General Plan

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The 2007 Palm Springs General Plan sets forth the City’s vision for the physical development of the community and contains goals and policies to help the vision become reality. The Plan is divided into the following chapters or “Elements”:

- Administration
- Land Use
- Housing
- Circulation
- Recreation, Open Space and Conservation
- Safety
- Air Quality
- Noise
- Community Design

Below you will find a link to each element, as well as a summary list of its contents. General Plan Maps within these elements may be downloaded by clicking here.

**A limited update is underway to the Land Use, Housing, Circulation and Safety Elements - for more information, visit www.psgeneralplan.com.**

1. ADMINISTRATION 1-1
Preface 1-1
Palm Springs Vision 1-2
Setting the Stage 1-2
Background 1-2
Regional Context 1-4
What is a General Plan? 1-7
How the General Plan Serves Our Community 1-8
Shaping the Plan 1-9
Advisory Committees 1-9
General Plan Steering Committee 1-9
Downtown Advisory Group 1-10
Public Outreach 1-11
Community Festivals 1-11
Downtown Ideas and Directions Workshop 1-11
Vision-to-Reality Workshops 1-12
General Plan Priorities 1-12
How to Read the General Plan 1-14
Goals 1-14
Policies 1-14
Actions 1-14
Policy Interpretation 1-15
Amending the General Plan 1-16
Timing 1-16
Application Procedures 1-16
Exemptions 1-17
Relationship to Other Plans and Programs 1-17
Municipal Code and Zoning Ordinance 1-17
Specific Plans 1-17
Planned Development Districts 1-18
Development Agreements 1-19
Redevelopment Plans 1-19
Sphere of Influence 1-19
Relationship with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians 1-20
Goals, Policies and Actions 1-25
Administration 1-25
Intergovernmental Coordination 1-26

2. LAND USE ELEMENT 2-1
Land Use Plan 2-1
Planning for the Future 2-2
Population and Employment Growth 2-2
General Plan Land Use Designations 2-3
Residential Land Uses 2-5
Commercial 2-6
Mixed Use 2-7
Special Policy Areas 2-8
Employment Centers (Office and Industrial) 2-8
Institutional (Schools/Public Uses/Utilities) 2-9
Open Space 2-10
Overlay Areas 2-11
Goals, Policies and Actions 2-19
Balance of Land Uses 2-19
New Housing Opportunities 2-26
Resort Destination Image 2-28
Mixed/Multi-Use Areas 2-30
Indian Canyon Drive and San Rafael Drive 2-31
Artist Colony 2-32
Uptown 2-32
Vista Chino and Sunrise Way 2-32
Palm Canyon Drive and Sunny Dunes Road 2-33
Smoke Tree 2-33
Palm Springs Mall 2-33
Mountains and Hillsides 2-35
A Thriving Downtown 2-39
Palm Springs International Airport 2-41
I-10 Corridor 2-43
Special Policy Areas 2-45
Chino Cone/Snow Creek 2-45
Palm Hills 2-53

3. HOUSING ELEMENT (2021-2029)

Background and Setting the Context

Introduction
Legal Context
Related Plans and Programs
Public Outreach and Engagement

Community Profile

Demographic Profile
Housing Profile
Special Needs Groups
Housing Preservation Needs

Constraints Analysis

Nongovernmental Constraints
Governmental Constraints
Fair Housing Assessment

Housing Production Needs

Regional Housing Needs
Regional Housing Needs Credits
Land Inventory for Housing
Implementation Resources

Program Evaluation

Quantified Objectives
Program Evaluation
Public Participation

Goals, Policies, and Actions

Goal HS1: Diverse, Balanced Housing Opportunity
Goal HS2: Housing and Neighborhood Quality
Goal HS3:
Goal HS4: Resource Conservation
Goal HS5: Fair Housing

4. CIRCULATION ELEMENT 4-1
Background and Context 4-1
Relationship to Other Plans and Programs 4-2
CVAG Non-Motorized Transportation Plan 4-2
Airport Plans 4-2
Goals, Policies and Actions 4-3
Roadway Network 4-3
Regional Roadways 4-3
Roadway Classifications 4-4
Level of Service 4-11
Future Traffic Conditions 4-11
Critical Intersections 4-12
Scenic Highways 4-13
Truck Routes 4-13
Landscape Medians 4-14
Transit, Paratransit And Rail 4-24
Transit 4-24
Paratransit 4-24
Rail 4-24
Recreational Trails and Bikeways 4-27
Recreational Trails 4-27
Bikeway Classifications 4-27
Pedestrians 4-34
Parking 4-36
Aviation and Heliport Facilities 4-38
Utilities 4-39
Water Supply and Distribution Systems 4-39
Wastewater Treatment and Collection 4-40
Storm Drainage Systems 4-41
Solid Waste 4-41
Electricity 4-42
Natural Gas 4-42
Telecommunications 4-42

5. RECREATION, OPEN SPACE & CONSERVATION ELEMENT 5-1
Background and Context 5-1
Purpose and Function 5-1
Relationship to Other Plans and Programs 5-2
Goals, Policies and Actions 5-3
Parks and Recreation 5-3
City Parks and Golf Courses 5-3
State, Federal, and Tribal Parks 5-6
Park Acreage and Design 5-9
Park Safety, Maintenance, and Condition 5-12
Recreational Programs 5-13
Children 5-13
Teen Activities 5-14
Organized Sports 5-14
Senior Programs and Services 5-14
Special Events 5-15
Quality Trail System 5-16
Financing Park, Trails and Recreation Facilities 5-20
Natural Resources 5-22
Biological Resources 5-22
Protected Species 5-23
Habitats and Wildlife Corridors 5-24
Wildlife Corridors 5-25
Wildlife and Habitat Conservation 5-26
Mineral and Energy Resources 5-33
Mineral Resources 5-33
Electricity and Natural Gas 5-34
Alternative Energy Resources 5-35
Water Resources 5-41
Water Supply 5-41
Water Conservation 5-41
Water Quality 5-42
Cultural and Historic Resources 5-49
Palm Springs History 5-49
Historic Places within the City 5-50
Preservation Efforts 5-52
Historic Resources 5-59
Cultural Resources and the Arts 5-60
Agua Caliente Cultural Museum 5-60
Village Green Heritage Center 5-61
Palm Springs Air Museum 5-61
Theater Venues in Palm Springs 5-61
Palm Springs Art Museum 5-62

6. SAFETY ELEMENT 6-1
Background and Context 6-1
Relationship to Other Plans and Programs 6-1
Goals, Policies and Actions 6-2
Seismic Safety Considerations 6-2
Earthquakes and Fault Zones 6-2
Laws to Mitigate Earthquake Hazards 6-3
Liquefaction 6-4
Earthquake-Induced Slope Failures and Landslides 6-4
Geologic Safety Considerations 6-11
Slope Instability, Landslides and Debris Flows 6-11
Ground Subsidence 6-12
Erosion and Sedimentation 6-13
Windblown Sand 6-13
Flood and Dam Inundation Hazards 6-23
Flooding 6-23
Dam Inundation 6-24
Inundation from AbovegRound Storage Tanks 6-25
Seiche Potential 6-25
Urban and Wildland Fire Hazards 6-31
Wildfires 6-31
Urban Fires 6-32
Earthquake-Induced Fires 6-32
Hazardous Materials and Waste 6-39
Transport of Hazardous Materials 6-39
Surface and Subsurface Groundwater Contamination 6-39
Hazardous Materials Management Plan 6-40
Airport Safety 6-45
Public Safety 6-49
Law Enforcement and Crime Prevention 6-49
Fire Protection and Emergency Services 6-50
Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery 6-53
Lifelines and Essential Facilities 6-54

7. AIR QUALITY ELEMENT 7-1
Background and Context 7-1
Relationship to Other Plans and Programs 7-1
Regional Air Quality 7-1
Air Quality Management Plan 7-2
Goals, Policies and Actions 7-5
Major Sources of Air Pollution 7-5
Ozone 7-5
Suspended Particulate Matter (PM10) 7-6
Measures to Control Windblown Sand 7-6
Sensitive Receptors 7-10
Vehicular Emissions 7-12

8. NOISE ELEMENT 8-1
Background and Context 8-1
Definitions 8-1
Relationship to Other Plans and Programs 8-5
Related Regulatory Documents 8-5
City of Palm Springs Noise Ordinance 8-5
Federal Highway Administration 8-5
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 8-6
Federal Railroad Administration 8-6
California Department of Health Services 8-7
Goals, Policies and Actions 8-11
Setting 8-11
Land Use Planning and Design 8-19
Transportation-Related Noise Sources 8-22
Freeways and Highways 8-22
Roadways 8-23
Railways 8-23
Airport 8-23
Sound Attenuation Techniques 8-24
Non-Transportation-Related Noise Sources 8-30
Stationary Noise Sources 8-30
Temporary Noise Sources 8-30
Wind Turbines 8-31
Gas Blowdowns 8-31

9. COMMUNITY DESIGN ELEMENT 9-1
Background and Context 9-1
Design Objectives 9-1
Community Design Features 9-2
Relationship to Other Documents and Programs 9-4
Goals, Policies and Actions 9-7
Community Identity 9-7
Gateways 9-11
Nodes/Activity Centers 9-13
Enhanced Transportation Corridors 9-16
Highway 111 from I-10 to Tramway Road 9-16
North Palm Canyon Drive and Indian Canyon Drive between Racquet Club Road and Ramon Road 9-16
Indian Canyon Drive from I-10 to San Rafael Drive 9-17
Gene Autry Trail 9-17
Sunrise Parkway Connector 9-17
Tahquitz Canyon Way 9-18
Andreas Road 9-18
Sunrise Way 9-18
South Palm Canyon Drive and East Palm Canyon Drive 9-18
Neighborhood Streetscapes 9-20
Bikeways and Recreational Trails 9-22
Landscaping 9-23
Signage 9-26
Lighting 9-29
Gathering Places 9-30
Public Art 9-32
Walls and Fencing 9-33
Parking 9-34
Regional Retail Activity Centers 9-36
Neighborhood Retail Centers 9-38
Mixed-Use and Multi-Use Development 9-39
MidBlock Corridor Residential 9-41
Industrial and Business Park Development 9-42
Single-Family Residential Neighborhoods 9-44
Multiple-Family Development 9-52
Scenic Resources and Corridors 9-53
Architectural Diversity and Context/Historic Preservation 9-58
Green Building and Planning Practices 9-61
Special Design Consideration Areas 9-64
Downtown 9-64
Section 14 9-66
Gene Autry Trail 9-67
I-10 Corridor 9-68

General Plan Maps (click here)

Appendices
A Downtown Urban Design Plan
B Traffic Analysis
C Intersection LOS
D Housing Data
E Bridge Policies
F Non-Motorized Transportation Plan

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