Land Use Needs

Land Use Element

GOAL LU-2: Land Use Needs
Provide a balance of land uses that meet Santa Ana’s diverse needs.

  • Policy LU-2.1
    Employment Opportunities
    Provide a broad spectrum of land uses and development that offer employment opportunities for current and future Santa Ana residents.
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  • Policy LU-2.2
    Capture Local Spending
    Encourage a range of commercial uses to capture a greater share of local spending, and offer a range of employment opportunities.
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  • Policy LU-2.3
    Supportive Spaces
    Provide a diversity of land uses that support residents, visitors, and businesses, such as open space, areas for community gatherings, and outdoor entertainment venues.
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  • Policy LU-2.4
    Cost and Benefit of Development
    Balance the benefits of development with its fiscal impacts on the city and on quality of life for the community.
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  • Policy LU-2.5
    Benefits of Mixed-Use
    Encourage infill mixed-use development at all ranges of affordability to reduce vehicle miles traveled, improve jobs/housing balance, and promote social interaction.
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  • Policy LU-2.6
    Encourage Investment
    Promote rehabilitation of properties and encourage increased levels of capital investment to create a safe and attractive environment.
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  • Policy LU-2.7
    Business Incubator
    Support land use decisions that encourage the creation, development, and retention of businesses in Santa Ana.
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  • Policy LU-2.8
    City Image
    Encourage land uses, development projects, and public art installations that promote the city’s image as a cultural, governmental, and business-friendly regional center.
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  • Policy LU-2.9
    Open Space Needs
    Establish and maintain public open space and recreation requirements for new residential and nonresidential uses to provide sufficient open space and recreational opportunities for Santa Ana residents and visitors.
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  • Policy LU-2.10
    Smart Growth
    Focus high density residential in mixed-use villages, designated planning focus areas, Downtown Santa Ana, and along major travel corridors.
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Economic Prosperity Element

  • Policy EP-2.5
    Sufficient Industrial Land
    Ensure sufficient availability of industrial zoned properties and businesses that provide employment opportunities for the city’s resident population.
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  • Policy EP-3.6
    Responsive to Trends
    Maintain flexible and up-to-date land use regulations that are responsive to changing business trends, best practices, technological advancements, and community needs.
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  • Policy EP-3.8
    Comprehensive Analysis of Land Use
    Pursue a balance of fiscal and qualitative community benefits when making land use decisions.
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Open Space Element

  • Policy OS-1.3
    Park Standard
    Establish and maintain public parks, open space and recreation requirements for new residential and nonresidential development to provide sufficient opportunities for Santa Ana residents and visitors. Attain a minimum of three acres of land per 1,000 persons residing in the City of Santa Ana.
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  • Policy OS-2.12
    Park and Facility Character
    Ensure that parks and recreation facilities incorporate placemaking elements that foster social connections and community pride such as art, landscaping, murals, and amenities and facilities that reflect site character and local needs.
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  • Policy OS-2.13
    Neighborhood Needs
    Consider unique neighborhood and demographic needs in the development of local parks, open spaces and programs. Balance these unique needs with efforts to ensure affordability and serve residents citywide.
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Housing Element

  • Policy HE-2.1
    Citywide
    Designate adequate land in the General Plan Land Use Element and Zoning for the development of a range of housing types to meet the identified needs of all economic segments of the community while providing a high quality of life for all residents.
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  • Policy HE-2.2
    Downtown
    Strengthen Santa Ana’s core downtown as a vibrant mixed-use and mixed-income environment by capitalizing on the government center, arts district, historic downtown, transit-oriented housing, and diverse neighborhoods.
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