A. The River District special planning district (SPD) establishes procedures to implement the policies and development standards of the River District Specific Plan. The River District Specific Plan designates the land uses within the boundaries of the River District Specific Plan area and is the primary policy and regulatory document used to guide development of the properties within the River District Specific Plan area.
B. The goals of the River District SPD are to:
1. Establish a greater mix of land uses and intensities to attract private investment;
2. Provide the opportunity for reuse and rehabilitation of heavy commercial and industrial uses; to take advantage of the light rail facilities in the area; and to reduce the number of obsolete and underutilized buildings and sites;
3. Allow for the retention and continued operation of industrial and service-oriented uses;
4. Provide for improved circulation, infrastructure, and community facilities that will serve existing and future needs within the area;
5. Provide for the future creation of a significant residential population within the River District area as industrial uses relocate or are replaced; achieve the housing objectives of the general plan and Central City Community Plan; and provide a jobs-housing balance for future office growth;
6. Provide for the intensification of commercial and office uses within close proximity to the planned and existing light rail stations and Interstate 5;
7. Discourage uses that contribute to visual or economic blight;
8. Encourage the preservation of historic structures; and
9. Promote aesthetic improvements to the area by implementing development standards and design guidelines. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)