The primary land uses found in the Eastvale area had included agriculture, residential, commercial and public facilities. Agricultural activities, including dairies, field crops, and ranches have gradually given way to more urban types of development.

Eastvale Area Plan reflects the surge of development activity in Riverside County in recent years. The occasional housing tract emerging from what used to be a center of dairy and other agricultural activities fails to convey the extent to which subdivision approvals have determined the ultimate shape of this landscape. No two housing tract are the same; each represents a unique portion of the incredibly diverse place known as Riverside County. While many share certain common features, each of the plans reflects the special characteristics that define its areas unique identity.

The Riverside County Integrated Project (RCIP) an inclusive three-part county urban plan has a specific plan attributed to the Eastvale area. This area plan sets up Eastvale zoning ordinance, policy areas for unique features found in Eastvale, specific plans (master-planned communities), design guidelines, circulation (transportation) policies, specific hazards to the region, and conservation policies—which includes the protection of open space, wetlands, and biodiversity.

The Santa Ana River is an integral part of the County's multipurpose open space system. It includes the Santa Ana River Trail, a national recreation trail designated within this corridor that, if completed, will incorporate 110 miles of trail system from San Bernardino County in the north to Orange County in the south. Recreational trails and bikeways serve several important roles for communities.