City of Rancho Santa Margarita is an award winning new urban village in south Orange County, California, U.S.A. Incorporated in January 2010 its population in 2014 was 49,853.
Planning and entitlement processing for the 5,000 ac./2,024 ha. Rancho Santa Margarita master planned community began in 1984 with the preparation of an extensive environmental information/data base that provided the design framework for subsequent land use and detailed site plans, comprehensive community site design and development criteria. The first homes were sold in 1986.
The principle design objective was the creation of a cohesive self-contained urban village within the context of regionally significant open space. The community plan calls for a balanced mixture of employment, housing, commercial, cultural and recreation uses.
Rancho Santa Margarita will accommodate approximately 19,400 dwelling units in three residential villages; a 230 ac./93 ha. mixed-use Town Center consisting of commercial, office and high density residential uses; a 300 ac./121.5 ha. Business Park providing a balance of more than one job per household; an 18-hole Ted Robinson designed golf course; and recreational lakes; all surrounded by 2,600 acres of natural open space linked to the community by an extensive network of trails.
Rancho Santa Margarita is continually receiving international acclaim for innovative planning and design proven by the positive and vast public response. The community’s success was aired on the television show 20/20.
The design structure of Rancho Santa Margarita is graphically explained in the “Video” section.
Client: The Santa Margarita Company