within this land use designation. Minimum parcel size is 7,500 net square feet. For single-family detached units within the MDR areas, a minimum parcel size of 3,500 square feet is permissible where only one unit per parcel is proposed, subject to approval of a Development Agreement.
Mixed Use (MU) is intended to blend residential, commercial, hotel lodging, office, public and quasi-public uses. The residential uses within the MU General Plan category provide 104 (11.6%) of the total homes proposed. Typical residential land uses allowed include detached and attached single-family dwellings, town homes and condominiums. Additional residential land uses may include vacation villas/lodging. The County General Plan allows up to 15 units per acre (see Table 2-2).
Clustering of the individual neighborhoods within the plan has been accomplished through adding more community open space and reducing the average size of the lots and controlling the building locations on the larger individual lots. The benefits of clustering is that it enhances the rural character of the neighborhoods, increases the housing setbacks by using open space green belts along the borders and throughout the Community thereby reducing the visual impact from adjoining properties and protecting cultural resources and environmentally sensitive areas.
Clustering of housing may be utilized in any of the residential designated land use areas and is encouraged in all areas and especially within the Low and Medium Density Residential as well as Mixed Use designations. Homes on larger lots will also be required to locate on the individual lots so that the layout and architectural style preserves as much of the existing tree cover as possible, takes into consideration the slope of the site to minimize grading, and restricts fencing to maintain wildlife corridors and the open feeling of the community.
Clustered housing may take the form of single family homes, town homes, patio homes, duplexes, triplexes, quadraplexes, or other similar small lot products on public or private streets. Units should be clustered where possible to minimize grading and avoid roadway, driveway and development encroachment into sensitive habitat areas. Duplex units will also be permitted in all LDR housing areas, however, the lot area for each unit will not be less than ½ of the smallest designated lot size and the Community Plan. The total amount of units will not exceed 897 units. Transfer of units within the Community Plan is permitted as described below.
It is the intent of the Mountain Springs Community Plan to offer flexibility with respect to the mixture of dwelling units in order to adjust to specific site conditions, home type and design, and market demands. Residential dwelling unit allocations may be transferred between residential and mixed use land use areas as long as the minimum single family lot size designated for each of the parcels is maintained (with allowances for duplex units in LDR, MDR, MU areas) and the total number of units for the Community Plan does not exceed 897 units. For example, a Low Density Residential area designated for ½ to 2 acre lots would require that with any increase in density all lots would need to be ½ acre or larger. Refer to Figure 2-4 and Table 2-2, 2-3 for a dwelling unit allocation summary by area and type within the Community Plan. Reasonable adjustments in boundaries between all Land Use categories (i.e. LDR, MDR, etc.) are permissible to accommodate site conditions and the transfer
