2019-040 - Mainplace Mall Transformation

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City of Santa Ana Addendum to the MainPlace Mall Transformation Proiect Fashion Square Commercial Center Final EIR 5.16 GROWTH INDUCEMENT Summary of Impacts Identified in the 1983 EIR The 1983 EIR determined that the Originally Approved Plan would not have a direct growth inducing effect. The EIR described that the Project is intended to promote economic growth by stimulating private investment and increasing the employment opportunities and tax base that would have a positive economic impact on the community. However, the 1983 EIR determined that the Originally Approved Plan would have an indirect growth inducing effect upon utilities and public services due to the increased demand; and would result in increased vehicle traffic. Summary of Impacts Identified in the 1996 Addendum The 1996 Addendum does not include a discussion of growth inducement. Impacts Associated with the Proposed Project No New Impact. Consistent with the Originally Approved Plan and the existing entitlements for the site, the proposed Project would provide for additional infill development. However, the proposed Project would modify the planned land uses by reducing commercial and office space by 859,255 square feet and adding development of up to 1,900 residential units. This change is reflective of the changes in retail shopping as consumers increasingly utilize online websites to purchase clothes, shoes, and other soft goods that impact major department stores. As online competition increases, retail chains continue to withdraw from traditional retail spaces, and mall owners are unable to find new tenants for vacant spaces. Consistent with this trend, the Nordstrom store has been vacant since March 2017 and the Macy's store has not had an increase in sales following the Nordstrom closure (Kosmont 2018). In response, the proposed Project would change the buildout of the site to provide a mixed -use area that would provide housing, employment, commercial, and entertainment in one location. Consistent with the1983 EIR, the Project is intended to promote economic growth, stimulate private investment and increase the tax base that would have a positive economic impact on the community. It is anticipated that at buildout of the proposed Project, 3,425 full time jobs would be provided onsite (Kosmont 2018), along with 1,900 residential units, which is a ratio of 1.8 jobs per household (at full occupancy of the site). Because the proposed Project would recycle the developed land uses to better meet future needs of the community, direct growth inducing effects would not occur from the Project. Consistent with the 1983 EIR, the proposed Project would result in an indirect growth inducing effect upon utilities and public services due to the increased demand; and would result in increased vehicle traffic. However, as described in the previous sections impacts related to the increased demands would result in less than significant impacts, and the proposed Project would result in 6,251 fewer daily vehicle trips than the Current 161