Mountain Springs is a recreation and open space oriented residential Community planned around the existing Mountain Springs golf course facility as established by the County 1996 General Plan that designates growth and development be proposed for areas within and adjacent to the majority of the existing communities within the County, as well as a new growth area located in and around the Mountain Springs Golf Course off Lime Kiln Road, approximately 2 miles southeast of the City of Sonora. The Land Use Plan for the Mountain Springs Community balances the open space and recreational components with a full range of residential densities from Estate Residential (1 dwelling unit/2 acres) to Mixed Use Density Residential (15 dwelling unit per acre). The higher density residential uses are located in and around the golf course and a new Village Center.
The Village Center is intended to be a central focus of the Community and is located in proximity to and includes the existing golf clubhouse and pro-shop facility. The following land use planning principles were developed to respond to the opportunities and constraints of the Community Plan and in response to the overall goals established for the Community Plan: 1) Protect and preserve the natural character of the Community Plan as an amenity; 2) Establish facilities to recycle water and utilize the recycled water on site; 3) Focus higher intensity land uses in and around the existing golf course and at the Village Center; 4) Provide an efficient mix of residential, commercial and recreational uses; and 5) Locate the lowest intensity land uses on steeper terrain and near the perimeter of the property adjacent to the community open space that buffers existing residential and agricultural lands to preserve the rural character of the area and transition with adjacent agricultural lands.
The purposes of the planning principles are to shape the character and location of development within the Community Plan. The Land Use Element encourages a variety of housing types, commercial development opportunities, parks and recreational areas, while conserving the site’s environmentally sensitive habitat and cultural resources in community open space. Residents and visitors of the community will be able to live and pursue leisure activities without relying solely on their automobiles. The various neighborhoods, Village Center, parks and open space elements will be linked together by a hierarchy of roads and an extensive pedestrian trail system which will provide for walking and bicycling and enjoyment of the natural habitat. The trail system will be comprised of roadside walkways/bikeways and walking/bike paths through the majority of the open space corridor areas. Many of the community and neighborhood trails are located on existing access trails throughout the site and also provide access to the open space areas and the perimeter fencing for periodic maintenance by the master association.
Through careful preservation of open space, incorporation of recreational uses, a mix of commercial and housing densities with density restrictions and setbacks from neighboring properties, the
