The purpose of the SP specific plan district is to provide a vehicle for implementing the city's general plan on an area-specific basis. A specific plan prepared in accordance with the standards set forth in this chapter is intended to serve as regulatory document, consistent with the general plan. In the event there is an inconsistency or conflict between an adopted specific plan and comparable regulations of this code, the specific plan will prevail.

Specific plans are authorized by California Government Code Section 65450 et seq., which specifies minimum contents and provides for fees and an additional environmental review procedure (Section 65457).

A specific plan zoning may be considered for areas within the existing city limits or where areas are considered for annexation. The specific plan zoning may be used on any size of land mass but normally will be applicable for sites of fifty acres or larger. To be considered for application of the SP zoning district an area should possess one or more of the following characteristics:

It is not necessary for specific plan areas to be delineated on the general plan land use map. On the zoning map a specific plan district will be delineated in a manner similar to that of any other zoning district except that each SP zoned area shall also bear a number which distinguishes it from other specific plan areas. In most cases an adopted specific plan will create zoning categories unique to that plan; those zoning categories will be described within the plan itself rather than on the zoning map or in this code. The zoning categories created by the specific plan will be placed on the zoning map as information to the general public.

The application for a specific plan shall be in accordance with public hearing processes prescribed in Government Code Section 65453 and shall include text and diagram(s) as required by the planning commission to properly evaluate the ability of the proposed specific plan to carry out the city's general plan, application preparers shall seek guidance for the planning department and, if necessary, the planning commission, prior to submitting an application for a specific plan. Such guidance regarding relevant general plan goals, policies, land use and implementation programs shall be provided through pre-application conferences, written material, study sessions or other appropriate means. Application and implementation fees for specific plans shall be as set by resolution of the city council.

It is anticipated, under the California Environmental Quality Act and state and local guidelines, that most specific plan will require preparation of an environmental impact report. Once certified, the EIR for a specific plan may be relied upon for further entitlements sought subsequent to adoption of the specific plan. An initial study shall be prepared for all subsequent application to determine whether a supplement or an addendum to the EIR must be prepared or if the project is exempt from further environmental review.

Since specific plan applications are flexible, expiration will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Like other city regulations, most specific plan approvals will not expire unless replaced by a subsequently adopted specific plan or rendered obsolete by adoption of a conflicting general plan amendments and conflicting goals and policies of the general plan. In some cases, however, limiting the duration of an approval may be appropriate; i.e., when the specific plan is linked to another entitlement which expires, such as tentative subdivision map. The ordinance or resolution adopting a specific plan shall specify the duration of the specific plan and any means of extension, which may include an evaluation of an applicant's due diligence in satisfying specific plan provisions.