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Coffee/Claratina Specific Plan Chapter 1. Specific Plan Introduction City of Modesto 1-1 January 25, 2005 Chapter 1. Specific Plan Introduction A. PURPOSE OF SPECIFIC PLAN The Coffee/Claratina Specific Plan is a tool to guide the orderly development of land within the plan area. The purpose of the Coffee/Claratina Specific Plan is to implement the City of Modesto's General Plan as authorized by Section 65450 et. seq. of the State Government Code. The Specific Plan provides a bridge between the General Plan's broad base goals and policies and the City's precise zoning and subdivision regulations. The Coffee/Claratina site is located within a "Comprehensive Planning District (CPD)", therefore in accordance with the City of Modesto's General Plan adopted policies the adoption of a Specific Plan is required prior to any development. This Specific Plan ensures that the City- wide effects of development projects, especially the need for providing adequate infrastructure, are addressed. The Specific Plan was created using the City's guidelines for preparing comprehensive plans and following procedures for Specific Plans contained in the State Government Code Section 65451 et seq. The Specific Plan area is within the Coffee/Claratina CPD (see Figure 2) and subject to the CPD policies and provisions of the City's General Plan (Exhibit III-15) which include: 1. 125 acres designated "residential' for a maximum of 1,100 dwelling units. 2. 30 acres designated "regional commercial". 3. 15 acres of "Mixed Community Commercial" is allowed along Coffee Road. 4. Implementing adopted City General Plan policies. The Coffee/Claratina Specific Plan will guide development of land within the Plan area. The Specific Plan will implement Modesto's long-range objective of orderly growth by providing housing, commercial and professional uses for City residents. B. PLAN AREA DESCRIPTION The Coffee/Claratina CPD is located on the south side of Claratina Avenue ( See Figure The site is bound by Coffee Road on the east and McHenry Avenue (State Hwy. 108) on the west, and the Modesto City limits to the south. The project site contains approximately 170 acres. ---PAGE BREAK--- Coffee/Claratina Specific Plan Chapter 1. Specific Plan Introduction City of Modesto 1-2 January 25, 2005 ---PAGE BREAK--- Coffee/Claratina Specific Plan Chapter 1. Specific Plan Introduction City of Modesto 1-3 January 25, 2005 ---PAGE BREAK--- Coffee/Claratina Specific Plan Chapter 1. Specific Plan Introduction City of Modesto 1-4 January 25, 2005 The existing land use is primarily open, fallow land, formerly in agricultural crops, with the following exceptions: Southwest Corner: Modesto Mobile Home Park Southeast Corner: Silverwood Mobile Home Park East Side, Center: 20 Ac. Almond Orchard Northeast Corner: P.G. & E. Coffee/Claratina Regulation Station Five rural residences are existing within the boundaries of the subject area. C. SURROUNDING LAND USE The surrounding land uses existing as of January 1, 1998 (see Figure 3) are as follows: (Starting at the northeast corner of McHenry Avenue and Claratina Avenue, going easterly and clockwise around the subject area.) To the North: United Furniture Warehouse, Parkwood Seventh Day Adventist Church, homesite, Liberty Landmark Missionary Church, grape vineyard, pasture, homesite, grape vineyard, peach orchards and the Funworks Amusement Park. To the East: Claratina Golf Driving Range, Christmas Tree Farm, fruit stand, open ground and single-family residential. To the South: Single-family residential and Food-4-Less Shopping Center. To the West: Modesto European Auto Dealership, Festival Theaters Auxiliary Parking, McHenry Mobile Manor, Geweke Used Car Sales, McHenry Furniture Store, Car Pretty Auto Detailing. D. PLANNING PROCESS Adoption of the Specific Plan establishes and defines the planning criteria and necessary mitigation measures that will be used to guide the subsequent stages of the established planning process, when initiated by private developers and public agencies, as follows: • Tentative Subdivision Map Application • Land Use and Site Design Review, Where Applicable ---PAGE BREAK--- Coffee/Claratina Specific Plan Chapter 1. Specific Plan Introduction City of Modesto 1-5 January 25, 2005 ---PAGE BREAK--- Coffee/Claratina Specific Plan Chapter 1. Specific Plan Introduction City of Modesto 1-6 January 25, 2005 ---PAGE BREAK--- Coffee/Claratina Specific Plan Chapter 1. Specific Plan Introduction City of Modesto 1-7 January 25, 2005 A discussion of each of these subsequent components of the planning process following Specific Plan adoption is found in the Implementation Section of the Plan (Chapter E. STATUTORY AUTHORITY A Specific Plan is a policy document used to implement the "Comprehensive Planning District" concept presented in Section III-D of the City's General Plan. The General Plan acknowledges specific plans (as defined by Section 65450 of the Government Code) as an appropriate form of comprehensive plan to implement CPD policies. Specific Plans are authorized under Section 65450 of the Government Code for the systematic implementation of all or part of a general plan. The Coffee/Claratina Specific Plan is intended to facilitate development within the Plan area by: 1) defining the types and distribution of land uses and the location and type of infrastructure, 2) setting development standards, and 3) documenting financing of public improvements. The Specific Plan has been prepared in accordance with the California Government Code. Section 65451 mandates that a specific plan include, at minimum, text and diagrams to describe the following: 1. The distribution, location and extent of land uses, including open space, within the plan area. 2. The proposed distribution, location, extent, and intensity of major components of public and private transportation, sewage, water, drainage, solid waste, energy, and other essential facilities proposed to be located within the plan area and needed to support land uses described in the specific plan. 3. Standards and criteria by which development will proceed and standards for the conservation, development, and utilization of natural resources, where applicable. 4. A program of implementation measures, including regulations, programs, public works projects, and financing measures necessary to implement the specific plan. 5. A statement of the relationship between the specific plan and the City's general plan. ---PAGE BREAK--- Coffee/Claratina Specific Plan Chapter 1. Specific Plan Introduction City of Modesto 1-8 January 25, 2005 F. RELATIONSHIP OF THE SPECIFIC PLAN TO THE GENERAL PLAN The City adopted its current General Plan and certified the Master EIR in August 1995. The General Plan identified 25 Comprehensive Planning Districts, including Coffee/Claratina, within the City's Planned Urbanizing Area. Collectively, the CPDs cover 17,600 acres and represent the City's major urban growth area. The City's General Plan contains a comprehensive range of goals and policies to manage future growth in these districts. In addition to overall community development policies affecting all CPDs (Chapter III), the City's General Plan includes policies for developing its community services and facilities (Chapter and managing the City's environmental resources and open space (Chapter VII). These proposed uses in this Specific Plan are consistent with the Coffee/Claratina Comprehensive Planning District text and map, Exhibit III-3. G. SPECIFIC PLAN ADOPTION Adoption of the Coffee/Claratina Specific Plan establishes the standards, criteria, and mitigation measures for tentative and final subdivision map approval, rezoning, and development of the Plan area. Should any regulation, condition, program, or portion of this Specific Plan be ruled invalid or unconstitutional by a California or federal court of competent jurisdiction, such portion will be deemed separate, distinct, and independent provisions. The invalidity of these provisions will not affect the validity of the remaining portions of the Specific Plan or Mitigated Negative Declaration.