What is a Specific Plan?
Why does the City of Orange need a Specific Plan Update?
What are the benefits of transit?
What are Smart Growth concepts?
What are historic preservation and adaptive reuse?
What is a Transit Village?
How do I get more information about this project?

What is a Specific Plan?

A Specific Plan is a regulatory tool that local governments use to implement the General Plan and to guide development in a localized area. While the General Plan is the City’s overall guide for growth and development and the Zoning Code is the tool for regulating development in the entire City, a Specific Plan focuses on the unique characteristics of a special area by customizing the planning process and land use regulations to that area. Click here for more information.

Why does the City of Orange need a Specific Plan Update?

The City of Orange needs to update the Santa Fe Depot Specific Plan in order to respond to the changes that have occurred in the area since the existing Plan was adopted in 1993, and to simultaneously guide future growth in a way that will make it compatible with surrounding areas. The updating of the Specific Plan is important because it will enable the City and its residents to establish a clear, refreshed vision and implementation strategy for the area. Click here for more information about the benefits of a Specific Plan.

Revitalization of Old Towne, coupled with the phenomenal success of Metrolink and OCTA transit services at the Depot, indicates that there are further opportunities to capitalize on the potential relationship between land use, transportation, and historic preservation in the planning area. The desireability of the Old Towne lifestyle, combined with growing public interest in train commuting and the demand for housing and specialty retail, indicate that the time is right for the City to pursue a viable transit village. The Specific Plan will address market potential, land uses, circulation and parking, economic development and housing strategies, and the visual appearance of area streets, sidewalks, and public spaces. The Specific Plan will recommend planning and development measures and policies that encourage infill development, adaptive reuse of historic underutilized commercial and industrial buildings, mixed-use/higher density residential developments and pedestrian-oriented activities.

What are the benefits of transit?

Public transit has multiple benefits for local communities. Click here for more information.

What are Smart Growth concepts?

Smart Growth concepts seek ways to promote growth that is economically sound, environmentally friendly and supportive of community livability. Click here for more information.

What are historic preservation and adaptive reuse?

Historic preservation is the process of saving historic buildings and landmarks because of their value to the community. Orange has demonstrated its commitment to historic preservation through the establishment of the Old Towne Historic District and the design standards that regulate changes to historic properties. One way of preserving buildings is adaptive reuse and can be defined as adapting or modifying a historic building for a different purpose than it was originally intended in order to keep the building viable. Click here for more information.

What is a Transit Village?

A transit village is a compact, mixed-use community centered around the transit station that, by design, invites residents and workers, and shoppers to drive their cars less and ride mass transit more. A transit village extends roughly a quarter mile from a transit station, a distance that can be covered in about five minutes by foot. The centerpiece of a transit village is the transit station itself and the civic and public spaces that surround it. The transit station is what connects village residents and workers to the rest of the region, providing convenient and ready access to downtown areas, major activity centers and popular destinations.

Source: Transit Villages in the 21st Century, Michael Bernick and Robert Cervero

How do I get more information about this project?

If you cannot find the information you need on this website or have additional questions, please contact Anna Pehoushek, Principal Planner at (714) 744-7228 or click here to send an e-mail.