March Joint Powers Authority is the local reuse agency for the redevelopment of approximately 4,400 acres of excessed federal land formerly located within March Air Force Base. In 1997, the County of Riverside transferred local land use authority to March JPA pursuant to a legislative declaration by the state legislature. As a local government, March Joint Powers Authority subsequently prepared the March Joint Powers Authority Plan, which was adopted in 1999. To implement the policies of the General Plan, the March JPA approved the 1) March JPA Development Code, 2) Subdivision Ordinance, and 3) Building and Construction Code. These codes include provisions for land use, zoning, development standards, subdivision requirements, and the adoption of the latest edition of the uniform codes relative to building, housing, fire, electrical, mechanical, signs, dangerous buildings and related appendices. In accordance with these approvals, the JPA will grant all future land use entitlements and building permits.

The March Joint Powers Authority General Plan is a long-range comprehensive plan designed to outline and delineate use and development of the area known formerly as March AFB. The land use designations of the March JPA General Plan Land Use Plan are divided into four general classifications, with a total of 13 distinct land use designations. Buildout of the March JPA Planning Area will account for 24 million sq. ft of commercial/industrial/office development, and upwards of 38,000 jobs.

The General Plan defines reuse and development opportunities of the area, while preserving the environmental quality. The General Plan contains goals, policies, and programs to guide future development and change in the Planning Area. The goals and policies of the General Plan serve as the constitutional framework for March JPA, provide planning direction for JPA operations and programs, and function as guidelines for all decision making concerning use and development of the area.

The state statutes specify seven mandatory elements for general plans. Section 63202 et seq. of the California Government Code requires that a general plan contain seven mandatory elements: 1) Land Use, 2) Circulation, 3) Noise, 4) Housing, 5) Safety 6) Open Space, and 7) Conservation. The March JPA General Plan contains these seven elements with the requirement for open space and conservation elements combined into the Resource Management Element.

In mid-1997 the March JPC adopted Ordinance Number JPA-97-01 that established the March JPA "Development Code" and "Building and Construction Code." These codes include provisions for land use, zoning, development standards, requirements for subdividing land, and adoption of the latest edition of the uniform codes relative to building, housing, fire, electrical, mechanical, signs, dangerous buildings and related appendices.

Meridian is planned to respond to the job/housing imbalance within Riverside County. The existing jobs/housing imbalance is evident in the number of Riverside County workers who travel outside the County for employment. The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) estimates that 32% of commuters within Riverside County travel outside of the county to their jobs (tied with San Bernardino for highest). Furthermore, SCAG estimates that commuters in Riverside County, on average, spend 115 minutes commuting to and from work each day and travel an average of 43 miles per day, which is the farthest commute within Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, and Imperial Counties. (Source: 1999 SCAG State of the Commute)

Meridian is planned as part of the jobs/housing solution within Riverside County. The development is projected to generate 12,000 to 15,000 jobs, and will develop over a 15-year time span. The initial development will occur in the northern portion of the development with the final phase planned for the area south of Van Buren Boulevard.

Meridian includes long-term community amenities, including a Metrolink passenger rail station on the San Jacinto rail line. This light-rail transit site is being planned by the Riverside County Transportation Commission. Other project features include a 51-acre park planned to showcase the contribution of the United States Armed Forces, a landscaped scenic corridor along Van Buren Boulevard, a City of Riverside Police Station, a Riverside County Fire Station and a future 48- to 60-acre recreational sports complex.