About Otay Ranch

Otay Ranch is planned to be a balanced community with housing, shops, workplaces, schools, parks, civic facilities and open spaces. It is intended to cluster the majority of development in villages, with conveniently located features and well-defined edges such as the Chula Vista Greenbelt, open spaces and wildlife corridors.

Consisting of 22,899 acres, Otay Ranch is east of I-805 and south of Telegraph Canyon Road. A large portion of the Ranch is presently in the County of San Diego, although it is planned to annex those areas later. The entire ranch will ultimately add a total population to Chula Vista of approximately 62,373.

In 1993, the City of Chula Vista and the San Diego County Board of Supervisors jointly adopted the Otay Ranch General Development Plan/Sub-regional Plan for the master planned community of Otay Ranch. The plan consists of 11 urban villages, containing approximately 27,000 dwelling units and support commercial and community facilities.

Development in these villages will be clustered around a "core" area within the village reflecting varying design character and densities. The plan will create tree-lined streets, and pedestrian plazas and buildings to complement human, rather than automotive activity. The plan provides a range of transportation alternatives to the automobile, most notably transit and pedestrian-oriented activities. Many of these villages will be connected by the future extension of the San Diego Trolley LRT. The village cores will also provide amenities such as commercial, parks, and schools within a short walking distance from the residences. In addition, the plan includes a proposed urban "center" which will contain a variety of office, commercial, high-density residential uses. This urban area provides a unique functional and symbolic center for Otay Ranch.

The plan also protects the important natural resources that are evident in the area. An 11,000-acre open space preserve unequaled in San Diego County has been created to protect most of the Otay Ranch area. To date, over 1,000 acres of this Preserve has been dedicated to the City and County. Other large open space areas will preserve and connect many of the natural habitats. It recognizes the importance of environmental and landform preservation, and the need to design environmentally sensitive communities. A large regional trail system linked to "paseos" and public parks will provide hikers with a variety of recreational options.

As of the present time, the first two urban villages are being developed and implemented under the guidance of the Otay Ranch GDP/SRP. Approximately, 5,000 dwelling units have been constructed in these two villages utilizing a variety of housing stock including an "alley-product" and apartments. In addition, two public parks, a medical clinic, two elementary schools and pedestrian "paseo" trails have recently opened. In one of the urban villages, a 30,000 square-foot mixed-use commercial development is currently under construction as well. Olympic Parkway, a six-lane prime arterial for the Otay Ranch is under construction, with the first phase of the road now open for vehicular traffic. Completion of the road is scheduled for this coming October, 2002.

Specific plans have also been approved for two additional villages in the next phase and the construction process for these two villages has recently commenced. The plan also proposes a high-density "urban" center, which will contain a variety of office, regional commercial and multi-family residential uses. This urban center will provide a unique functional and symbolic center for Otay Ranch. Planning has started on this large urban center, with anticipated development commencing within in the next five years. In all, this cooperative planning effort has resulted in a comprehensive plan which promotes a new livable community, and supports the need for smart growth living.