Introduction
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C h a p t e r 1 I n t r o d u c t i o n 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Setting La Cañada Flintridge is approximately 8.6 square miles in area. It is located approximately 13 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles and 6 miles northeast of Burbank in Los Angeles County, as shown in Figure 1-1. The City is bordered by Pasadena to the east, Glendale to the south, the Angeles National Forest to the north, and unincorporated county areas of La Crescenta and Montrose to the west. It is situated in the Crescenta Valley along the Interstate (I) 210 Freeway corridor between the San Gabriel Mountains to the north and the San Raphael Hills to the south. Figure 1-2 shows its location in the local setting. 1.2 Purpose of the General Plan California State law requires each city and county to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan to guide the physical development of the incorporated city and any land outside of the city boundaries that bears a relationship to its planning activities. A general plan is the foundation for local land use planning and provides a vision for a jurisdiction's foreseeable planning period. The general plan translates the community's long-range vision into goals, objectives, and policies for the future distribution of land uses, both public and private. In essence, a city's general plan serves as the blueprint for future growth and development. As a blueprint for the future, the plan must contain policies and programs designed to provide decision makers with a solid basis for land use related decisions. The general plan is the official statement of policies governing all city council, advisory committee, and administrative decisions regarding zoning, subdivisions, and public improvements. General Plan—January 2013 1-1 City of La Cañada Flintridge Chapter 1. Introduction The general plan must address many issues that are directly related to and influence land use decisions. In addition to land use, State law requires that the plan address circulation, housing, conservation of natural resources, preservation of open space, noise, and protection of public safety. These issues are to be discussed to the extent that they apply to a particular jurisdiction. The general plan also may cover topics of special or unique interest to the jurisdiction. 1.2.1 A Vision for the Future Whether the general plan is a blueprint, constitution, or set of instructions, it must be based upon a community vision. The vision for La Cañada Flintridge— Vision 2030—was derived from input received during the public participation process, and was instrumental in preparing the City of La Cañada Flintridge General Plan (General Plan). It provides direction for the City’s 2030 planning period and serves as a reminder of the future to which the community aspires. The vision is to be achieved by implementation of the General Plan goals, objectives, and policies. Vision 2030 is as follows. Vision 2030 La Cañada Flintridge is a desirable community that has retained its quiet, safe, small-town feeling, and semi-rural, predominantly single-family character amid the beauty of its natural open spaces, trails, trees, parks, wildlife, and stunning mountain views. Neighborhoods and homes are well maintained, with landscaping and diverse housing styles that are in scale with their surroundings. La Cañada Flintridge remains an equestrian-friendly community. The downtown is vibrant, attractive, and modern, and caters to the City’s residents with quality shopping and dining establishments and local-serving businesses within a walkable, pedestrian- scale village atmosphere. New housing opportunities for senior citizens and families are provided within mixed-use developments that are close to businesses, health care services, community and recreational facilities, and transit. Friendly, caring, and involved citizens of all ages share a commitment to their community and to each other. Premier schools continue to achieve the highest academic standards in up-to-date facilities, and opportunities exist for teens and pre-teens to be active and involved. The City is run efficiently and maintains positive, effective relationships with neighboring cities and regional and state agencies to address and resolve regional issues cooperatively, such as air quality, traffic, and noise. General Plan—January 2013 1-2 Santa Clarita CCAA Fontana Los Angeles Ontario City of La Cañada Flintridge Metro Area Riverside Mission Viejo 210 Burbank- Glendale- Pasadena 101 5 GGrriiffffiitthh SSaannttaa MMoonniiccaa PPaarrkk MMTTNNSS NNTTLL RReecc AArreeaa ) 8 0 Los - 7 0 - Angeles 8 0 ( C W A d 10 x m . n o i t a c Los Angeles- o L _ l a n -Long Beach- o i g e 605 R -Santa Ana _ 1 _ 1 e r u g Los Angeles i F \ Intl t f a r 105 D _ k c e h C _ 710 n e 110 e r c 405 S \ c o d p a m \ 7 0 _ 6 9 0 0 Pacific Ocean 0 \ e g i d r t n i l F Orange _ a d a n a C _ a L _ f o _ y t i C \ s t c e j o r P \ S 0 2.5 5 I G \ : Miles K Source: ESRI Streetmap USA (2006) Figure 1-1 Regional Location City of La Cañada Flintridge B ig T u ju n g yon An a Can ge les F o re st 2 A n gele s Crest Crest s e e l Ang 2 2 l l e w o L Tuna Can La yon 2 La Crescenta-Montrose a H i o n no a F l v o ul l ot u y hi s ll n n e P 2 2 H Hahamongna Watershed Park w Hahamongna Watershed Park on o e i ) lu V 8 lu 0 La Canada Flintridge n 2 - L a e 8 a e s 0 C c a - 8 r ugo h e O rd 0 s Ve ( C c e n y C Burbank v ta A e W lta h A d e n C a D X Be M r . ksh Altadena Y ir T e O I ak N G I la ro C Los Angeles High nd v I e e n a r m a l W V K E d l l d o o _ e e o a n 2 I c d T s n a l b n f e n u i C e r t a a y New York L E h A C J R e r O n r k o R Glendale a a y P G S L o _ le 2 n o o n _ a i Washington 1 rn ks m G e a I t C s F M \ e oun el T W ta h M i ou n F n t ntain G E e A l s l enoa k l R A D Zoo l Orange Grove _ n a Pasadena ora r c K D l t i l i f C i n H E c e S a H a C 210 n P C Foothill _ R d N Broadway n Walnut a E e Walnut a l Broadway f Colorado E r a 134 a l l R e B d 710 110 i C O Colorado l C n e H Del Mar S r e Color r ado k l s \ y a e a r s e n C G l L t d g b O a ia Del Mar c a a e l c o D A L S a M P G R A V L A p a o s r r e Californi r r o a M Chevy Chase m r i o r \ n a o Griffith Park r v Griffith Park s d L 7 g e y i e k 0 s u a _ o S g 6 o O 9 r 0 k i 0 c a 0 o \ R Yor l F E k le ua G g I Ea sc W D a San Marino P R 5 e 4 n T a s z 5 t N eli S I Los F L r Monterey r F he _ tc a A le M D a F ro 110 l A Los Angeles R ue South Pasadena e N g i i D R p F A e l i p C v c a e i _ l t d r e A in n n s a L M a e i _ d l l e t F G A O e _ k t Y a R 43 San Gabriel n T L i I S r v o e C u e r \ r v s m n l e i S r i m d s e t v T e S u e i n o C V t d o Alhambra o E a t d m l J H S n A o n e c t e O 2 S a g io i d n r e 6 ti s f R t s m i r a F a n M P S y u a \ Bev e n c d Valley r o e H i G S l 2 t I y t u d o 710 w t 101 m G 110 e \ a o : s a N K P S SOURCE: ESRI Streetmap USA (2006) Figure 1-2 Project Vicinity City of La Cañada Flintridge City of La Cañada Flintridge Chapter 1.