FULL PACKET_2019-12-03 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The properties immediately adjacent to the site include Santiago Park (Open Space, 0) to the north, single-family residential homes to the south and east (Low Density Residential, LR-7) and the Discovery Cube (Professional and Administrative Office, PAO) across Main Street to the west. The General Plan land use map designates the surrounding areas to the northwest, northeast, south of the Santa Ana 1-5 Freeway and along Main Street north of Seventeenth Street as District Centers. District Centers are to be developed with an urban character that includes a mixture of high-rise offices, commercial and multi -family residential uses which provide shopping, business, cultural and housing opportunities within close proximity to each other, close to transportation opportunities and in prime development focus areas. Residential development within these areas is allowed at a density of up to 90 acres. The General Plan Amendment to District Center is consistent with the surrounding District Center designations along Main Street. The EIR also describes that due to the difference in land use density and scale of the project and existing single- family development, the project includes design measures, such as courtyards, setbacks, lower building heights on the east side of the site, and architectural treatments to provide a residential character toward the existing single- family residential areas. Although, resulting in a higher density and intensity development than the adjacent single- family residences, the project is consistent along N. Main Street and the design includes: increasing the existing wall height to 8-feet, retention of most of the mature trees and installation of new trees on the eastern portion of the site to screen views, provision of a 90-foot minimum building setback, and provision of a residential character that does not currently exist on the project site. In addition, the Park Santiago Neighborhood will continue to be notified of any meetings regarding the project. Comment 12: The comment provides a discussion of the entitlements and approvals required for the project, and a summary of the project revisions and Planning Commission and City Council meetings regarding the project. The comment states that there is no joint parking agreement for the project, and that any parking agreement would be revocable. Response 12: The project includes a lot line adjustment to create two separate lots, one parcel for the residential use and one parcel for shared parking with the Discovery Cube. The residential lot will be approximately 4.4 acres in size and the shared parking lot parcel will be approximately 1.4 acres and contain 180 parking spaces. Comment 13: The comment asserts that the project would result in a potential home price devaluation and therefore, a deprivation of the property rights of adjacent landowners. Response 13: Refer to Response 2 regarding CEQA Guidelines Section 15382. Comment 14: The comment provides information related to the requirements of cities to have General Plans and that modification of the General Plan could result in impacts, and thus, should not be taken lightly. The comment also states that the intensity of the proposed use is in contrast to surrounded uses including an open space park to the north and single-family residential homes to the east and south which have a maximum allowable density of 7 dwelling units per acre. Therefore, the project is inconsistent with the General Plan. Response 14: Refer to Response 5 regarding the development that could occur from development under the existing General Plan and zoning designations. Also, refer to Response 11 regarding the contrast of the project with adjacent uses. Additionally, as described in the October 28, 2019 Planning Commission and November 19, 2019 City Council staff reports the current land use designation for this site is Professional and Administrative Office (PAO) with a maximum floor area ratio of 1.5. The project would result in a density of 58 dwelling units per acre or a floor area ratio of 1.43. Thus, the modified project floor area ratio is consistent with the existing allowable floor area ratio of 1.5. 11A-115