Balancing housing, environment, and community priorities
The Rancho del Prado Specific Plan describes a 203-acre master-planned residential community named Rancho del Prado to be developed in the rolling hills and ridgelines adjacent to Reche Canyon Road in the City of Colton. The project will facilitate necessary improvements for the existing communities while creating a new enclave of walkable, community living.
The plan would allow for a maximum of 350 single-family detached homes, clustered in two distinct neighborhood areas and connected by a road that connects Prado Lane on the north with Crystal Ridge Lane on the south. A homeowner’s association will be created to maintain common areas and enforce neighborhood covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs).
The 203-acre project area will include more than three miles of recreational trails, 8.3 acres of open space parks, and 87 acres of conserved open space. If the plan is approved, the Specific Plan applicant would also dedicate an additional 227 acres of natural open space to the immediate northeast, conserved in perpetuity to protect ridgelines. Taken together, the project and additional conservation area comprises 322 acres of parks, trails, and open space—representing approximately 75% of the overall 430 acre land area.
At a glance
- Maximum of 350 homes clustered in two distinct neighborhoods within the 203-acre community
- Almost half the land within the community set aside for parks, trails, and open space (95 acres)
- Over 3 miles of recreational trails within the community
- Conservation of an additional 227 acres of adjacent open space to protect the ridgeline to the immediate northeast
- Varied lot sizes to create “move up” opportunities
- Provides catalyst to fund roadway improvements and on-going revenue for police, fire, libraries and schools
- Careful grading avoids ridgelines and reduces the need to truck dirt in or out of the site
- Broad, pedestrian-oriented main road encourages walking and meeting neighbors
- On-site emergency fire facilities and fire-resistant plant buffer zones
- Looped connector road creates secondary point of exit for new and existing neighborhoods
- Upgraded water infrastructure for Prado Lane and Crystal Ridge communities
- New community recreational areas, including a dog park, two landscaped parks, and a large passive park
Designed with Colton’s planning priorities in mind
The City of Colton is in need of more market-rate and step-up housing. Rancho del Prado will provide the opportunity for new, market-rate single family housing that fits the area’s market and complies with Colton’s General Plan.
Shaped by the natural landscape
Reche Canyon’s natural beauty is one of the main features of Rancho del Prado and conserving it is one of the priorities of the plan. Dictated by the terrain (which defined placement of housing, roads, parks, and open space), the plan limits the amount of earth-moving required.
Informed by the needs of the larger community
The Rancho del Prado Specific Plan was designed to serve as a catalyst for needed improvements and safety elements in Reche Canyon. Traffic, fire safety, and emergency access are each addressed in the proposed project and will be studied and evaluated as part of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed project. The EIR will also review potential mitigations to limit impacts and improve the overall project.
Frequently asked questions
Rancho del Prado is a proposed master-planned community of up to 350 single-family detached homes.
The entire Rancho del Prado project area totals 203 acres, of which over 46%—95 acres— will consist of parks and conservation land. An additional 227 acres to the northeast of the site will remain open space in perpetuity to protect adjacent ridgelines.
In total, 322 acres (75%) of the overall 430 acre land area will be conserved as parks and open space.
ASU continues to work closely with the Reche Canyon community to determine what improvements are needed in the area and how, through development of Rancho del Prado, those improvements could be provided. In addition to providing important new housing options, Rancho del Prado will also help address many current issues raised by residents of the area, including traffic, public safety, and infrastructure improvements.
A detailed study of traffic impacts resulting from the development of Rancho del Prado is being completed as part of the Environmental Impact Report. In addition to what is required under CEQA, we are concurrently evaluating opportunities for road design features—many suggested by community members—that would provide traffic calming, congestion relief, and improved safety features on Reche Canyon Road. These features will be funded by the project.
We are committed to working with the City and the community to improve traffic conditions on Reche Canyon Road.
For emergency reasons and in accordance with local planning documents developed areas should have at least two points of access rather than dead end; currently both the Crystal Ridge and Prado neighborhoods have only a single point of access to Reche Canyon Road. Rancho del Prado will remedy that issue by creating a looped road connecting the neighborhoods and giving residents two points of access, thus increasing public safety access.
The proposed plan is for 350 single-family detached homes. It is worth noting that 350 homes on 203 acres of land is less than the Reche Canyon Specific Plan allows. The existing RCSP specifies a maximum density of 2 units per gross acre, which would translate to 406 units allowed.
Within the project area, those 350 homes will be clustered in two distinct neighborhoods. Rancho del Prado’s project area will also include more than three miles of recreational trails, 8.3 acres of open space and parks and 87 acres of conserved open space. Additionally, a larger 227-acre area of natural open space to the northeast will be conserved in perpetuity to protect the surrounding ridgelines.
The Rancho del Prado Specific Plan provides a mix of single-family detached housing types on various lot sizes. Rancho Del Prado, once fully built-out, will add to and complement the City of Colton’s existing housing stock. The lots are clustered to maximize open space and trail access to the adjacent hills. Proposed lot sizes range in size from 4,250; 5,000; 6,000; and 8,000 square feet. This allows for single-family homes of varying sizes to respond to market conditions and reflect the adjacent and surrounding communities’ neighborhood character. The plan also includes park and open space for residents living in the surrounding area.
Water pressures within the Crystal Ridge and Prado Lane developments will be improved and become more reliable, redundant, and safer from a fire fighting perspective. Domestic service pressures will remain within a consistent operating range.
Conserving open space
Beyond the 95 acres of parks and open space within the project area, the plan would set aside an additional 227 acres of open space conserved in perpetuity to protect ridgelines to the northeast. Together, these conservation areas represent approximately 75% of the total 430 acre land area.
Watch the video to learn more about the location and terrain.
Open space above Rancho del Prado