-prepared City that can effectively
overcome natural disasters and scarcity of
resources due to climate change.
» Policy PS-7.2: Collaboration. Collaborate with
local, regional, state and/or federal jurisdictions
and agencies on climate resiliency and
adaptation strategies.
» Policy PS-7.3: Ecological Recovery. Coordinate
with federal, state, and local agencies to
establish ecological recovery programs.
» Policy PS-7.4: Air Pollution. Work with
responsible federal, state, and county agencies
to decrease air pollution emissions occurring
within the air basin to reduce the risk posed by
air pollution.
» Policy PS-7.5: Energy Supply. Promote plans
and programs that increase sustainable energy
sources.
» Policy PS-7.6: Programs. Implement necessary
actions and programs to improve drought
preparation and response for the most
vulnerable community members.
» Policy PS-7.7: Cooling Centers. Designate
public buildings, specific private buildings,
or institutions with air conditioning as public
cooling shelters; extend hours at air-conditioned
sites during periods of extreme heat or power
outage (if the site is supported by a backup
generator).
» Policy PS-7.8: Storms. Provide access to flood
protection resources and services (signage,
sandbags, etc.) as feasible at designated public
facilities during and after extreme weather
events.
» Policy PS-7.9: Special Assistance. Address
the needs of individuals with limited mobility or
limited access to transportation for access to
safe and comfortable shelter during extreme
heat events or other severe weather events.
» Policy PS-7.10: Leadership. Demonstrate
leadership in local climate planning efforts
through a range of tangible actions and policies
at the municipal operations level.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Five: Public Safety
83 » Policy PS-7.11: Greenhouse Gas Reductions.
Reduce communitywide greenhouse gas
emissions locally by actively supporting regional
efforts to reduce greenhouse gases throughout
the county.
» Policy PS-7.12: Extreme Heat Vulnerabilities.
Require that new developments, major
remodels, and redevelopments address urban
heat island issues and reduce urban heat
island effects for the proposed project site and
adjacent properties.
» Policy PS-7.13: Urban Forestry Plan. Minimize
damage associated with wind-related hazards
and address climate change and urban heat
island effects through the development of an
urban forestry plan and proper landscaping
planting and management techniques.
» Policy PS-7.14: Ongoing Monitoring. Monitor
climate change-related effects with local,
regional, state, and/or federal partners to
provide information of effectiveness of existing
infrastructure and programs.
» Action PS-7a: Provide information and resources
to the public and businesses regarding steps
the City is taking to address the issue of climate
change.
» Action PS-7b: Expand the use of energy-efficient
lighting, such as LEDs, for City-owned light
facilities.
» Action PS-7c: Consider purchasing only electric
or alternative-energy vehicles for the City vehicle
fleet, as appropriate, based on the intended use
of the vehicle.
» Action PS-7d: Evaluate the feasibility for
government-constructed and/or -operated new
development to exceed the CalGreen Tier 1, or
successor program, standards.
» Action PS-7e: Promote the use of sustainable
and carbon-neutral energy sources in new
development.
» Action PS-7f: Explore using renewable energy
and clean generation technologies such as
solar, wind, biogas, or fuel cells to power City
facilities where appropriate.
Chapter Five: Public Safety | Envision San Jacinto
84 Looking Ahead
As San Jacinto looks to the future, State law requires the City to consider climate impacts facing California as well as methods to adapt and increase resiliency to climate change effects. As a result of climate change, San Jacinto may experience more intense and frequent heat waves, drought, and wildfires, and more severe storms and extreme weather events.
Emissions scenarios used in the General Plan and Environmental Impact Report are the same as those used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report and are called Representative Concentration Pathways, or RCPs. There are four RCPs: 2.6, 4.5, 6.0, and
8.5. Each represents a set of possible underlying socioeconomic conditions, policy options, and technological considerations, spanning from a low-end scenario that requires significant emissions reductions resulting in zero global emissions by 2080 (RCP 2.5) to a high-end, “business-as-usual,” fossil-fuelintensive emissions scenario (RCP 8.5). The low-end scenario is most closely aligned with California’s ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets and the aspirational goals of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2015 Paris Agreement. Thus far, global emissions continue to follow the business-as-usual trajectory.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Five: Public Safety
85 UV79
Ramona Expy
Kirby St
Ramona Expy
Soboba Rd
Mountain Ave
M eridian St
Soboba Rd
State St
Palm
Ave
Washington Ave
Cottonwood Ave
Esplanade Ave
State St
Hewitt St
Park Ave
Ramona Expy
Main St
Commonwealth Ave
Lyon Ave
Seventh St
Ramona Blvd
Camino los Banos
7th St
Record Rd
Odell Ave
Sanderson Ave
Cawston Ave
Pott
er Rd
Warren Rd
Ramona Expy
Lake Park Dr
Hemet
Beaumont
Figure PS-1.
Geologic and Seismic
Hazards
City of San Jacinto
San Jacinto Sphere of
Influence
Neighboring City
Earthquake Fault
Alquist-Priolo Fault Zone
Riverside County Fault
Zone
0 ½ 1
Miles
San Jacinto River
Data sources: US Geological Survey; Riverside County GIS; USGS NHD.
Created by De Novo Planning Group for the City of San Jacinto, March 2023.
Chapter Five: Public Safety | Envision San Jacinto
86 UV79
Ramona Expy
Kirby St
Ramona Expy
Soboba Rd
Mountain Ave
M eridian St
Soboba Rd
State St
Palm
Ave
Washington Ave
Cottonwood Ave
Esplanade Ave
State St
Hewitt St
Park Ave
Ramona Expy
Main St
Commonwealth Ave
Lyon Ave
Seventh St
Ramona Blvd
Camino los Banos
7th St
Record Rd
Odell Ave
Sanderson Ave
Cawston Ave
Pott
er Rd
Warren Rd
Ramona Expy
Lake Park Dr
Hemet
Beaumont
Figure PS-2.
Fire Hazard Severity
Zones
City of San Jacinto
San Jacinto Sphere of
Influence
Neighboring City
Fire Hazard Severity Zones in
State Responsibility Areas
Moderate
High
Very High
Fire Hazard Severity Zones in
Local Responsibility Areas
Very High
0 ½ 1
Miles
San Jacinto River
Data sources: CalFire; California Office of the Fire Marshall; Riverside County GIS; USGS NHD.
Created by De Novo Planning Group for the City of San Jacinto, March 2023.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Five: Public Safety
87 UV79
Ramona Expy
Kirby St
Ramona Expy
Soboba Rd
Mountain Ave
M eridian St
Soboba Rd
State St
Palm
Ave
Washington Ave
Cottonwood Ave
Esplanade Ave
State St
Hewitt St
Park Ave
Ramona Expy
Main St
Commonwealth Ave
Lyon Ave
Seventh St
Ramona Blvd
Camino los Banos
7th St
Record Rd
Odell Ave
Sanderson Ave
Cawston Ave
Pott
er Rd
Warren Rd
Ramona Expy
Lake Park Dr
Hemet
Beaumont
Figure PS-3.
FEMA Flood Map
City of San Jacinto
Neighboring City
San Jacinto Sphere of
Influence
FEMA Designation
100-year Flood Zone
500-year Flood Zone
Regulatory Floodway
Area with Reduced
Risk due to Levee
Area of Undetermined
Flood Hazard
Area of Minimal Flood
Hazard
0 ½ 1
Miles
San Jacinto River
Data sources: FEMA 2022; Riverside County GIS; USGS NHD.
Created by De Novo Planning Group for the City of San Jacinto, March 2023. unshaded
Chapter Five: Public Safety | Envision San Jacinto
88 UV79
Ramona Expy
Kirby St
Ramona Expy
Soboba Rd
Mountain Ave
M eridian St
Soboba Rd
State St
Palm
Ave
Washington Ave
Cottonwood Ave
Esplanade Ave
State St
Hewitt St
Park Ave
Ramona Expy
Main St
Commonwealth Ave
Lyon Ave
Seventh St
Ramona Blvd
Camino los Banos
7th St
Record Rd
Odell Ave
Sanderson Ave
Cawston Ave
Pott
er Rd
Warren Rd
Ramona Expy
Lake Park Dr
Hemet
Beaumont
Figure PS-4.
2040 Noise Contour
Levels
City of San Jacinto
San Jacinto Sphere of
Influence
Neighboring City
Noise Levels in dB(A)
60 - 65
65 - 70
70 - 75
>= 75
0 ½ 1
Miles
Data sources: MD Acoustics.
Created by De Novo Planning Group for the City of San Jacinto, March 2023.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Five: Public Safety
89 UV79
Ramona Expy
Kirby St
Ramona Expy
Soboba Rd
Mountain Ave
M eridian St
Soboba Rd
State St
Palm
Ave
Washington Ave
Cottonwood Ave
Esplanade Ave
State St
Hewitt St
Park Ave
Ramona Expy
Main St
Commonwealth Ave
Lyon Ave
Seventh St
Ramona Blvd
Camino los Banos
7th St
Record Rd
Odell Ave
Sanderson Ave
Cawston Ave
Pott
er Rd
Warren Rd
Ramona Expy
Lake Park Dr
Hemet
Beaumont
Figure PS-5.
Existing Uses and
Very High Fire Hazard
Severity Zones
City of San Jacinto
Neighboring City
San Jacinto Sphere of
Influence
Very High Fire Hazard
Severity Zones (State
Responsibility Areas)
Very High Fire Hazard
Severity Zones (Local
Responsibility Areas)
Existing Use
Agricultural-NonPreserved
Agricultural-Preserved
Commercial
ED - Educational
Open Space
Public Facility
Residential-Single Family
Residential-Multi-Family
Residential-Mobile Home
Vacant Lands
0 ½ 1
Miles
San Jacinto River
Data sources: CalFire; California Office of the Fire Marshall; Riverside County GIS; USGS NHD.
Created by De Novo Planning Group for the City of San Jacinto, March 2023.
RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT
Chapter Six
San Jacinto is home to a number of special
resources that require attention and
management as the City continues to grow.
These resources can be natural (for example,
biological resources or water resources) or
man-made (such as parks, infrastructure
systems, or community facilities). Together,
the City’s resources form an important part
of the City’s unique character and quality of
life. It is important to understand, document,
and appreciate these resources so that these
valuable pieces of the community can be
preserved, protected, and enhanced for future
generations.
Element Organization
The Resource Management Element will address each of the topics below as they relate to San Jacinto. The goals and policies of this element are organized around the following topics:
• Natural Resources
• Water Resources
• Heritage Resources
• Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Energy and Mineral Resources
• Public Safety Resources
• Parks and Recreational Resources
• Educational Resources
• Infrastructure Planning
• Solid Waste Management and Recycling
91 Chapter Six: Resource Management | Envision San Jacinto 92 Natural Resources
Situated along the foothills of the San Jacinto
Mountains, the City is home to remarkable
natural resources such as the San Jacinto
River, extensive open space areas, natural
landforms and viewscapes, and biological
resources. In a region that is expected to
continue accommodating new development
over time, special consideration must be given
to maintaining the natural resources that
make San Jacinto such a special place to live,
work, and visit. The General Plan recognizes
the importance of protecting and enhancing
natural resources to meet the needs of the
City’s residents for years to come.
Goal RM-1: A community that conserves and
protects its natural resources.
» Policy RM-1.1: Balanced Open Space System.
Support a balanced and integrated open space
system that reflects a variety of considerations,
including resource conservation, recreation,
aesthetics, and community identity.
» Policy RM-1.2: Scenic Resources. Encourage the
preservation of San Jacinto’s scenic resources,
including mature trees, rock outcroppings,
hillsides, ridgelines, and other prominent natural
landforms, to the extent practical.
» Policy RM-1.3: Biological Resource Protection.
Preserve and enhance biological communities
that contribute to the region’s biodiversity, with
a special focus on sensitive, rare, or endangered
plant and wildlife species in accordance with
state and federal resource agency requirements.
» Policy RM-1.4: Regional Cooperation. Recognize
areas of overlapping jurisdiction with respect to
open space and biological resources, such as
the County of Riverside Multiple Species Habitat
Conservation Plan (MSHCP), and coordinate the
City’s actions with efforts of surrounding cities,
agencies, and Riverside County to protect and
maximize regional open space.
» Policy RM-1.5: Hillside Development. Require
the orderly development of hillside areas
through compliance with the City’s Hillside
Development Ordinance.
» Policy RM-1.6: Native Vegetation. Conserve
existing native vegetation where possible and
integrate regionally native plant species into
development and infrastructure projects where
appropriate.
» Action RM-1a: Work with public and private
agencies to explore the joint venture use and
management of open space areas.
» Action RM-1b: Coordinate with public and private
organizations to provide revenue generating
open space uses such as golf courses and
environmental banking sites as a way to produce
revenue to protect open space and natural
resources. Work with local and regional partners
to advertise potential revenue-generating open
space opportunities in San Jacinto. Identify
potential sites for revenue-generating open
space uses on the City’s website.
» Action RM-1c: Work closely with the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the California
Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) during
the discretionary project permitting and CEQA
review of any project that may result in the
alteration of a stream bed, involve the removal
of vegetation in wetland and riparian habitats,
disturb Waters of the United States or otherwise
impact sensitive biological resources.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Six: Resource Management
93 » Action RM-1d: Cooperate with the County of
Riverside to develop and manage preserve areas
within the urban landscape. During the review
of development proposals, use the Western
Riverside County MSHCP Habitat Conservation
Plan (particularly Section 3.2.13 San Jacinto
Valley Area Plan) to help assess potential
project impacts and mitigation requirements.
Development in the City shall be required to
comply with the applicable terms of the MSHCP
including, but not limited to, the payment of
mitigation fees, narrow endemic surveys,
riparian/riverine policy, and other applicable
surveys. Projects located within criteria cell
areas shall be reviewed through the MSHCP
Joint Project Review as appropriate.
» Action RM-1e: For Hillside Development Projects,
implement the City’s Hillside Development
Standards to retain the significant hillsides and
ridgelines on San Jacinto’s eastern and western
borders as Open Space, allowing areas of nonintensive development on the more gently sloped areas at the base of the eastern and
western hillsides.
» Action RM-1f: During the development review
process, ensure proper geotechnical and soil
management techniques are implemented.
To enforce this, the City Engineer or Director
may request the completion of a survey of soil
and geologic conditions by a State licensed
Engineering Geologist and Civil Engineer, where
appropriate. When potential geologic impacts
are identified, require project applicants to
mitigate the impacts per the recommendations
contained within the survey.
» Action RM-1g: Where feasible, incorporate open
space and passive recreational uses into areas
identified to have significant hazards related
to flooding, geologic conditions, and seismic
events.
» Action RM-1h: Identify local scenic routes and
vistas and explore developing guidelines for
development visible from these scenic routes to
minimize impacts to scenic vistas.
» Action RM-1i: During the development review
process, require Applicants of developments
with the potential to reduce or eliminate
habitat for native plant and wildlife species or
sensitive habitats not covered by the MSHCP,
as determined by the City of San Jacinto’s
Community Development Department, to
prepare a site-specific general biological
resources survey to identify the presence of
any sensitive biological resources, including any
sensitive plant or wildlife species. The report
shall identify the need for focused presence/
absence surveys and identify the presence
of state or federal regulated wetlands or
waters. Required surveys shall be conducted
by qualified biologists and/or botanists in
accordance with California Department of Fish
and Wildlife (CDFW) and/or United States Fish
and Wildlife Services (USFWS) survey protocols
for target species. If no sensitive species are
observed during the field survey then no further
mitigation will be required. If sensitive species
or habitats, including wetlands are documented
on the project site, the project applicant shall
comply with the applicable requirements of the
regulatory agencies and shall apply mitigation
determined through the agency permitting
process.
» Action RM-1j: Where feasible, vegetation and
tree removal should occur outside of the bird
nesting season (February 1 to August 31). If
not feasible, the project applicant shall retain
a qualified biologist to conduct a nesting bird
survey no more than three days prior to the
commencement of construction activities. The
biologist conducting the clearance survey shall
document the negative results if no active bird
nests are observed on the project site or within
the vicinity during the clearance survey with a
brief letter report, submitted to the City of San
Jacinto Community Development Department
prior to construction, indicating that no
impacts to active bird nests would occur before
construction can proceed. If an active avian
nest is discovered during the pre-construction
clearance survey, construction activities shall
stay outside a 300-foot buffer around the active
nest. For listed and raptor species, this buffer
shall be 500 feet. A biological monitor shall
be present to delineate the boundaries of the
buffer area and to monitor the active nest to
ensure the nesting behavior is not adversely
affected by construction activity, pursuant to
the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Prior to
the commencement of construction activities
and the issuance of any permits, results of the
pre-construction survey and any subsequent
monitoring shall be provided to the City of San
Jacinto Community Development Department,
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
(CDFW), and other appropriate agencies.
Chapter Six: Resource Management | Envision San Jacinto 94 Water Resources
Water is an indispensable resource that is
integral to San Jacinto’s prosperity and growth.
The City recognizes its role as steward to a
number of important water resources in the
region, including the San Jacinto River and San
Jacinto Groundwater Basin. The City embraces
an integrated water management approach in
order to preserve these precious resources for
years to come.
Goal RM-2: A community that protects and
conserves limited water resources.
» Policy RM-2.1: Regional Cooperation. Cooperate
with federal, State, and county governments,
and other agencies on the maintenance and
improvement of the quality and quantity of local
and regional groundwater resources.
» Policy RM-2.2: Groundwater Management.
Protect aquifers within the Basin and encourage
groundwater recharge.
» Policy RM-2.3: Conservation. Promote
residential, commercial, and institutional
water conservation strategies using multiple
innovative strategies and contemporary best
practices.
» Policy RM-2.4: Natural Conditions. Encourage
development that avoids impacts to watershed
areas, wetlands, natural drainage channels,
riparian areas, and creeks, retaining these
resources in their natural condition if feasible.
» Policy RM-2.5: Stormwater. Work cooperatively
with local water agencies to effectively and
efficiently manage stormwater runoff as part
of the City’s multipronged water conservation
strategy.
» Policy RM-2.6: Septic Systems. Discourage
the use of septic systems to reduce potential
negative impacts to groundwater.
» Policy RM-2.7: Reclaimed Water. Promote
the expanded use of reclaimed water, where
feasible.
» Action RM-2a: To reduce soil erosion and
pollutants in urban runoff, require new
development and redevelopment projects control
stormwater runoff through implementation
of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to
prevent any deterioration of water quality
that would impair subsequent or competing
uses of the water. Existing development shall
control stormwater runoff so as to prevent any
deterioration of water quality that would impair
subsequent or competing uses of the water. As
specific development projects are implemented,
project proponents will be required to consult
with relevant agencies such as the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (ACOE), Regional Water
Quality Control Board (RWQCB), and the
California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG).
Also, ensure that projects of one acre or more
complete a Storm Water Pollution Prevention
Plan (SWPPP) pursuant to California Regional
Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) Santa
Ana Region – Order No. 00-65 and the City’s
MS4 permit (order no. R8-2002-0011 (NPDES
No. CAS 618033).
» Action RM-2b: Cooperate with the Regional
Water Quality Control Board to develop a plan to
assist agricultural operations to reduce nitrate
and sediment input to surface waters. Such
a plan will enhance water quality and benefit
aquatic plants and wildlife within the planning
area as well as downstream.
» Action RM-2c: In cooperation with the state,
regional, and local water agencies and suppliers,
participate in programs that seek to expand
the availability and use of recycled water for
irrigation where feasible and legally permitted.
Specifically, support the expansion of the use
of recycled water for urban and agricultural
irrigation. Cooperate with these agencies to
establish standards and regulations for the use
of recycled water in development projects.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Six: Resource Management
95 » Action RM-2d: Work with the water districts
and private developers to encourage water
conservation in the following ways:
• Implementing aquifer and groundwater
recharge programs
• Participating in water conservation
programs operated by the local and regional
water districts
• Establishing water conservation education
programs
• Requiring the use of drought resistant plant
species in landscaping for public and private
areas, including parks and recreational
facilities, in accordance with the Water
Efficient Landscaping requirements.
• Expanding the production and use of
reclaimed water
• Requiring the incorporation of water
conservation devices, including low flush
toilets, flow restriction devices, and water
conserving appliances in both new public
and private development projects and
rehabilitation projects.
» Action RM-2e: Through the development review
process, require that sufficient water supply
and water infrastructure capacity is available to
serve the development prior to approval of the
project, pursuant to Water Code Section 10910
and Government Code Section 66473.7.
» Action RM-2f: Whenever feasible, incorporate
improved open space and preservation areas
and quasi-active recreation facilities in areas
used for ground water recharge and/or drainage
detention.
» Action RM-2g: During the development review
process, the City shall allow new septic systems
only for low density projects if they have met the
RWQCB’s minimum lot size requirement of onehalf acre per subsurface disposal system and where sewer connection is infeasible.
» Action RM-2h: Continue to encourage the
conversion from existing septic systems to
sewer by limiting the replacement or expansion/
repair of existing septic systems as feasible.
Chapter Six: Resource Management | Envision San Jacinto 96 Heritage Resources
San Jacinto has a rich history dating back to the
area’s first inhabitants more than 10,000 years
ago. The City’s paleontological, archeological,
historical, and tribal cultural resources help
define the community and offer opportunities
for cultural, educational, and community
enrichment. The City encourages the protection
and enhancement of these resources for
generations to come.
Goal RM-3: A community that celebrates and
preserves its rich culture and historic assets.
» Policy RM-3.1: Preservation. Protect areas
containing significant historic, archaeological,
paleontological and tribal cultural resources,
as defined by the California Public Resources
Code.
» Policy RM-3.2: Cultural Reminders. Seek to
incorporate reminders of San Jacinto’s culture
in the built and natural environment through
adaptive reuse, signage, markers, and other
reminders of San Jacinto’s heritage.
» Policy RM-3.3: Public Education. Educate and
actively involve the public in preserving cultural
assets, including techniques, incentives, and
legal requirements for preservation.
» Policy RM-3.4: Tribal Consultation. Consult with
Native American tribes whose tribal cultural
resources may be impacted by proposed
development, as necessary, and in accordance
with state, local, and tribal intergovernmental
consultation requirements, in an effort
to mitigate or avoid significant effects to
resource(s).
» Policy RM-3.5: Public Art. Promote the use
of public art that celebrates the diverse and
culturally rich history of San Jacinto at key
gateways, major projects, and public gathering
places.
» Policy RM-3.6: Historic Preservation. Identify,
designate, and protect buildings, districts,
eligible properties and sites of historic
importance within San Jacinto.
» Policy RM-3.7: Funding. Identify funding
programs to assist private property owners in
the preservation of historic resources.
» Action RM-3a: Continue to assess development
proposals for potential impacts to sensitive
historic, archaeological, and paleontological
resources pursuant to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
» Action RM-3b: For structures that potentially
have historic significance, the City shall require
that a study be conducted by a professional
archaeologist or historian to determine the
actual significance of the structure and
potential impacts of the proposed development
in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section
15064.5. The City may require modification
of the project and/or mitigation measures to
avoid any impact to a historic structure, when
feasible, such as retaining or rehabilitating
historic buildings pursuant to City of San Jacinto
guidelines or relocating the historic building as
feasible.
» Action RM-3c: For all development proposals
within areas with the potential to contain
prehistoric/historic resources, the City shall
require a study to be conducted by a professional
archaeologist. The objective of the study will
be to determine if significant archaeological
resources are potentially present and if the
project will significantly impact these resources.
If significant impacts are identified, the City
may require the project to be modified to avoid
the impacts, or require mitigation measures to
mitigate the impacts. Mitigation may involve
archaeological investigation and resources
recovery
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Six: Resource Management
97 » Action RM-3d: For projects that involve ground
disturbing activities on native soil, prior to the
issuance of a grading permit, the developer shall
enter a Treatment and Disposition Agreement
(TDA) with the Soboba Band of Luiseño
Indians to address treatment and disposition
of archaeological/cultural resources and
human remains associated with Soboba Band
of Luiseño Indians that may be uncovered or
otherwise discovered during construction of
the project. The TDA may establish provisions
for tribal monitors. Following execution of the
TDA by the developer and Soboba Band of
Luiseño Indians, the TDA will be incorporated by
reference into the grading permit.
» Action RM-3e: The City shall require
an assessment of the potential for
development proposals to significantly
impact paleontological resources pursuant
to the California Environmental Quality Act
Guidelines. If the project involves earthworks,
the City may require a study conducted by a
professional paleontologist to determine if
paleontological assets are present, and if the
project will significantly impact the resources.
If significant impacts are identified, the City
may require the project to be modified to avoid
impacting the paleontological materials, require
monitoring of rock units with high potential to
contain significant nonrenewable paleontologic
resources, or require mitigation measures to
mitigate the impacts, such as recovering the
paleontological resources for preservation.
» Action RM-3f: The City shall make provisions
for historic archeological resources accidentally
discovered during construction for projects
where the City has approval authority over
the project. These provisions shall include
an immediate evaluation of the find and
contingency funding and time allotment
sufficient to allow for the recovery of the historic
archeological resource or implement measures
to avoid disturbing the resource if the historic
archeological resource is determined to be
unique.
» Action RM-3g: In the event of discovery or
recognition of any human remains in any
location other than a dedicated cemetery, the
City shall halt excavation or disturbance of the
site or any nearby area reasonably suspected
to overlie adjacent human remains until the
County Coroner has been informed and has
determined that no investigation of the cause of
death is required. If the remains are of Native
American origin, there shall be no further
excavation or disturbance of the site or any
nearby area reasonably suspected to overlie
adjacent human remains until the descendants
from the deceased Native Americans have
made a recommendation to the landowner or
the persons responsible for the excavation
work, regarding appropriate means of treating
the ancestral remains, with appropriate dignity,
including the human remains and any associated
grave goods as provided in Public Resources
Code section 5097.98, or the Native American
Heritage Commission was unable to identify a
descendant or the descendant failed to make
a recommendation within 24 hours after being
granted access to the site.
» Action RM-3h: Prior to the adoption or substantial
amendment of a general plan or specific plan,
the City shall refer the proposed action to those
tribes that are on the NAHC contact list and
have traditional lands located within the City’s
jurisdiction for a 45 day comment period.
» Action RM-3i: Prior to the adoption or substantial
amendment of a general plan or specific plan,
the City shall refer the proposed action to those
tribes that are on the NAHC contact list and
have traditional lands located within the City’s
jurisdiction for a 45 day comment period.
» Action RM-3j: Prior to designating open space,
the City shall consult with tribes if the affected
land contains a cultural place and if the
affected tribe has requested public notice under
Government Code section 65092.
» Action RM-3k: Promote public awareness
and encourage tourism in the City by actively
identifying and enhancing the community’s
historic resources through the location of
historic landmark plaques and a Historic Tour
Guide. Promote tours of these sites on the City’s
and other organization’s websites.
» Action RM-3l: Continue to support the
improvement and enhancement of the Estudillo
Mansion and expand opportunities for public
access and use of the historic treasure.
» Action RM-3m: Develop and implement
architectural standards and historical
preservation guidelines for development and
redevelopment in the Downtown Village area
of the community. Use housing and façade
rehabilitation programs to support development
and redevelopment activities that preserve and
complement historic structures and resources
in the downtown.
» Action RM-3n: Develop and implement programs
and/or incentives to private property owners
to help preserve, restore, or reuse historic
structures while enhancing their historical
significance and integrity.
» Action RM-3o: Conduct a historic properties
inventory that takes into consideration buildings,
neighborhoods, and other features of historic,
architectural, or cultural significance.
Chapter Six: Resource Management | Envision San Jacinto 98 Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
Improved air quality within the City will improve
the quality of life of residents, workers, and
visitors. Air quality is especially important due
to the City’s location in the South Coast Air
Basin (SCAB), which does not presently meet
state and federal air quality standards. Regional
cooperation among all agencies in the basin is
necessary to achieve desired improvements
to air quality. San Jacinto can participate and
contribute its share by reducing local emissions
through proper planning for land use and
transportation.
Goal RM-4: Improved air quality in San Jacinto
and the region through reductions in air
pollutants and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
» Policy RM-4.1: Regional Cooperation.
Support regional efforts, including those
organized through the South Coast Air Quality
Management District (SCAQMD), the Southern
California Association of Governments (SCAG),
the Western Riverside Council of Governments
(WRCOG), and the California Air Resource Board
(CARB) to implement the regional Air Quality
Management Plan.
» Policy RM-4.2: Measurement and Enforcement.
Coordinate with the California Air Resources
Board (CARB) and South Coast Air Quality
Management District to support their ability to
properly measure air quality at emission sources
and enforce the standards of the Clean Air Act.
» Policy RM-4.3: GHG Emissions. Align the City’s
local GHG reduction targets with the statewide
GHG reduction targets of Assembly Bill 32,
and align the City’s GHG reduction goal with
the statewide GHG reduction goal of Executive
Order S-03-05.
» Policy RM-4.4: Transportation Options.
Promote alternative modes of transportation
to reduce vehicular emissions and improve air
quality. (See Mobility Element)
» Policy RM-4.5: Walkability. Encourage
pedestrian-scale development and pedestrianfriendly design features to reduce vehicle emissions. (See Mobility Element)
» Policy RM-4.6: Sustainable Development.
Encourage and incentivize higher density and
mixed-use development opportunities within
designated areas of the City to lessen the
impacts of traffic congestion on local air quality.
(See Land Use Element)
» Policy RM-4.7: Sensitive Receptors. Insulate
sensitive receptors from areas of heightened air
quality pollution, by utilizing land use planning to
buffer and protect residential areas.
» Policy RM-4.8: Mitigation. Require the
implementation of relevant mitigation measures
for all future development upon identification of
potential air quality impacts.
» Policy RM-4.9: Local Reduction Targets. The
City of San Jacinto establishes the following per
capita GHG reduction targets, in order to meet
the requirements established by the state under
AB 32 and SB 32, consistent with the CARB’s
2017 Scoping Plan:
• 1.83 MTCO2e per service population (SP)
by 2030; and
• 0.62 MTCO2e per service population (SP)
by 2050.
» Policy RM-4.10: GHG Reduction. Consider and
adopt new local policies and programs that
will help to provide energy efficient alternatives
to fossil fuel use and reduce consumption in
order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
consistent with the local measures identified
in the Western Riverside County Subregional
Climate Action Plan for San Jacinto.
» Policy RM-4.11: Carbon Reduction. Expand the
number of parks and trees in San Jacinto to
provide a larger carbon sink or area containing
natural sources that retain more carbon than
what those sources emit.
» Policy RM-4.12: Public Engagement. Promote
regional air quality programs in order to inform
the public on regional air quality concerns and
encourage the engagement of all San Jacinto
residents in future planning decisions related to
air quality.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Six: Resource Management
99 » Action RM-4a: Implement the local GHG
reduction measures identified in the Western
Riverside Council of Government’s Subregional
Climate Action Plan (CAP) for San Jacinto,
participate in future updates of the CAP, and on
an annual basis, record the status of each local
measure and submit the result to WRCOG using
the WRCOG Climate Action Plan Tracking Tool.
» Action RM-4b: As applicable, review new
industrial and commercial development
projects during the CEQA process for potential
air quality impacts to residences and other
sensitive receptors. Ensure that mitigation
measures and best management practices are
implemented to reduce significant emissions of
criteria pollutants.
» Action RM-4c: Review development,
infrastructure, and planning projects for
consistency with SCAQMD requirements
during the CEQA review process. Require
project applicants to prepare air quality
analyses to address SCAQMD and General Plan
requirements, as appropriate, which include
analysis and identification of:
• Air pollutant emissions associated with
the project during construction, project
operation, and cumulative conditions.
• Potential exposure of sensitive receptors to
toxic air contaminants.
• Significant air quality impacts associated
with the project for construction, project
operation, and cumulative conditions.
• Mitigation measures to reduce significant
impacts to less than significant or the
maximum extent feasible where impacts
cannot be mitigated to less than significant.
» Action RM-4d: Work with the South Coast
Air Quality Management District, Southern
California Association of Governments, the
Western Riverside Council of Governments, and
the California Air Resource Board to implement
programs aimed at improving regional air
quality.
» Action RM-4e: Continue to review development
projects to ensure that all new public and private
development complies with the California Code
of Regulations (CCR), Title 24 standards as well
as the energy efficiency standards established
by the San Jacinto Municipal Code.
» Action RM-4f: Monitor GHG emissions generated
by the community over time for consistency
with the established GHG reduction targets,
and strive to update the City’s community GHG
Inventory every five years. In the event that the
City determines that ongoing efforts to reduce
GHG emissions are not on track to meet the
City’s adopted GHG reduction targets, the City
shall establish and adopt new and/or revised
GHG reductions measures that will effectively
meet the established GHG reduction targets.
» Action RM-4g: Provide the necessary facilities
and infrastructure to facilitate the use of Cityowned low or zero-emission vehicles such as electric vehicle charging facilities at key City
facilities as operations necessitate and/or as
funding becomes available.
» Action RM-4h: Evaluate and consider multimodal transportation benefits to all City employees, such as free or low-cost monthly
public transportation (bus) passes. Encourage
employer participation in similar programs.
Encourage new transit/shuttle services and use.
» Action RM-4i: Evaluate and consider the
feasibility of allowing private bicycle rental
companies to operate in San Jacinto.
» Action RM-4j: Encourage community car-sharing
and carpooling.
» Action RM-4k: Support the establishment and
expansion of a regional network of electric
vehicle charging stations and encourage the
expanded use of electric vehicles.
» Action RM-4l: Establish and adopt standards
and requirements for electric vehicle parking,
including minimum requirements for the
installation of electric vehicle charging stations
in new multi-family residential and commercial,
office, and light industrial development.
» Action RM-4m: Adopt a Green Building Program
to promote the reduction of urban heat islands
through vegetation management and cool
surfaces. Encourage multi-family residential
and non-residential development to increase
the use of higher-albedo materials for surfaces
including roofs, parking areas, driveways, roads,
and sidewalks. Encourage developments with
parking lot areas to shade these areas with
vegetation or solar panels when appropriate.
Support various programs to plant and maintain
trees, which can also contribute to a reduction
of urban heat islands.
Chapter Six: Resource Management | Envision San Jacinto 100
» Action RM-4n: Future development projects will
be required to demonstrate consistency with
SCAQMD construction emission thresholds.
Where emissions from individual projects
exceed SCAQMD thresholds, the following
actions should be incorporated as necessary
to minimize impacts. These measures do not
exclude the use of other, equally effective
mitigation measures as determined by a project
specific Air Quality Assessment.
• Require all off-road diesel equipment
greater than 50 horsepower (hp) used for
this Project to meet USEPA Tier 4 final offroad emission standards or equivalent.
Such equipment shall be outfitted with
Best Available Control Technology (BACT)
devices including a California Air Resources
Board Certified Level 3 Diesel Particulate
Filter (DPF) or equivalent. The DPF reduces
diesel particulate matter and NOx emissions
during construction activities.
• Require a minimum of 50 percent of
construction debris be diverted for recycling.
• Require building materials to contain a
minimum 10 percent recycled content.
• Require materials such as paints, primers,
sealants, coatings, and glues to have a low
volatile organic compound concentration
compared to conventional products.
If low VOC materials are not available,
architectural coating phasing should be
extended sufficiently to reduce the daily
emissions of VOCs.
» Action RM-4o: Future development projects will
be required to demonstrate consistency with
SCAQMD’s operational emission thresholds. For
projects where operational emissions exceed
regulatory thresholds, the following measures
may be used to reduce impacts. Note the
following measures are not all inclusive and
developers have the option to add or substitute
measures that are equally or more appropriate
for the scope of the project.
• Develop a project specific TDM program for
residents and/or employees that provides
opportunities for carpool/vanpools.
• Provide onsite solar/renewable energy in
excess of regulatory requirements.
• Require that owners/tenants of nonresidential or multi-family residential developments use architectural coatings
that are 10 grams per liter or less when
repainting/repairing properties.
• Require dripless irrigation and irrigation
sensor units that prevent watering during
rain storms.
• Ensure all parking areas are wired for
capability of future EV charging and include
EV charging stations that exceed regulatory
requirements.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Six: Resource Management
101
Energy and Mineral Resources
Future development within the City will result
in increased energy demands for the operation
of businesses, homes, and transportation
facilities. To reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, pollutants, and ensure that there
are adequate energy and mineral resources
for future generations, safe management and
conservation methods need to be implemented.
Goal RM-5: A community that safely manages its
energy and mineral resources.
» Policy RM-5.1: San Jacinto Power. Continue to
make clean, modern, and cost-effective energy
options available to individuals who live and
work in San Jacinto.
» Policy RM-5.2: Compliance with State
Legislation. Comply with all state requirements
regarding the generation of power and
encourage energy providers to investigate
the use or expansion of renewable sources of
energy.
» Policy RM-5.3: Renewable Energy. Promote
the development and use of renewable energy
resources to reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
» Policy RM-5.4: Energy-Efficient Materials.
Promote the use of energy-efficient materials,
equipment, and design in public and private
facilities and infrastructure.
» Policy RM-5.5: Energy Conservation. Promote
energy conservation and recycling by the public
and private sectors.
» Policy RM-5.6: Energy Needs. Collaborate
with local service providers in determining and
meeting the needs of the community for energy
in clean, modern, and cost-effective ways.
» Policy RM-5.7: Business Community. Support
the decisions of the San Jacinto business
community as they select and implement the
most appropriate, financially feasible, and
responsible energy source for their individual
operations.
» Policy RM-5.8: Public Education. Promote
public education programs that advocate for
reducing energy consumption, and promote
renewable sources of energy.
» Policy RM-5.9: Promote Energy Conservation
in Existing Building Stock. Promote energy
conservation by residents and businesses in
existing structures, in close coordination with
other agencies and local energy providers,
including the SCAQMD and Southern California
Edison.
» Policy RM-5.10: Mineral Resources. Ensure that
any future mining activities be in compliance
with the State Mining Reclamation Act, federal
and state environmental regulations, and local
ordinances.
» Action RM-5a: Continue to implement the City’s
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program;
evaluate the effectiveness of the program every
five years to identify programmatic changes
necessary to continue meeting the City’s
objectives.
» Action RM-5b: Implement energy conservation
measures in public buildings through the
following actions:
• Promote energy efficient buildings and site
design for all new public buildings during
the site development permit process; and
• Install energy saving devices in new
public buildings and retrofit existing public
buildings.
» Action RM-5c: During the development review
process, encourage innovative building design,
layout, and orientation techniques to minimize
energy use by taking advantage of sun/shade
patterns, prevailing winds, landscaping and
building materials that control energy usage,
and solar design.
» Action RM-5d: Promote retrofit programs by the
City to reduce energy usage and consequently
reduce emissions from energy consumption.
Encourage utility companies to provide
informational literature about available retrofit
programs at public facilities such as City Hall,
the Community Center , and libraries.
» Action RM-5e: Continue to review development
projects to ensure that all new public and private
development complies with the California Code
of Regulations, Title 24 standards as well as the
energy efficiency standards established by the
General Plan and the Municipal Code.
Chapter Six: Resource Management | Envision San Jacinto 102
» Action RM-5f: Promote the CEC Building Energy
Benchmarking Program (AB 802) on the City’s
website to help benchmark and monitor energy
use for participating businesses seeking to
increase energy efficiency and realize cost
savings.
» Action RM-5g: Encourage new development
projects to install electrified space (HVAC) and
water heating systems in lieu of natural gas
systems, above and beyond the requirements
of Title 24, before and during the building plan
check process.
» Action RM-5h: During the development review
process, require that all new developments
adjacent to or near natural gas lines, coordinate
with So Cal Gas to install and connect to the
lines, as feasible.
» Action RM-5i: Advertise the San Jacinto Power
PureGreen program and encourage San Jacinto
Power customers to enroll in the program and
opt-up to 100 percent renewable energy content.
» Action RM-5j: Encourage Southern California
Edison (SCE) customers to participate in SCE’s
100% Green tier.
Public Safety Resources
Personal safety is essential to the wellbeing
of San Jacinto’s residents. The City contracts
with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
(RCSD) for its police services and the Riverside
County Fire Department (RCFD) for its fire
protection and emergency services. The City
must be involved in close coordination with
RCSD and RCFD to ensure appropriate levels
of service are provided in the community,
proper physical planning of new development
is implemented in a way to protect public
health and safety, and a high level of public
involvement in crime and fire prevention.
Goal RM-6: A community that safeguards
persons and property through the provision of
high-quality public safety services and crime
prevention measures.
» Policy RM-6.1: Provision of Police and Fire
Services. Encourage the Riverside County
Sheriff’s Department and the Riverside County
Fire Department to maintain adequate staff and
equipment to provide efficient, high quality, and
responsive public safety services to the San
Jacinto community.
» Policy RM-6.2: Department Consultation.
Promote coordination between the City of San
Jacinto and public safety services during the
review of new development applications to
ensure that adequate attention is being paid to
fire and safety concerns during the design and
planning of a project.
» Policy RM-6.3: Site Design. Recognize the
role of design features in new development
to reduce potential for crime and implement
best practices into existing plans and new
development strategies.
» Policy RM-6.4: School Safety. Collaborate with
San Jacinto schools to support the community’s
youth through high quality after-school/summer
programs, psychological counseling, and
education about online safety.
» Policy RM-6.5: Crime Prevention. Promote and
support community-based crime prevention
programs, such as community policing, public
education, youth crime prevention, and outreach
programs, as an important tool to the provision
of professional police services.
» Policy RM-6.6: Public Safety Hot Spots.
Prioritize enforcement activities to minimize
safety hot spots. Work with code enforcement
to support the timely resolution of cases to
ensure compliance with City codes.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Six: Resource Management
103
» Action RM-6a: Adopt and maintain level of
service (e.g., response times, call handling) and
staffing standards as well as a developer fee
program for the Police Department. Review the
level of services and funding levels at budget
time, adjusting when necessary to ensure
that adequate levels of service and facilities
are provided and maintained based on shortterm and long-term growth projections. Future developers will contribute funds for police
services through the adopted developer fees.
» Action RM-6b: Continue to work with the school
districts to provide School Resource Officers
(SROs) to assist the school districts with safety
and security concerns. Review the success
of the program and funding/staffing levels on
an annual basis, adjusting when necessary
to ensure that adequate levels of service are
provided and maintained.
» Action RM-6c: In cooperation with the school
districts, police and fire departments, and local,
state, and federal emergency management
agencies, implement an Emergency Operation
Center (EOC) to respond to and manage
disasters. Provide annual training for City
staff in emergency management so that when
they are called into action, they will be able to
distribute information and resources to the
public effectively.
» Action RM-6d: During the development review
process, require design features that reduce the
potential for crime. New projects should:
• Provide well-lighted and visible streets
and street names, building entrances and
addresses, common areas, and parking
facilities.
• Limit access into and between buildings
to reduce escape routes and to make
undetected entry difficult.
• Provide landscaping that permits the natural
surveillance of open areas and entryways,
and avoids creating places for concealment.
• Be designed to permit emergency vehicle
access to all sides of buildings located
in multi-family and non-residential
developments.
• Be designed to allow for defensible space.
» Action RM-6e: Work with the Riverside
County Sheriff’s Department to promote the
establishment and operation of Neighborhood
Watch programs throughout the City. Consider
assigning a police officer or volunteer patrol
person to each Neighborhood Watch group
for assistance in launching and maintaining a
successful program.
» Action RM-6f: In cooperation with the Riverside
County Fire Department, adopt and maintain
level of service (e.g., response times, call
handling) and staffing standards, as well as
a developer fee program for fire services.
Review the level of services and funding levels
at budget time, adjusting when necessary to
ensure that adequate levels of service and
facilities are provided and maintained. Future
developers will contribute funds for fire services
through the adopted developer fees. During the
budget and CIP process, reserve future sites
through purchase, eminent domain, dedication,
donation, or a combination of these procedures.
Chapter Six: Resource Management | Envision San Jacinto 104
Parks and Recreational Resources
Parks, recreational, and open space facilities
provide innumerable benefits that enrich
a community. San Jacinto is home to a
diverse system of parks, trails, open space,
and recreational facilities. The City strives to
provide well-planned, welcoming, and safe
opportunities for recreation to all members of
the community.
Goal RM-7: An integrated system of parks,
recreational, and open space facilities that meet
the community’s needs and preferences.
» Policy RM-7.1: Regional Cooperation.
Collaborate with the Valley-Wide Recreation and
Park District and other organizations to provide
parks, recreational, and open space facilities
that meet the needs and preferences of all
segments of the community.
» Policy RM-7.2: Service Area. Locate and
distribute parks and recreational facilities
throughout the community so that most
residents are within walking distance (one-half
mile) of a public open space and prioritize the
development of new public spaces in areas
outside of this service radius.
» Policy RM-7.3: New Facilities. Encourage the
use of less developable or undevelopable lands
such as utility corridors, fault zones, flood
control facilities, channels, and easements for
recreational uses, when feasible.
» Policy RM-7.4: Parkland Dedication. Require
future private development to incorporate
parkland, open space, or green space to expand
recreational opportunities in the community
in accordance with standards set by the San
Jacinto Municipal Code.
» Policy RM-7: Maintenance. Require that parks
and recreational facilities be well-maintained by
the responsible agency.
» Policy RM-7.6: Safety. Enhance park safety
through playground design, crime prevention
technology, night lighting, natural surveillance,
unobtrusive landscaping, and increased public
safety patrols.
» Policy RM-7.7: Accessible Facilities. Require
that new park facility construction and existing
facility retrofits meet accessibility standards
defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) and playground safety requirements
(Senate Bill 2733).
» Policy RM-7.8: Joint Use Facilities. Collaborate
with school districts and other agencies to
develop cooperative programs where the joint
use of facilities would lead to enhanced and
more efficient facility utilization.
» Policy RM-7.9: Open Space in Nonresidential
Development. Encourage outdoor gathering
spaces, such as mini-parks and plazas, be
incorporated into nonresidential development to
encourage social interaction, create experienceoriented centers, and enhance the visual character of the community.
» Policy RM-7.10: Parkland Funding. Actively
pursue financing for parkland acquisition and
maintenance, and allocate sufficient funding to
park development to support the community’s
recreational needs.
» Policy RM-7.11: Community Support.
Collaborate with residents to ensure the City’s
park and recreation facilities and programs
reflect community preferences.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Six: Resource Management
105
» Action RM-7a: Review development proposals
for their potential demand for and impact
on parks and recreational facilities in the
community by:
• Requiring developers of residential projects
to provide adequate parkland equal to
five acres per 1,000 residents (0.005 acre
per resident), or pay an in-lieu fee prior to
occupancy of the project.
• Requiring non-residential development to
provide parkland equal to 2.5 acres per 1,000
employees (0.0025 acre per employee), or
pay an in lieu fee prior to occupancy of the
project.
• Work with developers to identify the
appropriate park type(s), size(s), facilities,
and location(s) for required park facilities.
• Ensure parkland facilities conform with City
standards.
» Action RM-7b: For projects located along the
river levees or fault zones, or that include
drainage courses, utility easements, and/or
flood control facilities, encourage the project
to provide easements to the appropriate
agency (the City of San Jacinto, homeowners
association, Valleywide or other agency) for the
provision of linear parks, pathways, horseback
riding trails, and/or hiking and biking trails within
these areas, linking to the regional park and trail
system where possible.
» Action RM-7c: Cooperate with joint power
authorities, special districts, and regional, State,
and federal agencies to explore the development
of a regional park that includes facilities such as
hiking trails, camping, and fishing opportunities.
» Action RM-7d: Pursue available resources
to fund recreation facilities and parkland
acquisition, development, and maintenance,
including but not limited to, State and federal
grants, special districts, private donations, gifts,
and endowments.
» Action RM-7e: Cooperate with the Valley-Wide
Recreation and Park District, Mount San Jacinto
Community College, and other public and private
service providers to identify additional needed
senior and youth programs and services in the
community. Work with these organizations to
develop programs and expand access to and
participation in senior and youth programs
without duplicating efforts. Encourage the use
of public transit and alternative modes of travel
to these facilities and programs.
» Action RM-7f: As more schools are built within
the City, maximize the joint use of facilities by
the City and the local school districts, including
joint school/park sites, joint use of athletic fields,
community meeting facilities, and provision of
child and senior care facilities, where feasible.
» Action RM-7g: Maintain an up-to-date inventory
of developed and proposed public park land and
residences outside of one-half mile of a public
park so that new park development can be
directed to those areas.
Chapter Six: Resource Management | Envision San Jacinto 106
Educational Resources
San Jacinto recognizes that education of its
residents is a key to its long-term success.
Education helps to provide the knowledge,
requisite skills, and resources that build selfesteem, employment opportunities, and a strong local economy. San Jacinto’s educational
system provides a strong foundation for lifelong
learning opportunities.
Goal RM-8: A community that supports the
continued lifelong learning of all its residents
with high-quality educational facilities and
opportunities.
» Policy RM-8.1: Cooperation. Proactively
cooperate with San Jacinto Unified School
District, Hemet Unified School District, and
Mount San Jacinto College to encourage the
provision of lifelong learning opportunities for
persons living and working in San Jacinto.
» Policy RM-8.2: School Facilities. Work with
developers and the school district to ensure the
payment of fees, construction, and expansion of
school facilities to address expected increases
in school-age population.
» Policy RM-8.3: Early Childhood Development.
Encourage community organizations and
schools to provide and expanded opportunities
for early childhood care (0–5 years) and
development.
» Policy RM-8.4: Occupational Training. Partner
with the efforts of regional occupational boards
and local educational institutions to implement
career pathway and job training programs for
youth and adults.
» Policy RM-8.5: College Education. Support
Mount San Jacinto College in providing
comprehensive educational opportunities
that include associate degree and certificate
programs.
» Policy RM-8.6: Libraries. Work closely with the
Riverside County Library System to provide
library facilities and services necessary to meet
the needs of all segments of the community.
» Action RM-8a: Continue to work with the school
districts to ensure adequate school facilities
are provided and maintained in the community.
Specifically, the City should:
• During the processing of residential and
non-residential development proposals,
ensure the school districts are consulted
regarding the potential impact of the project
on educational services and facilities.
When proposed developments cannot be
served by existing facilities and services,
the City shall work with the developer and
the school district in exploring options for
service provision and facility funding.
• Prior to approving a project that is likely
to generate students, require the applicant
to mitigate school impacts to the full
extent permitted by State law through land
dedications, payment of fees, participation
in a special assessment district, or any
combination of the above.
• Cooperate with school districts to update
population projections, student generation
formulas, potential school sites, and
facilities improvement plans in their Long
Range Facility and Master Plans.
• Work with school districts to expedite
the construction of new schools, when
necessary.
• Cooperate with school districts and
recommend appropriate sites for new
school development as proposals for new
school facilities come forward.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Six: Resource Management
107
» Action RM-8b: During the development and
environmental review process for future
schools located in San Jacinto, cooperate with
the appropriate school district to minimize the
impacts of school development through traffic
management and parking measures, and the
use of appropriate site layout and buffering
techniques. When feasible, encourage the
location of new schools at the periphery of
residential neighborhoods and provide buffers
at all common property lines with residential
uses.
» Action RM-8c: Continue to work with the
Riverside County Library System to ensure that
library development keeps pace with overall
City development and population growth. As
part of the development review process, ensure
developers pay all required library fees prior to
occupancy of their projects.
Chapter Six: Resource Management | Envision San Jacinto 108
Infrastructure Planning
Infrastructure provides the physical and
organizational means of production and
distribution for essential services required for
community function. The City actively plans
for the provision and financing of infrastructure
and services to maintain quality of life.
Goal RM-9: A community that provides adequate,
reliable infrastructure and facilities to support
existing and future development.
» Policy RM-9.1: Public Facility Plans. Maintain
and implement public facility master plans, in
collaboration with appropriate outside service
providers and agencies, to ensure compliance
with appropriate regional, State, and federal
laws and to identify infrastructure needs,
funding sources, and implement improvements
for public facilities and services in San Jacinto.
» Policy RM-9.2: Capital Improvements. Maintain
and finance the capital improvement program to
ensure the timely implementation of the General
Plan and the adequate and the timely provision
of public facility and municipal improvements.
» Policy RM-9.3: Fair Share. Ensure that all
new development provides for and funds its
fair share of the costs for the expansion of
public infrastructure and services, recreational
amenities, and facilities.
» Policy RM-9.4: Prioritization. Prioritize the
placement of new infrastructure in areas
targeted for near-term development and in areas
designated as disadvantaged communities
through the orderly extension of infrastructure.
» Policy RM-9.5: Regional Cooperation.
Collaborate with the various regional facility and
service providers to deliver high levels of service
to San Jacinto, and to plan for new development.
» Policy RM-9.6: Telecommunications.
Encourage service providers to make available
the highest level of telecommunications
infrastructure, along with a wide range of modern
telecommunications services for San Jacinto’s
residences, businesses, and institutions.
» Action RM-9a: Continue to cooperate with the
water districts to ensure adequate water supply
and sewage treatment facilities are provided
and maintained in the community. Specifically,
the City should:
• During the processing of development
proposals, ensure the water districts are
consulted regarding the potential impact of
the project on water supplies and sewage
treatment facilities. When requested by the
district or City Engineer, require proposed
developments to include a water quality
assessment as part of the application
materials, and implement identified
mitigation measures during construction
and development.
• Ensure the project applicant has paid the
required fees prior to occupancy of any new
development.
• Require water conservation devices and
water efficient landscaping in new public
and private development and redevelopment
projects.
» Action RM-9b: Cooperate with the water
districts to update population projections, water
use and sewer generation formulas, needed
improvements, and programs within the Water
and Sewer Master Plans at least every five years.
» Action RM-9c: Work with the water districts to
expedite the improvement and expansion of
water, reclaimed water, and sewer facilities,
when necessary.
» Action RM-9d: Whenever feasible, require the
installation and use of reclaimed water systems
for irrigation purposes in new developments.
» Action RM-9e: Cooperate with the Hemet-San
Jacinto Watermaster to proactively manage
groundwater resources and comply with the
Stipulated Judgment and other applicable
federal, State and local regulations.
» Action RM-9f: During the annual budget and
CIP process, refer to the Master Drainage Plan
to identify the resources needed to designate,
preserve, and acquire land for necessary flood
control and drainage facilities.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Six: Resource Management
109
Solid Waste Management and Recycling
The State of California has required
communities to be more proactive in addressing
waste management by developing solid waste
diversion and recycling programs to meet
gradually increasing performance standards.
The City understands that proactive waste
management practices are important to protect
the environment and supports an integrated
waste management approach that includes
waste prevention (or “source reduction”),
recycling and composting, and proper disposal
of waste.
Goal RM-10: A cost-effective, integrated waste
management system that meets or exceeds
recycling and waste diversion mandates and
community expectations.
» Policy RM-10.1: Compliance with State
Legislation. Comply with local, regional and
State regulations regarding waste diversion,
source reduction, recycling, and composting.
» Policy RM-10.2: Solid Waste Collection. Provide
adequate waste disposal, recycling, and refuse
services for present and future residents and
businesses, including programs that improve
public access to solid waste collection and
recycling facilities.
» Policy RM-10.3: Hazardous Waste. Promote the
proper disposal of hazardous waste, including
paint, tires, medications, medical sharps,
infectious waste, asbestos waste, construction
waste, and electronic waste, through education,
monitoring, and enforcement of proper use,
storage, handling, and disposal.
» Policy RM-10.4: Source Reduction and
Recycling Efforts. Participate in source
reduction and recycling techniques to reduce
the amount of solid waste sent to landfills and
ensure adequate landfill capacity in the region
» Policy RM-10.5: Organic Waste. Work with
appropriate service providers to collect and
compost greenwaste, including landscaping,
Christmas trees, composting and mulch, and
other sources of organic waste, to distribute
for use in parks, medians, and other municipal
areas.
» Policy RM-10.6: Fees and Funding. Work with
appropriate service providers to periodically
review collection, recycling, and disposal fees
to achieve state and federal mandates, meet
community expectations, and reflect cost
efficiencies or increases for service delivery.
» Policy RM-10.7: Public Education. Promote
citywide educational programs to inform citizens
of the benefits of recycling and appropriate
recycling options and locations.
» Action RM-10a: On an ongoing basis and in
compliance with State law, ensure solid waste
collection activities completed by franchise solid
waste haulers, facility siting and construction
of transfer and/or disposal facilities, operation
of waste reduction and recycling programs,
and household hazardous waste disposal and
education programs are consistent with the
County Solid Waste Management Plan.
» Action RM-10b: Include standard language in
requests for services and in City agreements
requiring contractors to use best management
practices to maximize diversion of waste from
the landfill in order to meet the City’s specified
diversion rates.
» Action RM-10c: Encourage the expansion of
recycling, reuse, and appropriate disposal of
hazardous materials, including the following:
• Increased participation in single family and
multifamily residential curbside recycling
programs;
• Increased participation in commercial and
industrial recycling programs for paper,
cardboard, and plastics;
• Reduce yard and landscaping waste
through methods such as composting,
grass recycling, and using resource efficient
landscaping techniques; and
• Encourage local businesses to provide
electronic waste (e-waste) drop-off services
and encourage residents and businesses to
properly dispose of, or recycle, e-waste.
ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE
Chapter Seven
The Environmental Justice Element seeks to
reduce disproportionate impacts on vulnerable
populations in San Jacinto and promote equal
distribution of resources. Senate Bill 1000 (SB
1000), the Planning for Healthy Communities
Act, was signed into law by then Governor Jerry
Brown, on September 24, 2016. It mandates that
cities and counties with Environmental Justice
(EJ) Communities (described below) adopt
an EJ Element or integrate appropriate goals,
objectives, and policies into other elements of
their general plans, with the intent to create
healthier places. The City of San Jacinto has
chosen to prepare a separate element so that
all EJ-related goals, policies, and actions are
conveniently located in one document for easy
reference.
Element Organization
The EJ Element will address each of the topics below as they relate to San Jacinto. The goals and policies of this element are organized around the following topics:
• Pollution Exposure and Air Quality
• Access to Public Facilities
• Healthy Food Access
• Safe and Sanitary Homes
• Physical Activity
• Civic Engagement
• Improvement and Programs
111
Chapter Seven: Environmental Justice | Envision San Jacinto 112
Pollution Exposure and Air Quality
Pollution exposure occurs when people come
into direct contact with air, food, water, and
soil contaminants and is often the result of
incompatible land uses sited adjacent to each
other. Sensitive populations (such as children,
the elderly, and those with compromised
immune systems) and sensitive land uses
(such as schools, day cares and hospitals) are
the most susceptible to pollution exposure.
Environmental Justice Communities are
often disproportionately burdened by multiple
sources of pollution exposure. Pollution can
come from many sources including storage
tanks leaking hazardous chemicals into soil and
groundwater, agricultural land uses applying
pesticides, mobile sources such as vehicles
emitting exhaust, and stationary sources such
as diesel engines emitting exhaust.
Goal EJ-1: Land use and development patterns
that reduce pollution exposure and enhance
air quality, especially in environmental justice
communities.
» Policy EJ-1.1: Emission Sources. Encourage
existing sources of emissions to use feasible
measures to minimize air quality impacts in
Environmental Justice Communities and avoid
new sources of significant emissions in these
communities as feasible.
» Policy EJ-1.2: Green Industry. Attract nonpolluting industry and green technology companies to the City.
» Other Policies Related to Goal EJ-1:
• ED-3.2 : Higher Intensity Development
• ED-4.3 : Mixed-Use
• LU-1.1: Land Use Pattern
• LU-1.3: Balancing Jobs and Housing
• LU-2.2: Infill Development
• LU-3.3: Industrial Areas
• LU-3.4: Environmental Compatibility
• LU-3.6: Agricultural Compatibility
• LU-4.1: Use Configuration.
• M-1.4: Truck Routes
• M-6.1: Vehicle Miles Traveled
• M-6.4 : New Development
Environmental Justice Communities
EJ Communities are described by the California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool (CalEnviroScreen) as areas (i.e., census tracts) of a city or county that have environmental burdens and vulnerabilities than other areas.
Based on data from CalEnviroScreen Version 3.0 (used in practice from 2018 to 2021) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Priority Populations Mapping Tool relied upon during preparation of the Envision San Jacinto 2040 General Plan Update, the City identified two census tracts (6065043517 and 6065043507) considered to be EJ Communities (Figure EJ-1). The methodology is described in more detail in the Existing Conditions Report, which was prepared in 2019. Subsequent to this analysis, CalEnviroScreen was updated to Version 4.0 (October 2021). Using Version 4.0, it appears that the environmental context of the two census tracts identified above is improving.
This EJ Element supports continued improvements for areas identified as EJ Communities as well as neighborhoods throughout the City, as a whole. • PS-4.2: Cleanup Sites
• PS-4.4: Transportation
• PS-4.5: Household Hazardous Waste
• PS-4.6: Proposed Facilities
• PS-4.7: Emergency Response
• PS-6.1: Noise Exposure
• PS-6.2: Noise Mitigation
• PS-6.3: Acoustical Studies
• PS-7.4: Air Pollution
• PS-7.11: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• RM-2.2: Groundwater Management
• RM-2.5: Stormwater
• RM-2.6: Septic Systems
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Seven: Environmental Justice 113
• RM-4.4: Transportation Options
• RM-4.6: Sustainable Development
• RM-4.7: Sensitive Receptors
• RM-4.8: Mitigation
• RM-4.10: GHG Reduction
• RM-5.1: San Jacinto Power
• RM-5.3: Renewable Energy
• RM-10.3: Hazardous Waste
• RM-10.4: Source Reduction and Recycling
Efforts
Goal EJ-1 is implemented through the following
actions:
• LU-3a
• LU-3c
• LU-3d
• LU-3e
• PS-4a
• PS-4b
• PS-4c
• PS-4d
• PS-4e
• PS-4f
• PS-4g
• PS-6d
• RM-4b
• RM-4c
• RM-4n
• RM-4o
• RM-10a
• RM-10c
Access to Public Facilities
The adequate provision of public facilities is
a critical component to the current and future
prosperity of a community. Under state law
(SB 1000), “public facilities” is an umbrella term
that includes “public improvements, public
services, and community amenities”. This
covers a wide spectrum of publicly provided
uses and services including infrastructure,
school facilities, parks, and transportation and
emergency services. These amenities and
services act to improve the health, safety, and
well-being of a community by either enhancing
the public sphere or providing services that are
available to every resident.
Insufficient public facilities can have significant
impacts to the health and quality of life of
residents, and historically, EJ Communities
have struggled with insufficient access to public
facilities and substandard amenities more than
other communities.
Goal EJ-2: Public facilities and services that
are equitably distributed throughout the City
of San Jacinto and are available to residents of
Environmental Justice Communities.
» Policy EJ-2.1: Convenient Access. Consider
the ease of accessibility of public facilities in
relation to Environmental Justice Communities
during the review and evaluation of public facility
expansion, replacement, and construction.
» Policy EJ-2.2: Prioritize Resources. Apply
resources to meet parks, recreation, and open
space needs in underserved areas of the City
that have a demonstrably greater need for these
amenities.
» Other Policies Related to Goal EJ-2:
• LU-1.5: Public Services for Quality of Life
• LU-1.6: Gathering Spaces
• LU-2.1: Plan for New Development
• LU-5.4: Gathering Places
• M-2.4: Public Transit
• PS-5.1: Emergency Response Services
• PS-5.10: CPTED
• RM-6.1: Provision of Police and Fire
Services
• RM-7.1: Regional Cooperation
• RM-7.2: Service Area
• RM-7.3: New Facilities
• RM-7.4: Parkland Dedication
• RM-7.5: Maintenance
• RM-7.6: Safety
• RM-7.8: Joint Use Facilities
• RM-7.9: Open Space in Nonresidential
Development
• RM-9.3: Fair Share
Goal EJ-2 is implemented through the following
actions:
• ED-2b
• ED-7b
• M-2d
• PS-5d
• PS-5e
• RM-6a
• RM-6f
• RM-7a
• RM-7c
• RM-7e
• RM-7f
• RM-7g
• RM-8c
Chapter Seven: Environmental Justice | Envision San Jacinto 114
Healthy Food Access
Food plays a critical role in the health of a
community. Therefore, it is essential that all
residents have access to food that is healthy,
affordable, and culturally appropriate. EJ
Communities may face constraints related to
accessibility to nutritional food, and this lack
of accessibility has a direct impact on personal
health and well-being. Food access is not only
associated with the physical accessibility of
affordable and culturally appropriate food, but
also with food security, defined as access by
all people at all times to enough food for an
active, healthy life. Food security includes the
availability of nutritionally adequate and safe
foods as well as the ability to acquire foods.
Goal EJ-3: Healthy food and nutritional choices
are accessible for all community members.
» Policy EJ-3.1: Incentivize Healthy Food Supply.
Encourage retailers to improve the quality
and selection of healthy foods and nutritional
information and to stock fresh and healthy
food at affordable prices by providing incentive
programs, technical assistance, or other
services.
» Policy EJ-3.2: Access to Healthy Food. Strive to
locate healthy food establishments so that all
residences are within walking distance (quarter
to a half-mile) of a healthy food store or a
store with healthy options, where feasible and
appropriate.
» Policy EJ-3.3: Options for Healthy Food. Prioritize
healthy food supplies in economic development
efforts and encourage the establishment and
operation of farmers’ markets, farm stands,
ethnic markets, mobile health food markets,
and convenience/corner stores that sell healthy
foods including fresh produce.
» Policy EJ-3.4: Farmers Markets. Support existing
farmers markets and support the location
of new farmers markets near Environmental
Justice Communities wherever feasible.
» Policy EJ-3.5: Coordinate with Schools.
Work schools serving students of all ages to
encourage healthy food options being available
and more accessible than unhealthy food
options.
» Policy EJ-3.6: Senior Meals Program. Continue
to support the senior meals program.
» Action EJ-3a: Set an example in City facilities
and at City-sponsored events by providing
healthy food and beverage options, which may
include snack bars, vending machines, and food
and beverages served at meetings and events.
» Action EJ-3b: Coordinate with local markets,
restaurants, and food recovery organizations to
donate surplus food to residents in need.
» Action EJ-3c: Prepare and distribute information
on the benefits of healthy eating and on the
availability of food assistance programs.
» Action EJ-3d: Work with local organizations and
community groups to provide free or reduced
cost lunches after the school year ends.
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Seven: Environmental Justice 115
Safe and Sanitary Homes
The housing conditions of homes in a
community have direct health implications for
those who live in the homes. Many residents
in EJ Communities live in dwellings that were
built before standards and regulations were
established to ensure that new homes are free
from pollutants such as lead and asbestos. The
proportion of older homes in EJ Communities
are usually higher than in non-environmental
justice areas and thus residents in EJ
Communities are disproportionately exposed
to these health threats. Older housing often has
other problems such as poor ventilation, which
leads to uncomfortable indoor temperatures
and mold-producing moisture, and pest and
vermin infestation.
Overcrowded housing is another issue that
affects the safety and cleanliness of homes.
Overcrowding is typically measured by
determining the persons-per-room in a dwelling
unit, with more than one person per room
considered overcrowded.
Lastly, housing affordability also influences
whether homes in a community are safe and
sanitary. When a tenant or homeowner spends
more than 30 percent of their income toward
housing (including utilities), they are generally
considered to be cost-burdened. When a
household is cost-burdened, there is less
money for housing maintenance or other needs
such as healthcare and healthy food.
Goal EJ- 4: Healthy living conditions for all
residents, particularly those in Environmental
Justice Communities.
» Policy EJ-4.1: Code Enforcement. Focus code
enforcement efforts in Environmental Justice
Communities to improve unsafe and unsanitary
conditions, focusing on overcrowding, illegal
garage conversions, illegal home businesses,
unpermitted plumbing and electrical, property
maintenance, trash and dumping, and graffiti.
» Policy EJ-4.2: Lead-Based Paint. Raise
awareness about the risks associated with
lead-based paint and other housing hazards,
including by distributing information about
remediation of lead and best practices to reduce
and eliminate other housing hazards.
» Policy EJ-4.3: Indoor Air Quality. Encourage
measures to reduce indoor air quality impacts
(e.g., air filtration systems, kitchen range hood
exhaust fans, low-VOC paint and carpet) for new
developments.
» Policy EJ-4.4: Absentee Owner Outreach.
Conduct periodic absentee owner outreach in
Environmental Justice Communities to inform
owners of their legal requirements to maintain
and upkeep their rental properties.
» Policy EJ-4.5: Tenant Rights. Distribute
information with City newsletters and/or other
periodical publications about protecting tenant
rights, so they are not penalized for reporting
or living in a dwelling unit that does not meet
health and safety standards.
» Other Policies Related to EJ-4:
• HP-1.1: Existing Housing Stock
• HP-1.2: Rehabilitating and Preservation
• HP-3.1: Affordable Housing
• HP-3.3: Attractive and Safe Housing
• LU-5.10: Property Maintenance
• LU-5.11:Older Neighborhoods and
Businesses
Goal EJ-4 is implemented through the following
actions:
• Housing Program 1
• Housing Program 2
• Housing Program 3
• Housing Program 4
Chapter Seven: Environmental Justice | Envision San Jacinto 116
Physical Activity
Physical activity is a large contributor to the
physical and mental health of San Jacinto
residents. Physically active people tend to live
longer and have lower risk for heart disease,
stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some
cancers (Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 2017). Physical activity is promoted
by the built-environment by providing places
that encourage walking, biking, and other forms
of exercise. These places include parks, open
space, trails, urban green spaces, areas with
robust tree canopies, and active transportation
networks. If a community has facilities that
promote physical activity, community members
are more likely to be physically active within
that community.
Goal EJ-5: Land use and development patterns
that encourage physical activity and improve
multimodal access and connectivity to
employment, shopping, services, schools, parks,
and other destinations.
» Policy EJ-5.1: Eliminate Barriers. Update the
Development Code to eliminate any barriers
to facilitating the development of complete
neighborhoods with access to retail and
recreation resources within walking distance of
homes.
» Policy EJ-5.2: Accessibility. Endeavor to
provide parks that are easily accessible to the
surrounding neighborhood and beyond, and are
as barrier-free as possible, particularly for those
with limited mobility.
» Policy EJ-5.3: Physical Activity. Promote
physical activity programs and education
including, but not limited to, programs offered
by the Landscape, Lighting and Park Districts
and encourage residents to regularly participate
in physical activity and active lifestyles.
» Policy EJ-5.4: Partnerships. Form partnerships
with non-profit organizations, healthcare
organizations, and regional governmental
agencies to foster and participate in efforts
promoting healthy lifestyles, physical activity,
and positive health outcomes.
» Other Policies Related to EJ-5:
• ED-4.5: Walkable
• LU-4.4: Pedestrian Design
• LU-5.8: Streetscapes
• M-1.5: Transportation Improvements for
All Users
• M-1.7: Safe Routes to Schools
• M-3.1: Complete Streets
• M-3.2: Multimodal Facilities
• M-3.3: Multimodal Connectivity
• M-4.1: Trails Master Plan
• M-4.2: Active Transportation Network
• M-4.4: Trail Connectivity
• M-4.5: Support Facilities
Goal EJ-5 is implemented through the following
actions:
• M-1b
• M-1d
• M-3a
• M-3b
• M-3c
• M-4a
• M-4b
• M-4c
• M-4d
• RM-4i
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Seven: Environmental Justice 117
Civic Engagement
Civic or community engagement is an important
goal across all local planning and decisionmaking processes. It can help foster a strong sense of place within a neighborhood and
can deepen the investment of stakeholders in
working toward neighborhood improvements.
Environmental Justice issues will be more
effectively identified and resolved if accessible
and culturally appropriate opportunities to
engage in local decision-making are created for
low-income, minority, and linguistically isolated
stakeholders. Effective civic engagement not
only provides the City with an opportunity to
strengthen its relationship with the community,
but provides for sound investment in better
decision-making by ensuring decisions are
informed by community needs and aspirations.
Goal EJ-6: Accessible and culturally appropriate
opportunities for all people regardless of race,
color, national origin, or income to engage in the
decision-making process.
» Policy EJ-6.1: Equitable Civic Engagement.
Support an equitable and comprehensive
approach to civic engagement and public
outreach on all aspects of City governance and
delivery of services.
» Policy EJ-6.2: Community Events. Promote,
sponsor, and support a variety of community
events to strengthen social cohesion and the
overall identity of the City.
» Policy EJ-6.3: City Information. Distribute
City information in Environmental Justice
Communities, such as numbers to call for code
enforcement, programs offered through the City,
housing needs, and general City information.
» Policy EJ-6.4: Partnerships. Partner with and
support the efforts of any community-based
organizations or non-profits that focus on
programs and activities for the Environmental
Justice Communities.
» Other Policies Related to EJ-6:
• RM-4.12: Public Engagement
• RM-7.11: Community Support
» Action EJ-6a: Promote meaningful cross-cultural
participation in local planning and decisionmaking processes by:
• Providing City-sponsored material in
multiple languages.
• Organizing outreach events and conducting
surveys directly to specific demographic
groups.
• Partnering with community-based
organizations that have relationships,
trust, and cultural competency with target
communities to conduct outreach for local
initiatives and issues.
• Tailoring activities and the venues where
they take place to accommodate the
cultural preferences of different racial/
ethnic groups.
» Action EJ-6b: Make meetings and other public
engagement forums accessible to a wide range
of residents and encourage greater attendance
by:
• Ensuring any materials are distributed far
enough in advance of meetings to allow
sufficient time for review and comment.
• Using communication methods that convey
complex or technical information in an
easily understandable manner.
• Facilitating meetings using diverse methods
that can engage all participants and can
appeal to multiple styles of learning.
• Focusing on methods to effectively engage
younger residents.
Chapter Seven: Environmental Justice | Envision San Jacinto 118
Improvements and Programs
An important feature of the Environmental
Justice Element is that it prioritizes projects
and investments that directly benefit
EJ Communities. Environmental justice
communities typically have special needs that
arise from past geographic and procedural
inequities. This requires taking special actions
that will improve existing conditions in EJ
Communities. Many of these actions will not be
applicable across the entire Planning Area, but
will be applicable only to EJ communities due
to their special circumstances.
Goal EJ-7: Improvements and programs address
the needs of environmental justice communities.
» Policy EJ-7.1: Prioritize Spending. Where
possible, prioritize spending of funds for air
quality and other environmental improvements,
public infrastructure improvements, recreation,
and community programming in Environmental
Justice Communities, and make fiscal decisions
based on this priority.
» Policy EJ-7.2: Grant Funding. Seek grants
that will specifically help with the issues in
Environmental Justice Communities such as
safe housing, air quality and environmental
concerns, increased tree coverage, recreational
resources, and other issues.
» Policy EJ-7.3: Coordination. Coordinate with
relevant utility providers to provide adequate
and appropriate levels of service and promote
the maintenance of water, sewer, stormwater,
and electrical facilities serving Environmental
Justice Communities.
» Other Policies Related to EJ-7:
• ED-1.2: Incentives and Services
• ED-1.3: Business Investment
• ED-7.5: Funding
• HP-1.4: Continued and New Investments
• HP-3.4: Incentives For Housing
Development
• LU-5.9: Public and Private Investment
• M-7.1: Funding Sources
• M-7.2: New Developments
• M-7.4: Regional Funding
• RM-7.10: Parkland Funding
• RM-9.1: Public Facility Plans
• RM-9.2: Capital Improvements
• RM-9.4: Prioritization
Goal EJ-7 is implemented through the following
actions:
• ED-3b
• ED-3c
• Housing
Program 10
• Housing
Program 12
• LU-5e
• M-7a
• RM-7d
• RM-9a
• RM-9b
General Plan 2040 | Chapter Seven: Environmental Justice 119
UV79
Ramona Expy
Kirby St
Ramona Expy
Soboba Rd
Mountain Ave
M eridian St
Soboba Rd
State St
Pal
m
Ave
Washington Ave
Cottonwood Ave
Esplanade Ave
State St
Hewitt St
Park Ave
Ramona Expy
Commonwealth Ave
Lyon Ave
Seventh St
Ramona Blvd
7th St
Record Rd
Odell Ave
Sanderson Ave
Cawston Ave
Pott
er Rd
Warren Rd
Ramona Expy
Lake Park Dr
Census Tract
6065043507
Census Tract
6065043506
Census Tract
6065043509
Census Tract
6065043504
Census Tract
6065051300
Census Tract
6065043508
Census Tract
6065042744
Census Tract
6065043602
Census Tract
6065043601
Census Tract
6065043517
Census Tract
6065043513
Census Tract
6065043512
Census Tract
6065042745
Hemet
Beaumont
Figure EJ-1.
Disadvantaged
Communities
City of San Jacinto
San Jacinto Sphere of
Influence
Neighboring City
Disadvantaged
Community
CalEnviroScreen 3.0 Percentile
0 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 50
51 - 60
61 - 70
71 - 80
81 - 90
91 - 100
0 ½ 1
Miles
San Jacinto River
Data sources: Riverside County GIS; USGS NHD.
Created by De Novo Planning Group for the City of San Jacinto, March 2023.
HOUSING
Chapter Eight
The City of San Jacinto is required by State
Housing Law (Government Code Section
65583) to have an adopted Housing Element
as part of its General Plan. State Housing Law
requires that a “housing element shall consist
of an identification and analysis of existing and
projected housing needs and a statement of
goals, policies, quantified objectives, financial
resources, and scheduled programs for the
preservation, improvement, and development
of housing. The housing element shall identify
adequate sites for housing, including rental
housing, factory-built housing, and mobile
homes, and shall make adequate provision for
the existing and projected needs of all economic
segments of the community.” In addition, the
Housing Element is updated on a regular 8-year
cycle, as required by State Housing Law. The
San Jacinto City Council adopted the 2021-
2029 San Jacinto Housing Element on February
2, 2022.
Element Organization
The Housing Element is a part of Envision San Jacinto but provided under separate cover. Amending the Housing Element is subject to the same provisions as amendments to other Elements of the City’s General Plan (see the Introduction for further information). 121
595 S. San Jacinto Ave, San Jacinto, CA 92583 | (951) 487-7330 | https://www.sanjacintoca.gov/