West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

to offset the costs associated with acquiring sites within the Prime Desert Woodland.3.1.3.11 City of PalmdaleThe City of Palmdale is located in the Antelope Valley region of Los Angeles County,south of the City of Lancaster. The developed portions of the City “…occupy an area generallybounded by the Littlerock Wash on the east, the California Aqueduct on the south, and 70 thStreet West on the west.” Littlerock Wash forms a natural boundary between urban residentialdensities in the City and more rural development in the unincorporated community of Littlerock.“The northern extent of urban development in Palmdale follows an irregular path from AvenueM in the northwest portion of the City, around existing rural residential areas in the north centralportion of the Planning Area, and south of the airport land along Avenue P.” (City of PalmdaleGeneral Plan at page L-40.) The large expanse of airport land (over 22,000 acres) in the northand northeastern portions of the city have helped to shape growth patterns. The airport land islargely vacant except for Air Force Plant 42, minor agricultural uses and sewage treatmentfacilities, but if future airport uses occur, the land would provide economic developmentopportunities for the City and is designated for manufacturing land uses by the general plan. (Id.at page 42.)The City General Plan identifies the following development trends for the city:• “New housing for first time buyers will be constructed on the east side of Palmdale (eastof 47 th Street).”• “Residential Development will continue to expand south into the Barrel Springs andVincent Hills Areas.”• “…The southwest portion of the City between Verde Ridge and the southern sphere line,west of Hwy 14 to City Ranch will be a target for urban development if infrastructure isprovided.”• “City Ranch and Ritter Ranch will begin construction on initial phases adjacent toElizabeth Lake Road.”• “The City will complete annexation of many of the County island areas within the coreareas.”• The City will encourage infill of vacant land and reuse of existing buildings in urbanizedareas…” (City of Palmdale General Plan at pages L-48 and L-49.)Biological resources are addressed in the City’s General Plan Goal ER2, which calls forprotecting “…significant ecological resources and ecosystems, including, but not limited to,sensitive flora and fauna habitat areas.” Significant Ecological Areas are identified at Big RockWash, Little Rock Wash, Ritter Ridge, Portal Ridge and Alpine Butte. Biological surveys arerequired for any new development in these areas, and significant environmental resources arerequired to be considered and preserved to the extent feasible. The plan also calls for thepreservation of natural drainage courses and riparian areas containing significant concentrationsof ecological resources, as well as significant Joshua tree woodlands.Chapter 3 3-26