The Legislature finds and declares that , because substantial public moneys will be expended on the development of the West Side Freeway portion of Interstate Route 5, including the development of recreational and scenic observation sites in relatively undeveloped areas, and because new commercial and other development tends to locate at freeway interchanges in these areas, and this development may be detrimental to both traffic capacity and safety and to the preservation of the scenic characteristics along the freeway route, it is therefore necessary, in the interests of the public health, safety, and welfare, and to safeguard community economic development along the route of the freeway, to establish controls over the kinds, intensity, and design of land use and development that are permitted to occur at those interchanges along the freeway route from its intersection with the San Joaquin River to the junction of the route with State Highway Route 99 in the vicinity of Wheeler Ridge.
Planning and ZoningHighway Interchange Districts
Section § 66100
This law states that since a lot of public money goes into developing the West Side Freeway part of Interstate 5, including adding scenic and recreational areas, it's important to control how nearby land is used. New commercial developments at freeway interchanges can harm traffic safety and the freeway's scenic qualities. To protect public safety, community development, and economic interests along this freeway stretch—from where it meets the San Joaquin River to close to where it joins State Highway 99 near Wheeler Ridge—regulations on the type, amount, and design of allowed developments are necessary.
West Side Freeway Interstate Route 5 scenic observation sites
Section § 66101
This law is about managing the areas where roads connect with the West Side Freeway. It aims to keep traffic flowing smoothly and safely, protect the area's scenic quality, and ensure that any nearby developments fit well with the freeway's environment. Each local government through which the freeway passes must create special districts to regulate the types and intensity of land usage and development around these road connections.
To preserve the effective traffic capacity and safety of the West Side Freeway, to maintain and enhance the present character of the landscape abutting the freeway, and to ensure compatible land use and development at and near interchanges along the route, the kind, intensity, and design of land use and development occurring at the freeway interchanges on the portion of the West Side Freeway designated in Section 66100 shall be regulated within highway interchange districts, which districts shall be established by each local jurisdiction traversed by the West Side Freeway in which is located any of the interchanges identified in this chapter.
West Side Freeway traffic capacity safety
Section § 66102
This law outlines how local authorities should define the boundaries around highway interchanges. Specifically, the area must include all territory deemed affected by the interchange and must be at least a one-mile radius from the center point where the interchange roads cross.
The boundaries of each district shall be designated by the local jurisdiction within which each interchange is located and shall include the territory that the local jurisdiction deems to be affected by each interchange, but in no case shall the area consist of less than a circle of one-mile radius from the point of intersection of the centerline of the West Side Freeway with the centerline of any highway, street, or road intersecting at an interchange.
district boundaries local jurisdiction interchange area
Section § 66103
This law says that each local area must have a general land use plan and suitable zoning rules for every highway interchange district by January 1, 1964. It's important because the state has a vested interest in making sure these plans and rules are properly enforced, especially because the state is involved in building the West Side Freeway.
Each local jurisdiction shall prepare for each highway interchange district a general land use plan and appropriate zoning ordinances by January 1, 1964. It shall be recognized that this state has a continuing interest in adequate enforcement of these plans and ordinances due to construction by this state of the West Side Freeway.
local jurisdiction highway interchange district land use plan
