Circulation Element C-6: Scenic Highways

Only areas below are considered part of the General Plan.

Scenic Highways

The City of Menifee contains a multitude of natural visual resources, including low-lying valleys, mountains, and rock formations. These features are often enjoyed via the city's roadways. Due to the visual significance of many of these areas, several roadways in Menifee have been officially recognized as eligible state or county scenic highways. The State Scenic Highway System includes a list of state highways that are either eligible for designation as scenic highways or have been officially designated. These highways are identified in Section 263 of the Streets and Highways Code; Menifee has 1 Eligible State Scenic Highway-Highway 74. Eligible county scenic highways are county highways that have outstanding scenic qualities; although there is no official list of county highways eligible for scenic designation (as there is with state highways), they are considered eligible and do not require legislative action (like state highways do). The status of a proposed scenic highway (state or county) changes from eligible to officially designated when the local governing body applies to Caltrans for scenic highway approval, adopts a corridor protection program, and receives notification that the highway has been officially designated a scenic highway.

Scenic highways provide the motorist with views of distinctive natural characteristics that are not typical of other areas in the region. Designating these roadways as "scenic highways" supports the city's intent to conserve its significant scenic resources for future generations and to manage development adjacent to these roadways so that it will not detract from the area's natural characteristics. In addition to Menifee's 1 state eligible scenic highway (Highway 74), there are 3 county eligible scenic highways in the city: I-215 from McCall Boulevard south to the city boundary; McCall Boulevard from I-215 on the west to Menifee Road on the east; and Menifee Road from McCall Boulevard north to the city boundary.

Goal

• C-6: Scenic highway corridors that are preserved and protected from change which would diminish the aesthetic value of lands adjacent to the designated routes.

Policies

• C-6.1: Design developments within designated scenic highway corridors to balance the objectives of maintaining scenic resources with accommodating compatible land uses.
• C-6.2: Work with federal, state, and county agencies, and citizen groups to ensure compatible development within scenic corridors.
• C-6.3: Utilize design and land development strategies to gradually transition graded road slopes into a natural configuration consistent with the topography of the areas within scenic highway corridors.
• C-6.4: Incorporate riding, hiking, and bicycle trails and other compatible public recreational facilities within scenic corridors.
• C-6.5: Ensure that the design and appearance of new landscaping, structures, equipment, signs, or grading within eligible county scenic highway corridors are compatible with the surrounding scenic setting or environment.

Exhibits

• Exhibit C-8: Scenic Highways