North City Specific Plan
Client: City of Cathedral City
The North City Specific Plan was conceived to create a bold new vision for expansion and enhancement of Cathedral City, which has a rapidly growing population. The Plan encompasses nearly 5,000 acres of mostly vacant properties located north of Interstate 10. Unique in the Coachella Valley, the Specific Plan is built around the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) as an integral part of an open space framework. The 20-year plan contemplates both horizontal and vertical mixed land uses, and contains guidelines for sustainable development. It was created through an extensive process of community participation, a realistic approach to market demand and sensitivity to North City's unique desert environment. The Specific Plan establishes strong economic, transportation and lifestyle connections between North City and existing City development to the south, and between North City and the rest of the Coachella Valley.
The North City Specific Plan received a Comprehensive Planning Award for a Small Jurisdiction from the Inland Empire Section of the American Planning Association (APA) and a Compass Blueprint Recognition Award Honorable Mention from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG).