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Resolution No. 2019-xx Page 2 of 10 WHEREAS, on August 27, 2018, the Planning Commission conducted a work study session to review the Project and thirty-two (32) verbal comments were received, with three (3) in support and twenty-nine (29) in opposition; and nine (9) written comments were received with one (1) in support and eight (8) in opposition; and WHEREAS, in response to a request from Chatten-Brown & Cartens LLP, on behalf of the North Santa Ana Preservation Alliance, the City extended the Draft Environmental Impact Report public review and comment period to October 4, 2018 to allow additional time for public review and input; and WHEREAS, the Draft EIR was circulated for a 59-day review period, from August 7, 2018 to October 4, 2018; and WHEREAS, on November 26, 2018, the Planning Commission continued a duly noticed public hearing for the project to January 14, 2019. A second study session was held to review the Project and fifty-eight (58) verbal comments were received with twenty-five (25) in support; thirty-one (31) in opposition and two (2) neutral; and eleven (11) written comments were received with two (2) in support and nine (9) in opposition; and WHEREAS, staff recommended additional changes to the project for the Planning Commission consideration at their January 14, 2019 meeting and City Council consideration at their meetings on February 5 and 19, 2019. These recommendations included reducing the number of units and increasing the parking capacity. Staff recommendations were incorporated into the project entitlements prior to the Planning Commission and City Council public hearings. The project reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council proposed construction of 476-units (81 dwelling units per acre), with 904 parking spaces (1.82 parking spaces per unit) and parking capacity for 2.0 parking spaces, within a 5-story residential building with mezzanines wrapped around an eight-level parking structure. The height of the residential buildings along the east property line was tiered from two, to three to four to five stories. The unit mix was 53 studios, 280 one bedrooms, 114 two bedrooms and 29 three bedrooms; and WHEREAS, on January 14, 2019, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing to consider the EIR, Development Agreement No. 2018-01, General Plan Amendment No. 2018-06, and Amendment Application No. 2018-10 and solicited comments on the EIR. At the meeting, seventy-nine (79) members of the public spoke on the item, thirty (30) speakers supported the project, forty-eight (48) speakers opposed it and one speaker was neutral. After hearing all relevant testimony from staff, the public and the City’s consultant team, the Planning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council not certify the EIR or adopt the findings, the statement of overriding considerations and the mitigation monitoring and reporting program and deny the Project; and 2-554