Town Center Specific Plan
In Santee, California
In October 1986, the City of Santee (City) completed a focused effort to plan for the development of property in its geographic core. The Town Center Specific Plan (TCSP) is a planning document that established guidelines for creating a people- and transit-oriented hub for commercial, civic and residential uses along the San Diego River. In March of 2025, the City completed a comprehensive update, expansion and replacement of the existing TCSP with a vision for TCSP implementation over the next 10 to 20 years. With the current framework established by the updated plan, the Town Center will continue to be a vibrant neighborhood in the heart of Santee with new housing, dining, and amenities both indoors and out.
The Arts & Entertainment Neighborhood, the focal area of the Town Center, will act as a cultural hub and help foster continued growth of the performing and visual arts within the community. By focusing on connectivity with ease of access between destinations through enhanced street treatments and connections, and embedding linkages to the river and trail system within the space, this vision looks to the landscape to create an environment unique to Santee. This update allows the Town Center to grow into an even more vibrant core, making it a destination for locals and visitors alike.
View The Town Center Specific Plan
Town Center Specific Plan Chapters
1986 Town Center Specific Plan
In October 1986, the City of Santee completed a focused effort to plan for the development of property in its geographic core. This section serves only as a historic reference for the 1986 Town Center Specific Plan and its subsequent amendments. For the current plan, please see the above section.
Subsequent amendments have modified or clarified aspects of the original Specific Plan
- Amendment 87-01 amended the Office/Professional land use designation to allow additional Light Industrial uses
- Amendment 88-01 removed a 35’ height limit, prohibited Supermarkets, added on Office/Professional overlay, and permitted Museums as conditionally approved use
- Amendment 89-01 revised signage provisions.
- Amendment 92-01 added private and public clubs as a conditional use.
- Amendment 93-04 revised sign regulations & removed certain property along Mission Gorge Road between Cottonwood Avenue and Magnolia Avenue
- Amendment 98-01 added gas stations as a conditionally approved use.
- Amendment 00-01 established an Office Park Overlay
- Amendment 01-01 added libraries as a conditionally permitted use.
- Amendment 01-02 established an R-22 land use designation and a Residential/Institutional Overlay and added athletic and health clubs as permitted uses in commercial areas.
- Amendment 02-01 changed land use designation on two parcels on Cuyamaca Street/River Park Drive from commercial to residential.
- Amendment 04-01 established Riverview Master Plan
- Amendment 07-02 removed Mission Creek subdivision.
- Amendment 09-01 added R-30 land use designation
- Amendment 12-1 changed the land use designation specified properties.
- Amendment 15-1 amended sign regulations within the River View Office Park area
- Amendment 19-1 established Art and Entertainment District