West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

oriented commercial uses are expected to predominate.• Growth Area 5: The area north of the Mojave River in proximity to Highway 58 isexpected to have commercial activity adjacent to the freeway access point, with lowdensityresidential developments nearby.• Growth Area 6: The area just north of the Mojave River and east of Interstate I-15 hasthe potential for a golf course with associated “executive estate” homes.The city’s general plan identifies several goals pertinent to biological resources. Thesegoals include seeking to preserve the remaining biological resources in the planning area;conserving suitable habitat for threatened and endangered species whenever possible;establishing corridors for movement of wildlife between DWMAs and between tortoise criticalhabitat; striving to maintain native riparian and associated natural habitats along the MojaveRiver; and maintaining the Mojave River as a travel and watershed corridor to maintain the linkbetween the natural areas to the north and south of the city. The general plan also identifies theneed to perform site-specific studies prior to development to determine the mitigation necessaryto preserve and enhance biological resources (City of Barstow, General Plan – Part B, II.9).3.1.3.8 City of California CityCalifornia City is located in Kern County, north of Highway 58 and east of Highway 14.Nearly all of the existing development and population exists in an area comprising about twelvesections of land in the southwest corner of the city. Very limited development has occurred tothe northeast in the vicinity of Twenty-Mule Team Road (California City General Plan 2012 atpage 3). The general plan indicates that “approximately ninety percent of the subdivided landhas been sold and more than ninety-five percent of the total land area remains empty, except forbladed roads and, in some cases, partial utilities.” (Id. at page 22.)Residential land use densities planned for the city range from Estate Density Residentialdensities of 2 to 5 dwelling units per acre, to high density residential (6 to 40 dwelling units peracre). General Commercial designations are shown along California City Boulevard, withNeighborhood Commercial dispersed in residential areas. Industrial development is planned inthe western part of the city, primarily north of California City Boulevard near the airport.Several conservation areas are shown on the general plan, scattered throughout the easternportion of the city. The General Plan text supports urban growth with emphasis placed on infilldevelopment of the central core. (Id. at page 24.)The City is currently proposing a detachment of 12,450 acres in the northeastern part ofthe city; 1,846 acres adjacent to the Desert Tortoise Natural Area; and 4,144 acres in the southeastern part of the city. Coupled with the detachment is a request to annex 18,778 acres at thewestern end of the city stretching from the current city limits south to Highway 58. (FinalEnvironmental Impact Report – Redevelopment Area Expansion, Detachment, Annexation, andAutomotive Test Course Project, California City, October 4, 2002 at Figure 2.1-2-A.)Chapter 3 3-23