20.38.010   Purpose.
   A.   Application of the Specific Plan Concept. A specific plan and its function may be described by comparison with the general plan. The general plan expresses, in very broad terms, the city's planning of its future environment, generally on a long-term basis. Adopted by the city as a legislative act, the general plan may be amended, as required by changing circumstances. The specific plan, on the other hand, is a device used to implement the general plan by focusing on a particular parcel or parcels. The specific plan sets standards, against which developments can be judged, and imposes controls on the use of the subject parcels. The specific plan is more detailed than a general plan and can be viewed as a bridge between the general plan and individual project submittals.
   The intent and purpose of this chapter is to establish a specific plan to guide the physical development of a particular geographic area within the city. The subject site is constrained due to its shape, sloping terrain and on-going oil operations in an effort to accommodate the city's diverse housing needs, the concepts, regulations and conditions set forth in the pacificwalk residential specific plan provides for the development of the site as market rate, high-density housing.
   The specific plan has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the State Government Code (Section 64540 through 65507) and addresses all of the issues and topics specified in that code.
   B.   Location and Boundary. The specific plan includes an area of approximately 2.25 acres generally located on Orizaba Avenue north of Pacific Coast Highway. The boundaries of the area are more specifically set forth in Figure 1, attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter and on file in the office of the city clerk.
   C.   Goals and Objectives. Goals for the development within the SP-18, pacificwalk residential specific plan, include the following:
   1.   Encourage the development of privately sponsored housing developments;
   2.   Apply design standards that result in the highest quality development and achieve streetscapes with pedestrian scale and ambiance consistent with Signal Hill's small town character and serve to buffer existing residential neighborhoods from commercial uses along Pacific Coast Highway; and
   3.   Provide architectural diversity and avoid uniformity of appearance.
(Ord. 2006-12-1370 § 1)